L-B starts fast, claims district crown

BOYS SOCCER L-B 4 BRYAN 1 DEFIANCE –Liberty-Benton's boys soccer team got off to a quick start in its Division IV district final in Defiance, scoring three goals in the first three minutes, and then holding on for a 4-1 victory over Bryan. Less than two minutes into the contest, Silas Arredondo converted an assist from Aiden Hatch to put the Eagles up, 1-0. Less than four minutes after that, L-B's Garrett Nealis found the back of the net off an assist from Trevor Ferris to put the Eagles up 2-0. With 24:06 left in the half, Liberty-Benton's Dorian Bickhart turned a pass from Jairo Colina to put the Eagles up 3-0. The Golden Bears got on the board with 13:15 left in the half, when Carter Altaffer scored. The Eagles carried a 3-1 lead into the break. About 15 minutes into the second half, an L-B player was assessed a red card, meaning the Eagles had to play 10 on 11 for the remainder of regulation. Nonetheless, L-B added to its advantage when Tayden Troyer scored with 9:27 remaining. L-B goalkeeper Ben Jenkins made 6 saves in the win. The Golden Bears goalie, Don Malenga, made seven saves. The Eagles improved to 19-1, and will play in the regional semifinal either Milbury Lake or Port Clinton on Wednesday at Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin. The game will start at 7 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER COL. GROVE 4BLUFFTON 2BLUFFTON– Columbus Grove clinched its first district championship on Thursday, playing spoiler on the road against Bluffton 4-2. Lauryn Auchmuty notched a hat trick and an assist for Columbus Grove. Ella Dotson scored a goal as well. Goalkeeper Erianne Heffner finished with four saves and one assist. Devanie Pingle added an assist as well.Bluffton's Aubrey Burkholder scored twice for the Pirates. Keeper Kynzie Ewing ended with six saves. The Bulldogs are now 17-1-2, in just the fifth year of soccer at Columbus Grove. They will travel to Port Clinton on Tuesday for a matchup with the 13-5-2 Evergreen Vikings. FOOTBALL ARLINGTON 41 ARCADIA 7 ARLINGTON – Ayden Cavinee ran for a touchdown, Calvin Willow hauled in a TD pass, and Arlington snapped a two-game skid by topping Arcadia, 41-7 in the regular season finale for both teams Thursday. The Red Devils led 13-0 after one period and were up 20-7 at the break before pulling away and improving to 5-5, 2-5 in the BVC. Arlington already had secured a spot in the Division VII Region 26 playoffs. It will be on the road for its postseason opener. The Redskins finished their season 0-10. FRIDAY'S SCHEDULE PREP FOOTBALLFindlay at Sylvania NorthviewLeipsic at Ada (BVC)Riverdale at Pandora-Gilboa (BVC)McComb at Elmwood (BVC)Cory-Rawson at GibsonburgVan Buren at Liberty-Benton (BVC)Fostoria at Rossford (NBC)Carey at Bucyrus (N10)Fostoria at Rossford (NBC)North Baltimore at Upper Scioto Valley (NWCC)Columbus Grove at Bluffton (NWC)Ottawa-Glandorf at Defiance (WBL)Vanlue at Crestline