Kenston wins sectional final, eyes more

There are times when a one-nil in soccer has a certain comfort to it.

For Kenston on Oct. 22 in a Division II sectional final against visiting Streetsboro, kicking off a busy match day across The News-Herald coverage area early at 11 a.m., that comfort wasn’t necessarily there approaching the hour mark.

But the Bombers found their way forward nonetheless.

Carter Flynn and Parker Munday netted strikes in each half, and Kenston recorded a 2-0 win.

The Bombers (11-4-2) will host Salem or Ursuline in a D-II Northeast 1 District semifinal at 6 p.m. Oct. 25.

On paper, it was thorough enough, with a 10-1 shots-on-target advantage and a two-nil result.

But for those who witnessed it, Kenston coach Trip Roney included, it was an 80 that felt as if it could have been more consistently effective in the attack.

“We had a hard time maintaining possession because we didn’t keep the ball on the floor,” Roney said. “So we played a relatively undisciplined game. It was frustrating. We have nine seniors who were a little nervous about their last gos. They want to make the most of it, and I think that got to us, specifically in the first half. It felt like the second half was a bit better. But still, just not a technically clean game.”

At minimum, though, while not a clean game, the Bombers did get a clean sheet to show for it and a couple decent strikes to make it stand.

Flynn got his side off the mark in the 13th minute. The standout senior midfielder, with a textbook workrate goal, managed well to get a touch to his left foot in traffic for his 13th goal of the fall and a 1-0 advantage.

“Just some open grass and ran right into it,” Flynn said. “It was a good ball through. I took a couple touches by some defenders and just picked the corner.”

Munday, after four extra points the night before in a thrilling 28-21 football win over Mayfield, showed his prowess in his primary fall sport less than a day later. Past the hour mark, he allowed his side to breathe a bit easier.

In the 61st, Munday won a ball 1v1. The Rockets were expecting a foul call, but there was none, and Munday played through with a slick lefty tap, his 19th goal of the season, for the final margin.

While the attacking flow could have been better, the Bombers limited Streetsboro (8-10-1) effectively for large stretches from good looks on frame. The Rockets’ lone shot on target was an Ethan Laryea righty effort after collecting service on a run wide right, which was turned away by Kenston goalkeeper Jonas Grunden.

The Bombers, who spent one week as the No. 1 side in The News-Herald boys soccer Top of the Crop, are on a 5-1-1 run since Sept. 24 after a three-match losing skid. They’re appreciative of keeping their season rolling on, even if the comfort wasn’t there as much as they would have preferred.

“It was a pretty dominant 80,” Flynn said “I don’t think they had too many shots. The defense locked it down. They are a rock back there.

“Overall, 10 shots, it’s OK. But we want more, and I think we just need to convert on our chances and put it in the back of the net.”