In sports we often hear the phrase, "Big time players make big time plays in big time games."
Game photos click here.
In sports we often hear the phrase, “Big time players make big time plays in big time games.”
Well, what does that mean?
Fans of the Berkshire Badgers boys soccer team learned the meaning of that phrase firsthand as the Badgers advanced to the District finals Oct. 26 via a 6-5 penalty shootout over the Independence Blue Devils.
After 80 minutes of regulation, two 15-minute overtimes and the first round of five penalty kicks, the match between the Badgers and the Blue Devils remained tied.
An emotionally exhausting first round of penalty kicks saw the Badgers and Blue Devils remain deadlocked at four when the Blue Devils’ player kicked the final penalty kick of the first round high over the goal.
Then it was on to the second round of penalty kicks, and obviously the tension throughout the stadium was mounting. Players, coaches and fans were on the edge of their seats.
Billy Mooney batted first for the Badgers in the sudden-death round of penalty kicks. After what seemed like an eternity, the refs gave Mooney the cue to take the shot, and chants of “Let’s Go Billy” and “c’mon Billy” were heard throughout the stadium.
Whoosh — the ball sped by the arms of the outstretched Blue Devils goalie into the back of the left corner of the net.
The Badgers led 5-4. Quickly, the Blue Devils scored and the game was again tied, 5-5.
One small mistake, one missed detail, and the game would be over. A big time play by a big time player was needed. Fans from both teams were wrought with anticipation.
Ryan Kessinger stepped up to the ball and knocked it past the Blue Devils goalie to put the Badgers up 6-5 in the shootout.
This time, “let’s go Roman — trust your instincts there kid” and “c’mon Roman” could be heard from the bench. Freshman goalie Roman Percic calmly returned to the center of the goal and got ready for the one-on-one battle against the Blue Devil player.
The Blue Devil kicker stepped up and hit it fast and hard. But out of nowhere, a big time player with Badger-like reflects dove mid-air, with outstretched arms, and knocked the ball away from the goal.
The thrill of victory was seen all throughout the home side of the stadium, as much as the agony of defeat was seen in the form of a Blue Devils player lying on the pitch in despair.
What happened next should make all of Geauga County proud. In an amazing display of sportsmanship, after the heat of battle, a Badger player recognizing the emotional pain of the opposing team’s player and reached out his hand, helping him up from the ground.
After the game, Percic discussed his amazing game in goal and how he was able to stay calm, cool and collected under intense pressure.
“I was just going into it smiling and having a good time, ” Percic said. “I wasn’t really expecting to save much of anything (during the penalty kicks). I was thinking in my mind that I was going to save all of them and I was telling people I was going to save them all. Obviously, I didn’t save them all, but I saved the one that counted.”
Berkshire Head Coach Nick Fejedelem added, “We work on calm, cool, collected PK’s every week. Going into the PK shootout, I was very confident.
“Roman Percic is one of the hardest working freshmen that I have ever had as a coach. I venture to say one of the hardest working people.”
What a great year, and bright future evident ahead, for high school soccer at Berkshire’s new Great Lakes Cheese Stadium.
