West Geauga headed to first regional since 2004

In their celebratory postmatch team title picture, West Geauga and Coach Mario Gerhardt looked like they could have used some time to dry off.

Then again, however, the Wolverines were a little busy savoring a big moment for the program.

Mo Aidja’s goal in extra time gave West G a 3-2 win over Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin in a Division II district final at Mentor.

It marks the first district crown for the Wolverines (12-6-1) in boys soccer since 2004.

The weather was miserable, so in those conditions and with that lengthy of a wait since the last time in the sweet 16, you take it any way you can get it.

“That is exactly right,” Gerhardt said. “And it’s not just the weather.

“When you play in a district game, and it’s suddendeath, a win is a win no matter what.”

NDCL took a 2-1 lead into halftime on goals by Sam Myers and Jack Szmania.

But West G grabbed an equalizer through Dave Beattie in the 62nd minute to force extra time. Then Aidja supplied the heroics with his 15th goal of the fall.

“(Beattie’s goal) was a long free kick,” Gerhardt said. “He kicked it into the box. There was lots of traffic, and somehow it got in.

“Mo got a through pass. He dribbled past a couple people, and he just poked it. It hit the inside post and went in.”

Aidja has enjoyed an outstanding senior campaign, with a workrate and pace up top that has made him one of the area’s better strikers. Beattie (11 goals, 18 assists) returned to West G after a two-year hiatus in academy soccer to become a commanding holding midfielder and playmaker for the Wolverines.