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Tigers looking for more payback against ’Dogs

Photo by Ron Johnston Marietta senior Jake Craven makes a move for the ball earlier in the season. The Tigers will face Athens High School in the Ohio Division II district semifinal today at Logan High School’s Chieftain Stadium.

Marietta High got some partial payback against Athens High during the regular season when it blanked the Bulldogs, 6-0, at Jerry Brock Field on Sept. 19.

Now, the Todd Morris-coached Tigers, No. 8 in the OSSCA State Poll with a 17-0-1 record (5-0-1 ECOL), will be looking to end Athens’ 2019 boys’ soccer campaign (just like AHS did to MHS, 2-1, in last year’s postseason match) in an Ohio Division II district semifinal at 7 p.m. today at Logan High’s Chieftain Stadium.

In today’s other semi at 5 p.m. at LHS, Alexander is scheduled to face Jackson.

The semifinal winners are then slated to play in a district final at LHS Saturday.

One of those semi winners is probably going to be top-seeded and favored Marietta.

If you haven’t seen the Tigers on the pitch this fall, you’re missing something pretty special.

I mean, these guys got game, and are a treat to watch.

They have unbelievable foot skills and move the ball around on the pitch, almost like a pro team. And, no team is a better finisher than they are.

This season, Marietta has put the ball into the back of the net a school-record 118 times. Think about that for a moment. That’s an average of 6.56 goals per match.

Athens “limited” MHS to six in the first meeting, so I guess the Tigers were a hair “below their average” that evening.

Of course, the ‘Dogs didn’t help themselves by going scoreless, either.

Marietta has five double-digit scorers on the team in Ryan Mannix, co-captain Jake Craven, Sean Fournier, Ethan Feathers and Cade Gandor. Overall, 12 players on the roster have scored at least one goal.

Needless to say, the Athens defense will be stretched to the max.

Mannix leads the scoring parade with a single-season, school record 38 goals. He got three of those in the Tigers’ 6-1 triumph over Hillsboro (6-11-1) this past Saturday at JBF.

Mannix also had a hat trick in the first meeting against Athens.

Craven, the school’s all-time assists leader, is one of two players on the team with a double-double in goals and assists on the season. He usually but not always takes the Tiger corner kicks.

Fournier is the other player on the squad with a double-double in goals and assists. He takes most of the direct (free) kicks on the pitch, and is very accurate with his shot. Against Waverly in a sectional semi, he was 3 for 4 on free kicks (two direct and one penalty).

Both Feathers and Gandor are positioned on the right and left wings, respectively — and they’re always hustling and battling for the ball.

Let’s take a look at some of the other starters.

The other midfielders are Kamden Lankford and Cayden Wheeler. Both are very talented ballhandlers, and won’t hesitate to shoot if they’re open.

Marietta’s main defenders are co-cap Adam Coil, Jantzen Gebzyck and Jackson Graham, and this fall, they’ve helped goalkeeper Justin LaBarre record seven clean sheets.

In my opinion, all 11 Tiger starters are worthy of All-Ohio accolades.

MHS also has good depth. Usually, David Sarver and Dillon Meagle are the first ones off the pine.

And, last, but certainly not least, Marietta is well-coached. Assisting Morris are Colten Holdren, Keith Schwendeman and Bill Mannix

Athens is a longtime Marietta rival on the pitch. So, the Tigers won’t be taking the Bulldogs lightly. Every Tiger will be well prepared.

Morris spoke how they would like a lower scoring game and he doesn’t think Athens can afford to get in a shootout with the Tigers. Danny Getz does lead a power Bulldog offense, but he didn’t score and had just two shots on goal back in September.

But to be honest with you, I’ll be surprised if the match is close.

Ron Johnston can be reached at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com

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