University tops Kenston in D-I district semifinal

Aiden Ptacek’s first-half strike proved decisive as the Preppers emerged with a 1-0 win over the Bombers from a well-played match in Hunting Valley, the sides’ first meeting since 2009.

The sequence that extended University’s campaign Oct. 28 amid a tight Division I district semifinal against visiting Kenston won’t show up on any scoresheet.

But it will assuredly show up in the highlight reel for anyone with a US affinity.

Aiden Ptacek’s first-half strike proved decisive as the Preppers emerged with a 1-0 win over the Bombers from a well-played match in Hunting Valley, the sides’ first meeting since 2009.

US (12-2-3) will travel to Massillon Jackson, a 6-1 winner over Massillon Perry, for D-I’s Northeast 1 District fi

UNIVERSITY 1, KENSTON 0

nal at 1 p.m. Oct. 31.

It required a gutsy 80 from the hosts against a side i n Kenston (12-4-1) that’s vastly improved year over year. Consider that objective achieved.

“I thought they did a nice job,” US coach John Ptacek said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game for us, particularly the way they play. They played with a lot of effort and energy, and it’s effective for them.”

The Preppers’ pivotal strike in the 31st minute will officially be tabulated as a goal by Ptacek, assisted by Braeden Piero. But it was created ultimately by a tremendous bit of endline workrate by Alec Stoller.

The sophomore worked hard for a touch on the left flank deep in his offensive third and attempted to cross into the box. That attempt was blocked, but Stoller commendably stuck with the touch to the endline and managed service to Piero at the top of the box.

Piero played for Ptacek, who handled the finish near post — admittedly not as ideally as he would prefer, but effective enough for his 12th goal of the fall.

The standout sophomore center mid lauded Stoller’s invaluable role in the buildup.

“It’s huge. It basically creates the goal,” Aiden Ptacek said. “If he doesn’t win the baseline like that and whip the ball in, then that goal doesn’t happen.

“Braeden laid it off to me, and I hit it on my left. It was on target — I didn’t hit it hard enough. But luckily it deflected and went in the middle of the goal over the goalie.”

The sequence garnered the coach’s approval as well for the example it exhibited.

“(Those sequences are) huge,” John Ptacek said. “It’s all the little stuff behind the scenes that teammates do to help win games. When you have a good core of players who buy in and are doing the little stuff behind the scenes that seems to contribute, it’s huge.”

The growth from the Bombers has been huge as well and showed in a big way in a headliner of a road match.

Kenston brought more diagonal quality to the attack after halftime to complement an aggressive and commendable shifting approach tactically and pushed hard for an equalizer.

Carter Flynn had a decent look at a hard right-footed strike from the top of the box in the 67th minute, and Will Smith had a free kick turned away in the 68th.

Bombers coach Trip Roney lauded his side’s workrate and broader ascension, coming off a 4-9-4 season in 2019 and becoming indisputably the most improved boys side among News-Herald coverage area ranks the following season.

“This is the full package this year,” a visibly emotional Roney said. “And as you know, coaches don’t get to often say that. I’m blessed to know what we have. It’s going to be greatly missed. That was a winnable game, but US is a great side. They were all over us for 80 minutes, and we had a few glimpses. But at the end of the day, it takes a little more than a few glimpses. I’m very happy for US. It’s a great win on their part, and hopefully they can go represent, and I’m sure they will.

“But I am blessed to be a part of this. I’m going to miss these guys. That being said, we have just a phenomenal group of guys coming back, and I wish I could start tomorrow.”