Due to a recent increase in student-athletes unavailable to compete, including one entire position group, Lebanon Football is unable to play Friday night at Springboro. While no players are COVID-positive at this time, according to Lebanon Athletics, several football student-athletes are in quarantine due to contact tracing.
Loveland hosts Sycamore this Friday in their opener at 7 PM. The Tigers are not scheduled to play Lebanon this season.
On Saturday, October 28th, Loveland Varsity Women’s soccer defeated Springboro in what was essentially a rematch of their fall from victory last year. In overtime with 1:19 remaining, senior Sarah Harter scored the only goal of the game, earning Loveland the regional title. Tomorrow, Tuesday 11/7, the team will take on Powell Olentangy Liberty at Centerville Alumni Stadium at 7PM. Loveland’s Division I team will compete with the hopes of advancing to state finals at the MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus.
Loveland Varsity Women’s soccer team prepares to take on Springboro
Senior Brice Grieshop fights for the ball
Riley Massey during the first half
Coach Todd Kelly speaks to the team at halftime
Fans decry a foul call
Senior, Colleen “Jelly” Swift performs a front flip throwin
Loveland women’s soccer hugs Sarah Harter after her winning goal
Goalie Lauren Parker hugs her coach after Loveland’s win
Colleen “Jelly” Swift shows Loveland Magazine the team’s pet
Lauren Parker displays the team’s regional champion plaque
“The minutes leading up to the goal were a complete grind-out by the team. It was a well fought game by both teams, and it came down to who wanted it more and who was going to dig deeper to put one in the back of the net. I am so proud to be a part of this team. We are truly a family and I think that each one of us sold out for each other and that’s what won the game,” senior and player, Sarah Harter, told Loveland Magazine.
Watch Coach Todd Kelly speak after Loveland claimed the regional title:
“This team has been working hard since the beginning of June and we have invested so much into season, it’s impossible not to sell out for each other. I absolutely love this team and when I had the opportunity to step on that field during over time, I knew I had to make the moments matters (as my dad always tells me to do). There are people who played all 94 minutes of that game who made that moment possible for us and for me who really deserve the credit for the goal and ultimately the game,” Harter told Loveland, reflecting on her winning goal.
While the team has seen success, the game against Olentangy Liberty will no doubt be a challenge. Olentangy Liberty holds a comparatively lower record (13-5-3 win-loss-tie to Loveland’s 20-1-0), but the teams are from different regions with contrasting overall levels of skill.
“I’m anticipating winning the game and heading back to MAPFRE stadium to finish what we started two years ago,” Senior and goalie, Lauren Parker told Loveland Magazine.
If the team wins, they will compete at MAPFRE Stadium (where professional soccer team Columbus Crew plays) this Friday, 11/10.