Panthers top Flyers to win sectional title

Published 12:16 am Friday, October 20, 2017

Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — The success this season the St. Joseph Flyers’ soccer team enjoyed was unexpected.
The 5-0 Division III sectional tournament championship game loss to the Chesapeake Panthers on Wednesday wasn’t expected. It was the third time this season the Flyers lost to the Panthers.
The Flyers entered the season young and inexperienced but still managed an 8-6-3 record and dealt Ohio Valley Conference champion Rock Hill its only regular season loss.
“Assistant coach Jimmy Rowe and I are proud of our team and how hard they worked this year. We played a lot young players and will have nine starters back for next season,” said Flyers’ coach Mike Balestra.
“Our senior leadership will be missed but they instilled good work ethic and sportsmanship in our younger players. What their leadership instilled is invaluable to the St. Joe soccer program.”
Jacob Martin and Dalton Nida scored two goals each and Cole Mills added the other goal to lead the Panthers. Jaden Kerns had four saves.
Flyers’ goalkeeper Jimmy Mahlmeister racked up 16 saves and Dmitri Ward one.
St. Joseph had seven shots with four on goal and two corner kicks along with 16 fouls. The Panthers had 33 shots with 22 on goal with six corner kicks and four fouls.
Chesapeake — with 11 wins in the past 12 games — came out strong and scored quickly. They scored two goals in the first
10 minutes, one an unassisted goal and the other a penalty kick. The other three goals were scored off headers from set plays or corner kicks.
“Chesapeake controlled the ball the entire game and kept on the attack. They kept possession and didn’t give us many opportunities to score,” said Balestra.
“They are a very good team. We congratulate Chesapeake on their sectional championship and we wish them success in their tournament run.”

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