Marietta vs. St. Francis De Sales; Reg. Semi (Tues. Nov. 3)

[soccerfanatic]

Marietta vs. St. Francis De Sales on Tuesday night at 7:00 P.M. in a Regional Semifinal. Didn't see a host site, but the state sent this game to the crappy confines of Paint Stadium the last few years.

Marietta will have their hands full with De Sales who finished out the regular season ranked first in the state of Ohio for DII. De Sales sent Athens home last year with a 4-0 defeat and went on to the State Semis before being knocked out by the eventual state champions from Carroll High School out of Dayton. De Sales beat Marietta 4-0 at this stage in 2007.

Since the switch to three divisions in 2001, no southeast team has ever beaten a central district team in regionals at the DII level. Athens has come the closest with a 2-1 loss to De Sales in 2001 and a 2-1 loss to eventual state champions Bexley in 2003. It is unfortunate that the southeast almost always has to face not only the central district, but usually the favorite out of the central district. In 2002, Athens faced off with the east winner Philo in the Regional Semifinal and pounded Philo 4-0. However, we turned around and were destroyed by De Sales 6-0 in the elite 8.

It's not been pretty between southeast and central teams over the years other than the two close games by Athens:
2001: De Sales 2 - Athens 1
2002: De Sales 6 (State Runner Up) - Athens 0 (Regional Final)
2003: Bexley (State Champions) 2 - Athens 1
2004: Watkins Memorial (State Champions) 4 - Athens 1 (this was closer than it sounds, with the two team tied with 15 minutes to go)
2005: Bexley 8 (State Champions) - Jackson 1
[2006: Warren got to face an east winner in 06, but lost 4-1 to Dresden Tri Valley]
2007: De Sales 4 - Marietta 0
2008: De Sales 4 - Athens 0

I don't know if the state will rotate the southeast to play an east team on a schedule. If so, the only pattern I see is that every four years (last times were 2002 and 2006), a southeast team might have a chance to make it to the elite 8 next year if we get to play the east. No offense to the east, but usually they're not even close to being a favorite to win the whole darn thing like the central is.

[soccerfanatic]

With all of that said... Good luck to Marietta! They might be a huge underdog in this game, but crazier things have happened. De Sales is not going to be looking at this game with any amount of fear, which could play into the Tigers' hands. Who knows? Is it likely Marietta will win? Nope, but the pressure is all on De Sales and Marietta has nothing to lose. Marietta can play knowing that they've accomplished something great just being there, whereas it will be considered a failure for De Sales if they don't win the whole gosh darn thing.

I know last year, De Sales did scout the Athens-Marietta final and were ready for us. It was tough for us to lick our wounds from the final and take the one day of practice to get ready for De Sales. The Athens team last year was more defensive than Marietta is this year, but Marietta has a better offense than the Bulldogs had last year. It was hard for us to put enough pressure to push De Sales back and they were able to make their 2-0 halftime lead into 4-0. We kept them from scoring for 20 minutes, but it was only a matter of time when we couldn't keep the ball on their side of the field. If Marietta can keep the Stallions from getting an early goal (this will be critical) it will put pressure on De Sales and give the Tiger offense enough time to try to get a counterattack or two.

All rivalries aside, all of our DII teams in the southeast have to rally behind Marietta. Good luck!

[soccernut]

As much as I would like to see us get to the next round the chances are slim to none. The last time Marietta went to paint stadium they played with us like we weren't there. Although the score was 4-0, it was not indicitive of the butt whooping we took. I would like to say we hung with them for a while, but it was men against boys. We did manage to get on there side of the field a few times, we never had a quality shot on goal.

Maybe if they would separate the private schools from the public the southeast would have a better chance to advance.

I have heard that the game was going to be at Logan. That's just here say, I haven't seen it written down any where. When I checked OHSAA, they have Chilli listed in the bracket as beating Marietta 4-3 OT.

[Bucknuts]

I heard the game is at Logan as well....

DeSales did have someone scouting the Chillicothe / Marietta game for what its worth. They stayed for the first half...

Play good "D" and take advantage of ANY offensive opportunity.

Stollar (GK) needs to have a huge game for Marietta to have a chance, IMHO.

Good luck from Chillicothe!

[pkp76]

Make it a match, Tigers! Play on their side of the field and make something happen early. You guys are solid. We'll be coming up from Athens for support.

[LHS soccer fan]

All rivalries aside, all of our DII teams in the southeast have to rally behind Marietta. Good luck!

Good luck from Logan, too.....represent the SEOAL well....and all of southeastern Ohio!!! Score early, score fast, and then play like you know how to play!!! We're backing you all the way! Go Tigers!

[Bucknuts]

DeSales up 1-0 at half............... scored with 4 min before half.

Still 1-0, 12 min left in game.

[Bucknuts]

DeSales gets a second goal with 2:51 left ............. 2-0 final.

Great job Tigers!

[soccernut]

Sounds like they represented well. One of these days I would like to see one of the southeast teams break through and get to the state round.