“It was almost like it was the same expectations,” said Nicholas Braun, a Carroll senior captain. “We just had to keep our team chemistry up.”
It got a boost on Thursday. In a regular-season finale between teams that have appeared in four of the past five Division II state championship games, Carroll rallied from a two-goal deficit and won 3-2.
As the postseason prepares to begin next week, Alter and Carroll are the Dayton area’s top contenders for another deep D-II tournament run. Carroll (16-0) is ranked No. 1 in the state in D-II, and Alter (11-3-2) is No. 5, giving Thursday’s game extra enthusiasm outside of the usual rivalry.
The Patriots responded to finish an undefeated and untied regular season.
“As many starters as we lost last year, I’m really proud of these guys,” Carroll coach Scott Molfenter said. “They battle.”
Carroll’s soccer success began in 1980, when the Patriots won the fifth state championship awarded by Ohio (in only one division at the time). The Patriots have been to the state semifinals six times since, including five times in the previous eight seasons, with titles in 2008 and 2010 (including a regional semifinal win against Alter).
The Knights, meanwhile, won their first state title in 1987 and followed with championships in 1996 and ’98. In all, the Knights have advanced to the state semifinals 10 times, including finals appearances in 2007 (beat Carroll in regional semifinal) and ’06.
Gaining experience quickly, the Patriots entered Thursday’s game with four of the top 11 points leaders in the Greater Catholic League: Trae’ Collins (12 goals, nine assists), Vonne Byrd (10 goals, seven assists), Zach Zwiesler (seven goals, three assists) and Matthew Barnes (four goals, six assists). That talent has helped them outscore opponents 63-10 this season.
But on Thursday, Alter struck early. Knights senior Joe Zimmerman scored twice in the first half with goals at 19:02 and 15:29 left. Zimmerman entered as the GCL’s second-leading scorer, with 14 goals, and leading point producer with eight more assists.
Barnes answered with a penalty kick with 10:16 left in the first half, and Alter led 2-1 at halftime. Carroll then got second-half goals from Byrd and, with 19:42 left in the game, Braun to set the margin.
After that emotional win, next up is the postseason,
“It’s kind of a new season,” Braun said of the tournament, “but our expectations are still high.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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