Mansfield Senior unlucky in Division III regional semifinal loss

Soccer is a game of inches, and the Mansfield Senior Tygers learned that lesson on October 4 during their Division III regional semifinal loss to Maumee. In the first half, the Tygers came agonizingly close to a 6-3 victory, with the ball hitting the crossbar twice and the post once in the first half, leaving them with a 3-0 deficit going into halftime.

The second half brought more missed opportunities as the Tygers had a header inches over the crossbar and an own goal that allowed Maumee to score the only goal of the second half. Despite outplaying Maumee throughout the match, the Tygers could not overcome the deficit in the final moments. Maumee's Cy Henry scored two crucial goals, including a rocket of a free kick just 21 minutes and 39 seconds from the end, and added another 11 seconds later to make it a two-goal deficit.

Coach Kris Stentz acknowledged the team's fight and resilience, saying, "We can’t say we didn’t have our opportunities. It is just unfortunate that one or two of those didn’t find the back of the net." The Tygers, who finished the season with a 12-5-2 record and set multiple program records, will be remembered for their historic performance and the strong bond among the seniors, who will be missed but have set the stage for the younger players to shine.