CL soccer boys beat GHV; fall to Gladbrook-Reinbeck in post season

(Above) It was a fierce battle when Clear Lake hosted GHV in the first round of Regionals.  Clear Lake’s Justin Sholly (6) goes head-to-head with GHV’s Patrick Terhark, while GHV goalie Aidan McRobie lends a hand.    Also pictured is Clear Lake’s Tanner Berger (4) and GHV’s Brandon Feuring (3).-Reporter photo by Chris Barragy

The Clear Lake Lions started the post-season with an exciting overtime win over GHV, but unfortunately their season come to a close at the hands and feet of fifth ranked Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

CL 6, GHV 5 (2OT)

On Monday, May 23, the Lions hosted Garner-Hayfield-Ventura for the first round of regionals.  The match filled with scoring and excitement.

GHV jumped on the board with a corner kick converted by Connor Burke for a header goal in the second minute of the contest.

The Lions answered back  in the 24th minute, when Jarod Anderson served up a corner kick to Zach Welper, who deflected the ball into the back of the goal.

Sam Pedelty answered with a goal of his own in the 29th minute when he fired a rocket shot from just inside the corner of the penalty box.

GHV’s Burke answered with an equalizer goal in the 34th minute, bringing the score to 2-2.

Sixteen seconds later, Anderson and Tanner Berger attacked GHV from the restart.  Berger finished the attack for a goal coming off the Anderson assist.  In the 36th minute Dylan Clapper took a left-footed shot on goal to give the Lions a 4-2 lead, but GHV responded just before halftime with another header goal bringing the score to 4-3.

In the 46th minute, Clear Lake’s Justin Sholly took a throw in and found Dylan Schuchard.  Schuchard got the ball back to Sholly, who attacked goal and fired a shot into the net.  Garner responded with two goals of their own in the 47th and 75th minute.

With the score locked up at 5-5 the game went into overtime.  The first 10-minute overtime expired, with neither team recording a goal.  In the 93rd minute, Ryan Faught gathered up a loose ball, took a couple of touches and delivered a long ball up the left side.  Anderson ran the ball down and fired the game winner.

“This match was full of ups and downs— probably one of the most exciting matches I’ve been a part of,” said Clear Lake Coach Matt Anderson.  “Garner made big strides this season and gave us all we could handle.  The biggest disappointment was simply having to play each other in the first round.  It would have been a great second or third round contest. It would be nice if the Iowa High School Athletic Association would take into consideration the teams we play during the regular season and match us accordingly with teams we have not played against.”

GHV Coach Eric Williams agreed.

“It may have been one of the  most exciting matches that I have ever coached.  From the very beginning we knew we had to play tough and play fast.  Our young men left everything on the field.  If there was ever a good way to lose, this would be the way— giving everything, playing to the very end against a good team.”

Burke scored four goals for the Cardinals in the game.  Colton Schroeder had one. Turner Albertson, Dalton Basinger and Dane Whipple each had assists. Goalkeeper Aiden McRobie had five saves.

G-R 3, CL 0

On Wednesday, the Lions traveled to the bracket’s top seed, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, for the second round of Regionals.  Clear Lake knew it would face a challenge against the Rebels, who are ranked third in the state with a 14-2 record.

“We knew coming into this match we’d have to be solid for two halves and get a couple of shots to go in.  G-R has had multiple games this season where

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they won by a single goal so they are comfortable in tight games and clearly have a solid back line.  As it turned out we did play two solid quarters of soccer, but did not find a way to score,” said Lions Coach Matt Anderson.

The Rebels  got a goal in the 36th minute of the first half off a corner kick.

“We knew G-R executed their set pieces very well and it was something we have to defend the entire game,” said Anderson.

The Rebels took a 1-0 lead into half.

In the 50th minute, G-R made an attack on the right side, crossed the ball and scored their second goal.  The final goal came in the 67th minute off another set piece by GR.

The 3-0 loss ended the Lions’ 2016 soccer season.

“We had some great opportunities in this match to take control of the lead and change the energy of the game.  With shots bouncing off the goal posts, just missing wide right, and wide left, it truly came down to an inch the other way and our shots become goals instead of misses.  The boys battled the entire contest and left everything on the field,” said Coach Anderson.  “With the disappointment of closing the career for 10 of my seniors, it’s encouraging to know these young men are going to excel in life, work, higher education and military careers.  They are exceptional young men and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to be their coach.”

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