SANDUSKY, Ohio - One set play was the difference Tuesday night as No. 2 Kirtland earned a return trip to the OHSAA Division III girls soccer state title game.
Junior Lidia Rodin’s first-half goal propelled the Hornets to 1-0 victory over unranked Archbold on Strobel Field at Cedar Point Stadium.
Kirtland’s victory sets up a rematch with defending state champion and No. 1 ranked Country Day. The Indians defeated Kirtland 4-0 in last year’s D-III state championship game. Country Day advanced with a victory over Bishop Rosencrans.
The wind was a major factor in the game. Kirtland played the with the wind at their backs in the first half and Archbold had the wind in the second half.
There was only one shot on goal the entire first half and the Hornets made it count. Kirtland got on the scoreboard off a free kick. Rodin set up just inside the sideline on the right side of the goal and curved the ball directly into the net with 7:46 remaining in the first half.
The Kirtland defense made that goal hold up as the second half was scoreless.
Kirtland nearly scored eight minutes into the second half on another set piece. Freshman Erika Zschuppe had a free kick from about 25 yards out. Her shot skipped just over the bar keeping the score 1-0.
The game was a part of history. A school has qualified both its girls and boys soccer teams to the state final four 35 times in OHSAA soccer history in the same season, but this is the first time two schools faced each other in both girls and boys state semifinal games.
The girls game was moved to Sandusky and played as the opener of a doubleheader in order to accommodate the fans of both schools. The Kirtland and Archbold boys were playing later Tuesday night on the same field.
Archbold (16-2-4) had only allowed eight goals all season and had 14 shutouts.
In the regional final, Kirtland (20-2) rallied from an early deficit to defeat Chippewa 3-2 in the regional final. The victory was revenge for the Hornets loss in the 2015 regional final.
The Hornets will now seek vengeance against Country Day in the D-III state title game on Friday at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus.
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