Titans get by Rams 2-0 in regional semis

COUNCIL BLUFFS - Council Bluffs Lewis Central dominated possession and scored two first half goals to end Glenwood’s season 2-0 in the girls Class 2A, Region 2 semifinals last Tuesday in Council Bluffs.

Much like its 3-0 win May 13 over the Rams, the Titans got a quick lead, controlled the ball and never let Glenwood find its offensive rhythm.

I think we played better the second time around that we played Lewis Central,” said Glenwood coach Amy Benson. “We knew going in it would be more of a defensively fought game.  We decided to man-mark four of their key players to try and prevent as much offensive attack as possible.  They are a hard team to get the ball away from.  They possess well all over the field, which causes you as a team to play defense.  Then once you get the ball away from them you have to try and keep it, which we were unable to do.  It gets hard mentally but our girls definitely showed determination and grit in how they never gave up.”

The Titans (12-3) got on the board in the 18th minute on a Suzie McDonald put back. McDonald swooped in for the backside score following Ram goalie Rileigh Spahn’s deflection of Allie Dmyterko’s shot.

Nursing a 1-0 lead, Lewis Central allowed the Rams just two runs into the offensive end the rest of the half. The Titans added to their score just before the break when Dmyterko snuck in a shot just inside the right pipe past a diving Spahn with just nine seconds left before halftime.

Lewis Central set up Dmyterko’s goal on a deep pass over the Rams’ defense.

“They sent a through ball that their forward ran onto,” Benson said.  “She was able to get a shot off towards the near post.  The ball went through Rileigh’s hands.”

The second half was more of the same for both teams: the Titans dominating the ball with quick passing and spacing while the Rams could must jus a handful of attacks. For the game the Titans out-shot Glenwood 15 to 2 on goal.

“Rileigh kept coming up with huge saves,” Benson said of her team keeping the Titans off the scoring column in the second half. “We also had some more offensive attack in the second half but were unable to score.”

The Rams close their season with a record of 9-10 but didn’t go down without a fight against the Titans.

“I was proud of how the girls played tonight,” Benson said.  “I think they played with a lot of heart and they definitely gave it their all.  Lewis Central is a quality team and it is hard to keep possession from their offense.  They have nice movement both on and off the ball from every player on their team. 

“We were definitely the underdogs and I think we gave them a pretty good fight.  All of the girls gave 100 percent and that is all I can ask of them.  We wish Lewis Central the best through the rest of their season.”

The Rams say goodbye to seven seniors – Spahn, Taylor Schultz, Dani Anderson, Natalie Shearer, Alicia Leu, Chandlyr Sullivan and Jocelyn Liparoto – who Benson said is the first group of players she has coached all the way through high school since taking over the program four years ago.

“They are like my babies,” she said. “They have definitely helped shape where the program is now and the younger girls look up to them as role models.   They will be missed greatly and we appreciate all of the hardworking and dedication they have given us the past four years.”