REMSEN – In a hard fought, extremely physical game between rivals, it was Poland eighth grader Kade Ozog who made the decisive strike.
With the game tied 2-2 in the final minute of regulation, Ozog ran down a lofted through ball from junior striker P.J. Mahoney, and chipped a shot over Remsen goalkeeper Will Rowlands to give the undefeated Tornadoes a 3-2 victory in Tuesday’s Center State Conference IV clash.
Ozog, a sub, who played midfield during the game, took over for senior striker Gavyn Flansburg, who was carded and had to leave the game with just under two minutes remaining. Approximately a minute later, Ozog notched the game winner for Poland (3-0, 5-0).
“I’m proud,” Ozog said moments after recording the second goal of his young varsity career. “I’m also shocked. I didn’t expect to get a goal.”
Mahoney scored twice and had the critical assist on the game-winner. Poland head coach Greg Haver credited both players in coming up huge in a crucial situation.
Poland’s PJ Mahoney (10) delivers a first half shot. (Photo By – Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging)
“We were able to get that final pass,” Haver said. “P.J. gave him a great pass and I thought Kade made a great run and finished the goal for us.”
The Rams (2-1, 4-2) controlled the early portion of the game with their physicality and overall team speed. However, it was the Tornadoes who opened the scoring as another eighth grader, Dale Lepper, found Mahoney with an accurate through ball. Mahoney took it in stride and drove a low shot past Rowlands at 26:07.
Poland, ranked sixth in the latest Class D state poll added another with 10:30 remaining in the half. Lepper started the play with a corner kick and when Remsen failed to successfully clear, Lepper regained control in the corner and sent a perfect ball to the far post and Mahoney came leaping in to head it inside the left post to make it 2-0.
Poland seemed primed to pull away and add another, but junior midfielder/forward Morgan Rotach wouldn’t let the game get away from the Rams. Rotach, who played with extreme determination and physicality the entire game, weaved through Poland defenders, and from just inside the right side of the 18’ he found freshman Ian Long who drilled it past Poland keeper James Kattato with 1:06 to go in the first 40 minutes.
Remsen’s Derek Kohl (2) hits a cross in front of Poland’s Jesse Johnson (3) with time winding down in the first half (Photo By – Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging).
The Rams knotted it up less than five minutes into the second half. After a misplay by Poland’s defense, Rotach ripped a rocket from 35 yards out into the top-left corner of the goal.
Over the next 30 minutes, both teams had several chances at breaking the tie, but the Tornadoes controlled the final five minutes resulting in numerous opportunities. With Remsen closely marking Flansburg, sometimes with two defenders, Poland continued to turn up the heat. Their best chance came with 2:20 remaining as Mahoney nearly completed the hat trick, but his blast caromed off the crossbar.
Just over a minute later, Poland’s mounting pressure paid off with the winning score.
“It’s always hard being up 2-0 and giving a goal up in the final minute of the half,” Mahoney said. “They took momentum into the half and then they tied it up and kept the momentum. That was tough on our team, but we knew we had to pick it up and we were lucky enough at the end to get the winner. Remsen always will play hard, and if we were sleeping and not ready, they were ready to jump on us.”
Coming so close but still falling to Poland in the final minute was difficult for Rotach and the Rams to accept.
“It’s just a team we’ve never been able to beat,” Rotach frustratingly said after the game. “This game just means everything to us and proved that we are able to play with them. This will make us stronger in the end. It’s a learning experience for all of us.”
Poland’s P.J. Mahoney (right) slides to hit a lead pass with Remsen’s Jacob Rowlands (15) looking to deflect it. (Phooto By – Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging).
After the game, Remsen head coach was trying to help his team understand that they played with a top team and make them realize they’ll get another chance when they play at Poland on Oct. 11.
“Poland is the standard and we want to be able to compete with them,” Remsen head coach Nick Byrne said. “I felt like it was generally an even game, but they were able to put the winning goal in and that’s a credit to them. I feel like we’re improving and we are consistently playing hard 80 minutes every game.”
Kattato made seven stops for Poland, while Rowlands was also solid in turning away 12 shots for Remsen.
Haver gave credit to the Rams, but also felt his team didn’t play consistently over the entire game.
“They are very athletic and as far as speed and winning 50-50 balls, they were better than us,” Haver said. “Our game plan was to keep possession, and when we stuck to it, we did well … when we didn’t, (Remsen) had the better of it.”
Poland 3, Remsen 2
Poland (3-0, 5-0): P.J. Mahoney 2-1, Kade Ozog 1-0, Dale Lepper 0-2. James Kattato 7 saves.
Remsen (2-1, 4-2): Ian Long 1-0, Morgan Rotach 1-1, Derek Kohl 0-1. Will Rowlands 12 saves.
Remsen’s Derek Kohl (2) hits a cross in front of Poland’s Jesse Johnson (3) with time winding down in the first half (Photo By – Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging).
Nick Sardina is a writer for midyorksportsreport.com. Follow Nick onTwitter @nsardinamysr or on Facebook. Contact him via email at
