LAKEVILLE, Ind. — If there is a bigger emotional gulf in the world of sports, I haven't seen it yet.
Saturday morning, Bethany celebrated. They played a game that was not in doubt for the final hour, as they scored two goals 40 seconds apart in the sixth minute, added five more in the next 22, and played the final 26 minutes with no starters on the field in an 8-0 rout of Argos.
Saturday night, Bethany wept. The previous two Saturdays, it had been their celebration on the field at Newton Park. This night, however, belonged to Canterbury, 1-0 victors on a cross placed less a foot inside the corner of the net 5:09 into the second half. The 2011 senior class will graduate allowing exactly one goal per game over their careers; Saturday night, the goal to answer that one never came.
The top-ranked Cavaliers (17-1-4) finished with an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal, complemented by a 5-3 lead in corner kicks. Jeff Yoder, one of only three 1A goalkeepers named first-team all-district by the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association, finished with seven saves, including a diving stop on the first penalty kick Bethany has allowed this year in the 12th minute.
Saturday morning's game, however, was a totally different story. Femi Hollinger-Janzen scored on an assist from Lucas Morgan after 5:08 of play, followed by an Andrew Snyder strike 40 seconds later. From there, the onslaught was on -- three Hollinger-Janzen scores and a Morgan goal later, Bethany led 6-0 with 14:19 remaining until halftime. Hollinger-Janzen's fourth goal of the game was one for the record books, as his 67th career goal put him past Myron Bontreger for the most goals in school history.
The Bruins proceeded to rest their starters throughout the second half: forwards Hollinger-Janzen and Josh Stoltzfus did not see action at all after the intermission, and for the final 14 minutes, Bethany played with a team composed entirely of non-starters.
The Bruins held an 11-0 shots-on-goal lead and a 5-1 corner-kick advantage after one half, totals that slipped slightly to 11-3 and 7-1 for the entire contest.
Bethany finishes the season 18-4-1, going undefeated in the 19 games in which it scored. The Bruins were regional champions for the first time ever, finishing their season in the state semifinals for the first time since 1986. In addition to that finish, achieved in an Indiana Soccer Coaches' Association tournament as the IHSAA did not yet sponsor soccer, the Bruins were voted state champions by the ISCA in 1971 and 1972.
Final
Canterbury 1, Bethany 0
- C: (46')
Shots on goal — Bethany 2, Canterbury 8. Saves — Canterbury: Chase Walker 2; Bethany: Jeff Yoder 7. Corner kicks — Bethany 3, Canterbury 7. Fouls — Bethany 7, Canterbury 6.
Officials — Brent Bushey (Richmond), Douglas Cupp (Lafayette), Jim Hoover (Peru), Dave Macy (Fort Wayne).
Officials — Brent Bushey (Richmond), Douglas Cupp (Lafayette), Jim Hoover (Peru), Dave Macy (Fort Wayne).
Semifinals
Bethany 8, Argos 0- B: Femi Hollinger-Janzen (Lucas Morgan assist) (6')
- B: Andrew Snyder (6')
- B: Hollinger-Janzen (Snyder) (17')
- B: Hollinger-Janzen (Josh Stoltzfus) (18')
- B: Hollinger-Janzen (Q Min Kim) (22')
- B: Morgan (26')
- B: Kim (28')
- B: Nate Nussbaum (Kim) (38')
Officials — Brent Bushey (Richmond), Douglas Cupp (Lafayette), Jim Hoover (Peru), Dave Macy (Fort Wayne).
Other semifinal: Canterbury 2, Guerin Catholic 0.
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