By Mandy Getschman

Of the Schoolcraft Connection staff

 

TOLEDO - On Halloween of 2010, Schoolcraft College, ranked 4^th in the nation, faced Cincinnati State Technical & Community College, then ranked 3^rd, in the Region 12 championship game. During that game, Schoolcraft took a first-half lead only to have the Cincinnati State Surge score twice in the second half and end the Ocelots’ season. Cincinnati State would go on to finish second overall in the Div. I with a loss in the national champion.

 

Flash forward to the present and it was the Ocelots once again squaring off with the Surge in the Region 12 championship game. This time Schoolcraft came in ranked #1 in the nation and perfect at 20-0 in the regular season while Cincinnati State boasted a 16-5 record and a ranking of #12 nationally. While Cincinnati State players were looking for a return to the national tournament, the Ocelots were looking to settle a year-old score.

 

During the first half of play, Schoolcraft goalkeeper Scott Shewfelt misplayed a ball in the 37^th minute leading to an easy Surge score. It would be the only mistake Shewfelt would make.

 

“This team has a lot of pride and resiliency,” said Ocelot Coach Rick Larson.

 

Trailing in the second half, Schoolcraft pressed the attack. Ocelot players grew frustrated as their shots continued to sail wide of the net. Those that made it on net were harmlessly turned away by the Surge goalkeeper.

 

Tension continued to mount until, in the 61^st minute, a Cincinnati State player was red carded and ejected from the game. Even with a one-player advantage, the Surge continued to foil the Ocelot attack. The Ocelots finally pulled even when midfielder Marco Lobo – the lone SC scorer in the 2010 championship game – took a pass from Jonathon Heslop and tied the game in the 81^st minute.

 

With the game tied and time winding down, it was Cincinnati State’s turn to feel the pressure of facing a top-ranked opponent. Only moments after the Lobo goal, another Surge player was hit with a red card and sent to the bench. The Ocelots held a two-man advantage heading into overtime.

 

During the first overtime period, Cincinnati began to crack under the strain of a sustained Ocelot attack as yet another player was ejected via a red card. By the time the second overtime period started, the Surge were desperate to avoid losing. Down three players, the inevitable happened when Lobo took a Brent McIntosh pass and scored in the fourth minute of the second overtime period. Schoolcraft College won the Region 12 championship 2-1 and avenged their bitter Halloween defeat from the year prior.

 

“They take pride in winning,” said Larson.

 

Schoolcraft (22-0) advances to the NJCAA North Central District finals on Nov. 5.