Flyers push Rockets to limit, fall short in OT to finish district runners-up

JACKSON — It was a Cinderella run only to end when the glass slipper just managed to slip away.

The heavy underdog St. Joseph Flyers were on the verge of the biggest upset in the Division 5 soccer tournament, but the top-seeded Fayetteville-Perry Rockets managed to get a goal in overtime before their championship dreams turned into a pumpkin as they escaped with a 4-3 overtime win in the district title game.

"We had some chances there in that overtime to get it done. But then we let (Espinoza) get free there and allowed him to get another look," said Flyers coach Mike Balestra. "I think we kind of hurried ourselves and pressured ourselves to win it as fast as we can and just lost track of what we were trying to do.'

The Rockets (18-1-1) now play Berlin Hiland in the regional semifinals at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at West Muskingum High School.

After upsetting South Webster on Thursday, the Flyers were looking to make it 2 in a row only to come up just short.

The Flyers (12-6-2) broke the scoreless tie at the 34-minute mark of the first half when Mason Weber received a pass just past midfield and sent it ahead to Barrett Waginger, as the sophomore got behind the defense for a one-on-one and punched the ball past the goal keep for the early goal.

Fayetteville-Perry tied the game when Levi Espinoza scored off a throw-in from Brayden Williams just 3 minutes later.

The Rockets were awarded a penalty kick in the 22nd minute, as the Flyers committed a hand ball inside the box. Espinoza made good on his penalty kick and placed the ball in the right pocket past the Flyers goal keep.

The Rockets would maintain that lead until the break.

Fayetteville would be assessed a red card during the 24th minute, turning the tide of the game as the Flyers would go on the man-advantage the rest of the way.

However, the Rockets would get a shorthanded goal just moments later as Luke Jordan scored an unassisted goal to double the Rockets lead at 3-1.

But the never-say-die Flyers battled back as Waginger scored off header on a corner kick by Texas Jack Whaley with 19 minutes left in the second half to make it a one-score game.

Then Weber was able to again move into the middle of the field and get an outlet pass to Whaley up the right side and Whaley punched a shot that was out of the reach of the goal keep and into the backside left pocket of the net to tie the game up at 3-all with 14:18 showing on the clock.

Whaley would come close to netting the winner minutes later, but goalie Charlie Jordan mad a diving play way out of net to turn aside what could've been the go-ahead goal with under 10 minutes to play.

The mach would move into overtime and the Flyers nearly came within inches of clinching it in the opening minute.

Weber would get an open look and fire a strike high at the net, but Jordan was able to get a hand up and punch it over the net for the save. The Flyers ensuing corner kick would come up empty as well.

Minutes later, Peyton Ford would make a game-saving stop as well after Fayetteville was able to get a wide open look from the top of the box and Ford turned the scoring chance aside.

But Espinoza would get free and get another look from the center of the box and send a strike into the net to score his third goal to win the game for the Rockets at the 5:08 mark of the extra period.

Waginger had 2 goals, Whaley a goal and an assist, and Weber had 2 assists.

The Flyers took 11 shots with 9 on goal while the Berries took 27 shots with 12 on goal.

St. Joseph 1 2 0 = 3

Fayetteville 2 1 1 = 4

First Half

SJ — Barrett Waginger (assist Mason Weber) 34:00

FP — Levi Espinoza (assist Brayden Williamson) 31:00

FP — Levi Espinoza (penalty kick from hand ball in box) 22:00

Second Half

FP — Luke Jordan (unassisted) 23:00

SJ — Barrett Waginger (assist Jack Whaley) 19:00

SJ — Jack Whaley (assist Mason Weber) 14:00

Overtime

FP — Levi Espinoza (unassisted) 5:00

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Total Shots — St. Joseph 11, Fayetteville-Perry 27

Shots on Goal — St. Joseph 9, Fayetteville-Perry 12