Late flurry triggers River View girls past Zanesville

COSHOCTON - River View has had its heart broken two straight years in the tournament, so it's safe to say the current crop has plenty of unfinished business.

It was this time a year ago that the Lady Bears dropped a hard-fought match to East Central Ohio League foe New Philadelphia in the district semifinals, ending their season earlier than many expected.

There would not be a repeat performance.

Determined Zanesville held the Lady Bears scoreless for 55 minutes in their Division II district semifinal, but three players scored down the stretch as River View earned a 3-0 win on Monday at Stewart Field.

River View (14-3-1) advanced to play Lisbon Beaver Local (12-6-0) at 6 p.m. on Thursday in St. Clairsville. The winner advances to the regional at a site to be determined by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

River View coach David Kridler said the Beavers will come at his team early with aggressive play. They are coming off a 2-1 overtime win against St. Clairsville, a team the Lady Bears edged in the regular season.

Star forward Emmie Brenly said the team is confident.

"We'll go out there and compete," Brenly said. "We just have to finish our scoring chances and we'll be okay."

The Lady Devils entered the game 8-9 with a young nucleus featuring three freshman starters, but a competitive game was anticipated after the two played to a 2-1 game earlier this season.

The rematch didn't disappoint, as Zanesville goalie Rhyle Antonetz fended off a flurry of attacks before the Lady Bears finally broke through.

Still scoreless 15 minutes into the second half, what appeared to be a harmless play in the midfield turned into a goal from Michaela Greten when two misplays by the Lady Devil defense led to a breakaway.

Antonetz got two hands on it lunging to her left, but she was unable to corral it as the ball trickled into the net.

"Michaela is a kid through attending everything we did, just got to be a valuable player gradually over four years," Kridler said. "She's up there to be disruptive and use her physicality and beat somebody to the back line, and she's not really known for getting in behind the defense. But she's sound and she thinks well."

Greten's goal came after Antonetz made a brilliant diving save to her left on a Lexi Fry shot from in front of the net.

"I told them at halftime that unless you feel like going to (penalty kicks), you'd better find a way to get a goal," Kridler said. "In the first half we refused to shoot to the back post ... The first goal broke ice because she went to the back post."

Another followed seven minutes later when Lexi Fry converted a header from close range off a set piece from Emmie Brenly with 17:54 to play.

Brenly made it a wrap with a hard shot to the upper right corner after breaking free from the middle of the box.

Kridler said the playmaking ability of Lauren Vandenbark and Kennedy Wright, making her first start at center midfielder, were key, particularly in the second half. 

Brenly moved to the wing.

"The last time we played them it was (played) in the middle and this time we wanted to spread them out," Kridler said. "Even though she didn't score until late in the game (Brenly) occupied a lot of attention and I think that worked well for us."

Brenly said Zanesville posed a challenge with their physical play, but the Lady Devils were never able to get much offense going, mustering only four shots on goal.

They had one golden opportunity with the game still scoreless late in the first half, as Emmah Kronenbitter broke free in the midfield between two defenders and darted toward the goal.

But Lady Bears goalie Claire Warschauer, a forward by trade, rushed up to the top of the box and made a slide tackle at the ball to break up a scoring chance.

"If she gets one more touch there she's probably got a wide open net," Warschauer said. "It's do or die. I play shortstop in softball, so you do whatever you have to do to stop the ball when it comes your way. I didn't want to give her a chance."

It was emblematic of the type of effort the Lady Bears have received all season.

"Our goal is to win a district championship," Brenly said.

Thanks to another all-around effort, they got one step closer.

sblackbu@gannett.com

740-450-6723

Twitter: @SamBlackburnTR