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Senior Matt Mason scores two goals for state runners-up
By David Lee Morgan Jr.
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Saturday, Nov 08, 2008
COLUMBUS: All Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy soccer coach Jason Spodnik could do was praise his team Friday for an outstanding season that came up one goal short.
There wasn't anything else Spodnik could do after the Royals lost a heartbreaker in the Division II state championship at Columbus Crew Stadium against Dayton Carroll 3-2 in a shootout.
After a 2-2 tie at the end of regulation, and after two scoreless, 15-minute overtime periods, the championship came down to a five-player shootout.
And it was Carroll that outscored CVCA 4-3.
''We always talk about the journey being the reward,'' Spodnik said. ''We said it last year when we won [the state championship] and we had to say it this year when we lost.
''So with tears in their eyes and love in their hearts, they could say yes, the journey was the reward. They've grown into men this season and I'm proud of
them.''
Senior midfielder Brian Petak didn't let the loss take away from the Royals' outstanding season.
''It's a blessing to be able to play soccer,'' Petak said. ''As the year went along, you learned about your life and we loved each other so soccer was a learning tool for life.''
Senior forward Matt Mason, a University of Akron recruit who scored both goals for the Royals, said, ''Obviously it's disappointing but I just appreciated being on this team.''
Mason finished the season with a team-high 29 goals.
The Royals (19-3-1) took a 1-0 lead with 8:50 left in the first half on Mason's first goal. Senior midfielder/forward Taylor Hamilton was credited with the assist and the Royals led 1-0 at halftime.
The action picked up in the second half with Carroll (20-1-2) scoring consecutive goals from Jeffrey Graham and Connor Morris to take a 2-1 lead. The Patriots' second goal came with 15:17 left in regulation.
At that point, it looked as though CVCA's chance of repeating as state champion were slim, especially against a strong defensive team like Carroll.
But just a minute-and-a-half later, the Royals tied the score when Mason scored off an assist by senior midfielder Eric Hallis.
''It's the character of those guys,'' Spodnik said. ''They keep fighting for each other.''
CVCA put together a furious rally in the final three minutes of regulation but came up just a few inches away on two occasions of possibly winning the game.
The first opportunity came when Mason took a shot off a free kick from 26 yards out that skimmed the crossbar and sailed over the goal with 2:40 left.
Moments later on a free kick from Taylor Hamilton, John Mathoslah had his header from about 10 yards from the goal ricochet off the crossbar, as well.
''We needed some good fortune to win it last year, and in this game, we knew we needed some breaks because there were some fantastic goals,'' Spodnik said.
''We just didn't get those breaks we needed.''
David Lee Morgan Jr. can be reachedat dlmorgan@thebeaconjournal.com.
COLUMBUS: All Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy soccer coach Jason Spodnik could do was praise his team Friday for an outstanding season that came up one goal short.
Get the full article here.
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