Perrysburg senior Caden Geissler (9) moves the ball against Findlay’s Charlie Ernst (6) during the first half of a soccer match on Tuesday at Steinecker Stadium. (Scott W. Grau | Sentinel-Tribune)
PERRYSBURG — Perrysburg senior midfielder Caden Geissler scored just 11 minutes and 58 seconds after kickoff, providing the Yellow Jackets all the scoring they needed against visiting Findlay on Tuesday.
In what could still prove to be a key Northern Lakes League Buckeye Division encounter, Geissler’s goal gave Perrysburg a 1-0 lead they held onto for nearly 78 minutes.
The only issue with that is Findlay is a dangerous team, already handing Anthony Wayne their only league loss, and if the Trojans scored just once to force a tie it would eliminate the Jackets from any chance of winning a league title.
“It’s one of those games where you are nervous the whole game,” Perrysburg coach Dennis Jeansonne said. “Findlay has had some great results and 1-0 is nerve wracking for us on the sidelines, so we had plenty of possession, dominated in the stats, but we’ve got to get a couple on the scoresheet.”
Fortunately for the Jackets, they scored twice in the final two minutes and 11 seconds, leaving Steinecker Stadium with a 3-0 conference win.
It was the final league game this season for Perrysburg, which improves to 9-2-1 overall and 6-2 in the NLL Buckeye Division, while Findlay drops to 4-8-1 and 2-5.
For Geissler, he had Perrysburg junior midfielder Chase Jeansonne to credit for his game-winning goal. Jeansonne beat two Findlay defenders to the ball, then dribbled through a third, passed right to Geissler, who had the easy tap in to put the Jackets on the board.
“It was a good pass from Chase. I was in the right spot at the right time,” Geissler said. “You know, all I had to do was finish it and I did. He does that. He makes those passes.”
Perrysburg outshot Findlay 21-2, including 13-1 in shots on goal, but for 78 minutes the Trojans were working hard to tie the game.
Any steal at midfield, or any opportunity the Trojans got, they tried to go directly over the top hoping for a mistake by the Perrysburg defense, but the Jackets made no mistakes.
Findlay did not get a shot on goal until four minutes and 45 seconds into the second half, and Perrysburg senior goalkeepers Freddie Dowling and Tucker Benge, each playing one half, only needed to combine for two saves to get the clean sheet.
That was in big part because of the Jackets’ defense, which keyed on Findlay senior midfielder Ethan Humm.
Perrysburg had four corner kick opportunities to Findlay’s one, but on that one, Perrysburg senior defender Isaac Klapper cleared the ball with a header that sent the ball sailing 20 yards, and just like that the threat was over.
Klapper said his defense knew the situation, and even though the Trojans were desparate to score in the second half, the Jackets bent but did not break.
“I was responsible for getting that first ball, like heading that first ball out and just shutting out their one dude (Humm) at top,” Klapper said. “I think we did a pretty good job of that.”
Finally, with 2:11 remaining, Perrysburg senior midfielder Dylan Motter sent a long lead pass to junior forward Brayden Heitmeyer, who scored to give the Jackets a badly needed insurance goal.
Just 25 seconds later, Chase Jeansonne sent a 25-yard shot into the right side of the net for the Jackets’ third goal.
“It’s nice to get a couple at the end but Findlay played a heck of a game — just held us out for 78 minutes until the end,” coach Jeansonne said. “We got a couple at the very end, but they played great.”
For 10 Perrysburg seniors, the win came on Senior Night. Senior midfielder Omar Touray is the only Jacket currently interested in playing varsity or club soccer at the next level, but many have the ability.
“Several of them could. It just comes down if they want to or not,” coach Jeansonne said. “Playing in college just takes a bigger commitment than most but there are several who have the ability to play.”
Two could not start against Findlay because of injuries, but that does not take away their competitive drive.
“A couple of injuries, but the senior class is great, we have a great mentality,” Geissler said. “We want to win every game. We take it one game at a time and we’re looking toward the postseason.”
Klapper added, “They mean a lot to me. I’ve played with these guys since I was 4, 5, 6 years old, and it’s really nice playing with them your senior year.”
Coach Jeansonne says they have come into their own after a senior-laden team last year led the Jackets to an NLL championship.
“It’s a different class, right? They’ve been in the shadows of a very strong class ahead of them and it’s just nice to see them having breakout year. They are having fun,” coach Jeansonne said.
Anthony Wayne, which tied Sylvania Northview 1-1 Tuesday, is 8-5-2 overall and 5-1-1 in the NLL Buckeye Division, so technically Perrysburg is in first place with 15 points and AW follows with 13.
But AW has one league game remaining, hosting Toledo Whitmer on Oct. 8. The Generals beat Whitmer 2-0 on Sept. 10, but a tie or Whitmer win in the rematch could leave the title in Perrysburg’s hands.
“There’s always hope,” coach Jeansonne said. “Christmas can come early, right? But, at this point we’re playing to make sure we’re ready for the postseason.”
