Lake senior Gael Rios (11), center, moves the ball up the pitch against Genoa defenders Wyatt Steinmiller (20), left, and Jake Wollard (2), right, during the first half of a soccer match on Thursday at Genoa. (Scott W. Grau/Sentinel-Tribune)
GENOA — Lake junior defender Greyson Reed has never seen his team defeat Genoa during his prep soccer career, but with his help the Flyers made it happen on the Comets’ pitch Thursday night.
Reed scored the game-winner on an assist from junior midfielder Micah Balsmayer with 2:41 remaining, giving Lake a 2-1 Northern Buckeye Conference victory in the conference opener for both teams.
“It’s just unreal,” Reed said. “Nothing like playing here. The last two seasons we’ve been fighting for this win. First win against the Comets — it’s unreal.”
It was Reed’s first game this year after returning from an injury.
“These last four months have been crazy — I just broke my leg,” Reed said. “I had a beautiful shot just before off the post. Micah’s hard work got it to me at the right place, at the right time.”
Genoa has won three straight NBC titles, including outright titles in 2020 and 2021, but last year the Flyers and Comets both finished 8-0-2, tying each other twice in league play to share the title.
This year, Lake and Genoa will only play each other once with Oak Harbor and Maumee coming into the NBC, and coaches are saying Lake, Genoa, and Maumee are considered league favorites.
“Maumee looks solid. It’s one time through, you can’t lose — plain and simple,” Genoa coach Tim Memmer said.
The Flyers improved to 2-2 overall, while the Comets, which have had two games canceled, one because of excessive heat and the other because of lightning storms, are 0-1-1.
Maumee, 4-0-1, opened league play by pounding host Rossford, 9-0, Thursday in the Panthers’ first-ever NBC game.
“Maumee is going to be tough,” Lake coach Brian Reed said. “This was a must-win for us. I’m hoping for an NBC championship the last game of the year (at Maumee’s Kazmaier Stadium on Oct. 12).
“It’s going to be tough, but we have Defiance (0-3) on Saturday, so we are going to refocus and get ready for those guys.”
To get the win over Genoa, the Flyers had to come back from a 1-0 deficit and one-man down the final 28:51 of the game after a starter received a red card.
A Genoa assistant coach also received a red card in a game that saw 27 fouls whistled plus two yellow cards not leading to red cards.
These are two teams who know each other well because Memmer and Reed join forces with the same travel program in the offseason, and players are often teammates, making the rivalry that much more meaningful.
However, Lake controlled the midfield, and ended with a 25-8 shot advantage, including 14-2 in shots on goal.
Genoa senior goalkeeper Tyler Harper had 12 saves, including four diving saves, to keep the Flyers out of the net for the first 53 minutes of the game.
“Tyler did a nice job,” Memmer said. “That is what he does. That is what we expect. He never surprises us with that.”
Coach Reed added, “Tyler is great. He plays club with us, so I know. A few great saves, honestly.”
Genoa had gotten on the board first, scoring on their first shot on goal with 2:34 remaining in the first half to take a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Genoa junior defender Max Huss scored off a free kick by junior midfielder Bradan Nowak from just outside the goalkeeper’s box.
The Comets held onto their lead, and once Lake lost a player because of a red card, coach Reed admitted that his team was in trouble. But somehow, the Flyers continued to control possession one man down.
Nearly 13 minutes into the second half, Lake senior forward Gael Rios scored the tying goal off a free kick from sophomore midfielder Preston Snyder from just outside the box — a goal that looked eerily similar to Huss’ goal.
“Preston ran all the way over there, hit an amazing ball, and the goalkeeper didn’t see it coming at all,” Rios said.
“As soon as the goalkeeper comes up, it goes right under him, inside the net. Preston is amazing. He’s the best sophomore on the team.”
In both Lake goals, it took misdirection in the box to confuse Harper and keep him from making one of his diving saves.
“The first one was kind of a mess,” coach Reed said. “(The second goal) Greyson came in, and this is his first game back from a major injury. He’s back, and said, ‘Coach, can I get on top.’ And he got up there and made it happen.”
