GREENVILLE – Greenville played even with Sidney through the first half on Tuesday but gave up three second half goals to lose the Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division game 3-0.
The first half was back and forth with both teams coming up just short on scoring opportunities to go into halftime with a scoreless tie.
“Just a all-out battle right there,” Greenville boys soccer coach Brent DeVoss said. “Back and forth. We had our opportunities. They had theirs. AJ (Frens) came up with a huge save to keep us in it. Shots were pretty equal. Opportunities were pretty equal.”
After Greenville held Sidney scoreless for 40 minutes in the first half it took just 43 seconds into the second period for the Yellow Jackets to break the scoreless tie.
“We just kind of got flat there with a little roll in, and that kind of broke our spirits maybe, and we never recuperated from that one,” DeVoss said.
After giving up a quick goal to start the second half Greenville’s defense clamped down for the next 11 minutes and kept the score at 1-0. But the Green Wave couldn’t hold off the Yellow Jackets any longer as they scored with 27:53 left in the half to go up 2-0.
Sidney then scored the game’s final goal with 13:32 remaining to win the GWOC North game 3-0.
“We held them tight for the first half,” DeVoss said. “Just three mental breakdowns there to give up three, in my mind, pretty cheap goals. But overall great heart. They showed competitiveness. We had our chances, and we just missed on some of them chances.”
With the loss Greenville fell to 7-8-1 overall and 1-3-1 in the GWOC North while Sidney improved to 12-2-2 overall and 4-1 in the division.
“We’re having a great season, and we’re going to keep working hard,” DeVoss said.
Greenville’s next game will be an Ohio High School Athletic Association tournament game against the Southwest District’s top-seeded team, Beavercreek. The sectional tournament game between the GWOC foes will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at Beavercreek.
“It’s a great opportunity in the GWOC to play against such talent,” DeVoss said. “And our guys are getting better and better every game, and that’s what we’re looking forward to. Now we’re looking forward and going down and playing Beavercreek, another great opportunity. You just don’t get these opportunities playing in some other league. Only in the GWOC do you get these opportunities to play these great teams.”
Prior to Tuesday’s regular season finale Greenville honored its five senior – Scott Denman, Jordan Ernst, Tannier Reed, Joe Suter and Austin Violet.
“Great group,” DeVoss said. “It’s always kind of painful to my heart to lose my seniors. Those guys have been with me for four years so I’ve seen them go through the bad times and now they get to experience some good times. It’s not fun to give up players, but I wish them the best of luck. They are a great part of this team, and I hope their future goes on.”
