Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
LOGAN — South Webster had high expectations for itself this season after losing just one senior last fall. The Jeeps lived up to every bit of the hype.
Behind a tight-knit group that refused to lose, South Webster won 16 games alongside sectional and district championships for the first time since 2019.
However, the team’s conquest to play at the state level will have to wait at least another year after falling to Worthington Christian by a 5-0 tally in a Division III regional final on Saturday.
Worthington Christian (17-2-3) dominated the day’s early action, getting off three shots within the opening three minutes. One was saved by SW’s Sam Odegaard and the other two missed high.
The Warriors continued to apply pressure, and then saw their moment to strike. With 23:18 left in the first half, WC’s Caleb Van Dop received the ball and fired into the back of the net, putting his team ahead 1-0.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
South Webster (16-4-2) showed no signs of panic. The Jeeps continued to battle and take the fight to the Warriors.
Midway through the first half, SW got into the final third of the field and fired off a pair of shots, but nothing connected.
Then the Warriors made a charge, getting past the Jeeps’ back line and Eli Funderburke took a shot, connecting with the back of the net to push the lead to 2-0 — a lead that remained at halftime.
Although the Jeeps continued to showcase their grit, the Warriors simply possessed too much firepower to keep pace with. Just eight minutes into the second half, WC’s Baden Wood received the ball in the box, took one touch and found the back of the net for a 3-0 lead.
WC’s Sammy Owusu Safro added a pair of goals within the final nine minutes to put the nails in the coffin.
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