District Semifinal results/pairings and District final pairings for Jackson area teams.
Division 2, District 21 hosted by Western
Mason 5 vs. Northwest 0
Western 3 vs. Chelsea 2
Western hosted Chelsea, for what became an instant classic, in the second District 21 Semi-Final on Tuesday night.
Both teams knew what was on the line – a chance to play Mason for a district title on Thursday. After an earlier season 1-0 victory by Western, the tensions were a bit high heading into Tuesday night.
Western seemed to control the game with their typical style of possession, grit, and hard work. It took 27 minutes for them to break down Chelsea’s defense, but Christian Roza was able to draw some defenders toward him, found Roarke Watterson who took a couple of touches and hit a shot from outside the box and beat the goalie on the near post. Western took this 1-0 lead into half time.
The tide turned in the second half, as Western began to feel Chelsea pushing and being more assertive. With less than four minutes left in the game, Chelsea knotted the score at 1-1. This score held at the end of regulation.
For the second time in two games, Western went into overtime, 2 ten minute halves. Western controlled the first half of overtime, and came back out in the second with fire in their bellies. Christian Roza got into the box, appeared to be fouled but was waved off. His relentless pursuit allowed him to regain possession of the ball and slotted it across to a wide open Geovani Bowden Fuentes, who had the shot of his life to put the Panthers up 2-1 with seven minutes remaining.
Chelsea, feeling their season coming to an end, made one last push. A foul outside the box with less than twenty seconds gave them a direct kick. After taking their time, they set their piece. The service was deflected and ended up in the net to tie the game at 2-2 with 1.2 seconds left on the clock.
The game went into a penalty shootout to determine the winner. Chelsea hit their first, but missed their next three (one was saved by Western’s Aidan Barrett). Western scored their first two, Christian Roza and Wittaker Watterson. Missed the third to make the shoutout score 2-1 in Western’s favor. They needed one of their remaining two to win it. Roarke Watterson stepped up and buried Western’s fourth shot in the net, and the corner celebration began.
Western won 3-2 (OT/SO) to move on and play Mason for a District Final on Thursday night at 6:30.
Come out with your rain gear according to the weather channel, grab an hot chocolate, and bring your NOISE!!!!!
Division 3, District 37 Hosted by Stockbridge
10/18
Grass Lake vs. Michigan Center 5pm
Ann Arbor Greenhills vs. Columbia Central @ Ann Arbor Greenhills 4:30pm
Division 4, District 55 hosted by Lumen
Hillsdale 3 vs Jonesville 0
Manchester 2 vs. Clinton 1
District Final 10/19
Hillsdale vs. Manchester @ 5pm