High school soccer: Brunswick wins double-overtime thriller

AVON — Jordan Piskach had a choice: Back post or front post. He chose wisely. The Brunswick senior saw an opportunity to prevent a shootout with 1:15 left in double overtime when he found himself alone with the ball on the right side. Instead of playing to his initial instinct, shooting for the back post, he aimed for the front post and scored the golden goal in a thrilling 2-1 Division I, Northeast 5 District semifinal win over Avon. "The ball came slotted through and all I saw was green," Piskach said. "It was three against one and I saw one of our players out there and thought he was a better option rather than me. But Ryan (Horner) slotted me. I was going to go back post, but I went front post because we studied film and (Avon goalie Ryan Poling) left the front post open, so that's where I shot it." Fifth-seeded Brunswick (12-3-3) was making its sixth trip to the district semifinals in the last eight years and advanced to the final for the first time in that span. The Blue Devils will play at fourth-seeded Avon Lake (14-2-1), which defeated No. 6 seed Copley 2-1 in its semifinal, on Saturday at 1 p.m. Third-seeded Avon (12-3-2) was seeking its third straight district championship and fourth straight trip to the district final. "We've had so many issues that have gone on," Brunswick coach Ben Dotson said. "Every time they've been handed adversity, they've handled it and pushed on as a group. Tonight was no different." Avon outshot Brunswick 9-6 in the first half, placing five on goal to the Blue Devils' two, and 28-13 for the game (13-6 on frame). But neither team scored until Brunswick took a 1-0 lead thanks to a great feed from Cole Parete to Zach Jernejcic, who tapped the ball into the net from the middle of the box with 22:54 to play. Poling almost made a diving save, but grabbed the ball a moment after it crossed the line. The Blue Devils almost held off Avon's relentless attempt to send the game to overtime. Ryan Tober set up Ethan Sier with a pair of great looks right in front of the net that keeper Gavyn Ernst and the Blue Devils back line denied. However, Avon sent the game into OT on a free kick from Evan Valderrama, who crossed the ball to the right side of the box for Logan Brown to head in with 2:18 left in regulation. That was the only blemish on an otherwise fantastic game for Ernst, who made 12 saves while extending his school record for career wins to 41. "Gavyn played the game of his life, to be honest," Dotson said. "He's unbelievable. Our back line is the walking wounded, but they found a way tonight just to continue to find a tackle at that moment to deny them time and time again." Ernst and the Blue Devils defense again held strong in overtime as Avon strung together nine shots, placing two on goal. Brunswick had taken just three shots — only one on goal — before Piskach's game-winner, and trailed 10-1 in corner kicks on the night. "I know this is my first year playing, but this group of guys has been working together for a long time to get to where we're at right now," Piskach said. "It feels really good to come through in the second overtime and put it away." Contact Chris Sweeney at sports@medina-gazette.com. Brunswick 2, Avon 1 (2 OT) Division I, Northeast 5 District Semifinal BRUNSWICK 0 1 0 1 — 2 AVON 0 1 0 0 — 1 Second B — Zach Jernejcic (Cole Parete), 22:54. A — Logan Brown (Evan Valderrama), 2:18. Second Overtime Jordan Piskach, 1:15. Shots on goal — Brunswick 6, Avon 13. Corner kicks — Brunswick 1, Avon 10. Saves — Gavyn Ernst (B) 12, Ryan Poling (A) 4. Records — Brunswick (12-3-3), Avon (14-2-1).