Loveland will take on Perrysburg at the MAPFRE stadium in Columbus for the state title on Friday, 11/10 at 7 PM.
Centerville, OH- On Tuesday, November 7th, Loveland High School Varsity women’s soccer took on Olentangy Liberty at the Centerville Alumni stadium to compete in the Division I Final-4. Loveland’s Colleen “Jelly” Swift scored the winning goal with only 1:17 left in overtime.
The Olentangy Liberty Patriots held a one-point lead through most of the second half until, with less that 10 minutes remaining, Senior Brice Grieshop scored. The teams battled it out for the last several minutes as rowdy crowds shouted from both sides. Loveland held more black-and-orange clad spectators with signs and face paint than seats on their side of the stadium, spilling out along the fence. The game ended in a tie to be decided by overtime.
As with their previous game, Loveland held their own in overtime until just over a minute remained. Senior Sarah Harter assisted Colleen “Jelly” Swift for the winning goal to end a tense semifinal game.
“The whole team worked so hard all game. We got down a goal, and we fought right back. I’m so glad I was able to do my part by putting it in the back of the net. It could’ve been any one of us,” senior Colleen Swift told Loveland Magazine.
Watch Post-Game interviews on Loveland Magazine TV:
Loveland will take on Perrysburg at the MAPFRE stadium in Columbus for the state title on Friday, 11/10 at 7 PM. Perrysburg has a comparatively lower record (17-2-3 win-loss-tie to Lovelands 21-1-0), but the team is from a different region with varying levels of overall talent. Loveland is seeded #2 whereas Perrysburg holds #7 in the OHSAA bracket. If the past two games have been any indication of the future, it will likely be an exciting game.
Tigers win!!! STATE! pic.twitter.com/UwCBo5YI7C
— Peggy Johnson (@LHSTigrInCharge) November 8, 2017
Loveland has followed through with “The Mission” (as players and students have been calling their postseason competition) and will compete at MAPFRE stadium in Columbus– the player’s goal from day one. MAPFRE stadium is home to the Columbus Crew and will host Loveland again after their previous loss to Walsh Jesuit in 2015.
“The ultimate goal for our season is to finish what we started 2 years ago, which would be going to state and winning,” Goalie and senior, Lauren Parker told Loveland Magazine after the team’s first conference game. Since that game, Loveland women’s soccer has only lost once (out of conference).
“There isn’t a school in the state of Ohio that has a true following like this. These kids deserve it, but they’re very appreciative at the same time. The crowd we heard tonight was humbling to me– I am truly humbled by the reaching out and the support we’ve received, and we’re going to ask that they come out and support us one more time on Friday,” head coach Todd Kelly told Loveland Magazine.
Ticket Info:
The Varsity women’s Soccer Team will depart from Loveland High School on Thursday, November 9th at 6:45pm. Supporters are encouraged to line the streets of Loveland as the team leaves for Columbus. The bus route will turn right out of the high school on Rich Road, right on West Loveland, left onto Lebanon Road and right onto Loveland-madeira to I-275.
All tickets (presale or at the gate) are $8 each for all spectators. No Passes are accepted. Parking at MAPFRE Stadium is $7 per car. MAPFRE Stadium and the General Parking is best reached by exiting off 17th Avenue off I-71 (Exit 111); gate #5 at MAPFRE is the general admission gate. No airhorns are permitted inside the stadium.
Gates at MAPFRE Stadium open to the public at 10:30am on Friday, November 10th and one ticket will permit the ticket holder to watch all games for the entire day (all 3 Divisions). However, anyone exiting the stadium will be required to purchase a ticket to re-entry.
Tickets are being overnighted to Loveland High School for students, and are expected to arrive by 10:30am Thursday morning. Presale tickets will be sold for $8 on Thursday, Nov. 9th from 10:45am-6pm here in the Athletic Office and at during all three lunches.
Tickets for the Spirit Buses traveling to MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus will be $10 per student. This includes the game ticket, bus ride to and from the game and a spirit item. Spirit Buses will depart Loveland High School at 4pm on Friday, November 10th and return from Columbus at approximately 11:30pm. No Spirit Bus Packs or Presale Tickets will be sold at school on Friday, November 10th.
Loveland will compete at the MAPFRE stadium for the state title on Friday, 11/10 7pm.
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