Despite suffering an OHSAA Division III boys soccer playoffs defeat to Indian Hill, the resilient spirit of Twinsburg High School remains undiminished as the Tigers proudly concluded their season as runner-up to the formidable Braves.
COLUMBUS — This season marked a significant milestone for the Twinsburg boys soccer team, who celebrated their inaugural appearance in a state final. However, the quest for their first state championship will have to wait for at least another year as they faced off against a strong opponent.
Cincinnati Indian Hill decisively clinched the Division III title with a narrow 1-0 victory on Sunday, demonstrating their dominance on the field.
Similar to the school’s baseball team in the spring, the Tigers finished the season with an impressive record of 21 wins and 3 losses, earning the runner-up position—a monumental achievement in itself that highlights the growth of the program.
“It starts with these guys as players,” Twinsburg coach Mike Lally emphasized, underscoring the importance of leadership within the team. “These guys come into camps so the younger guys know who they are. Both the boys and girls teams support each other tremendously in the school. That helps a lot.”
“The other part is that Twinsburg is a pretty tight school. It’s a special place to be for students and teachers. They support each other,” he added. “For a school our size to be in the baseball state championship and soccer state championships tells you the quality type of kid we have at Twinsburg.”
This victory represented Indian Hill’s first state title, a significant achievement after runner-up finishes in both 1986 and 1987. The Braves’ solid performance all season culminated in this long-awaited championship win.
Indian Hill notched their championship by scoring the game’s only goal just minutes into the second half. Zohaib Kalloo skillfully placed a ball on the foot of Aiden Faber, who expertly maneuvered past his defender on the dribble to cross the ball into the goal area. Max Grebe capitalized on the opportunity, one-touching the pass into an open net with 33:15 still on the clock.
The Braves’ success was heavily influenced by their robust defense, which did not allow a single shot on goal during the match. This shutout marked Indian Hill’s 14th of the season, having conceded just three goals throughout the postseason—a testament to their defensive prowess.
“We’ve had some great teams in the past,” Lally reflected on the season’s journey. “It’s been hard for these guys to break through. When we saw these guys in June, we knew we had something special. It was getting them to realize that potential. The thing I’m most excited about with these guys is the work they put in to get better throughout the course of the year.”
Here’s how the game unfolded through our live updates:
Twinsburg’s efforts to ramp up their attack were commendable, but the stifling Indian Hill defense remained impenetrable, having only conceded three goals in the entirety of the postseason. As the Tigers pushed forward into the offensive zone, they still struggled to register a shot on goal. The score stood at 1-0 in favor of Indian Hill with just 18:41 left to play.
With a strategic shift from a 4-3-3 formation to a 3-5-2 and then a 5-3-2 midway through the first half, Twinsburg adjusted in an effort to relieve some pressure off their backline. However, Indian Hill quickly adapted by moving their center forward into an attacking midfielder role.
Although Indian Hill unleashed 12 shots directed at the goal, only two were on target, as Twinsburg’s solid defensive efforts and the goalkeeping of Cooper Goodman kept the score level at halftime.
The Braves continued to dominate, with 11 shots aimed at Twinsburg’s goal and only two shots on target for the Tigers as the clock ticked to 8:02 remaining. The suffocating defense of Twinsburg, along with stellar plays from goalkeeper Cooper Goodman, was instrumental in maintaining the scoreless standoff up to this point.
It was evident why the Braves boasted an impressive average of 4.3 goals per game, as they maintained relentless pressure in Twinsburg’s defensive territory during the opening minutes of the match. Although none of their attacks found the net, the sustained pressure was a clear indication of the challenges facing Twinsburg’s backline.
Indian Hill’s Connor Wilkes took a decisive free kick from 20 yards out, targeting the left side of the goal only to be thwarted by Goodman’s brilliant save, keeping the score at 0-0 with 32:26 remaining in the first half.
OHSAA State final history for Twinsburg and Indian Hill
As previously noted, Twinsburg not only reached the championship for the first time but also marked a significant chapter in their history.
Indian Hill celebrated their third appearance in a title match, making waves as they returned to the spotlight after decades since their last trip to a championship in 1987.
Twinsburg players to watch
Key players for Twinsburg included Devin Couch (13 goals, eight assists), Evan Schneeman (11 goals, seven assists), Lucas Elias (nine goals, 19 assists), and Mario Sanders (six goals, five assists), all of whom made significant contributions throughout the season.
Additional players of note include Keelin Fuentes (five goals, four assists) and Alec Utrup (four goals, four assists), who also played vital roles in the team’s journey.
Indian Hill players to watch
Leading the charge for Indian Hill was Connor Wilkes, a formidable scorer with 39 goals and 24 assists, alongside Aiden Faber, who contributed 22 goals and 19 assists to the team’s offense.
Additional scoring threats for the Braves came from Max Grebe (eight goals, four assists), Zohaib Kalloo (seven goals, eight assists), and Liam Brady (seven goals, seven assists), indicating a well-rounded attack.
Twinsburg OHSAA postseason results
Indian Hill OHSAA postseason results
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival.
**Interview with Twinsburg High School Boys Soccer Coach Mike Lally**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Coach Lally. After a remarkable season, your team finished as the runner-up in the OHSAA Division III boys soccer playoffs. How are you feeling reflecting on this achievement?
**Coach Lally:** Thank you for having me. It’s certainly been a bittersweet moment for us. While we’re incredibly proud of reaching the state finals for the first time in school history, it’s tough to come so close to the title without being able to bring it home. But we’ve shown tremendous growth this season, and that’s something to celebrate.
**Editor:** Your team posted an impressive record of 21 wins and only 3 losses. What do you think were the key factors that contributed to such a successful season?
**Coach Lally:** It really starts with the players. They’ve put in a lot of hard work and dedication, pushing each other to improve every day. Our leadership has been crucial, as the older players take time to mentor the juniors and freshmen. The culture of our school is very supportive, which creates a positive environment for everyone involved.
**Editor:** Facing a strong opponent like Indian Hill in the championship final is no small task. What did you notice about their gameplay that posed challenges for your team?
**Coach Lally:** Indian Hill is a very disciplined and talented team—particularly with their defense. They didn’t allow us many chances to attack, and their shutout of us really highlighted their skill. Despite our efforts to shift formations during the match, we struggled to create shots on goal against their pressure.
**Editor:** What do you think are the key takeaways for your players moving forward, especially as you prepare for future seasons?
**Coach Lally:** The most important takeaway is the belief they have now in themselves and the program. Just being in that state final instills a certain confidence and aspiration for next year. I’m excited to see how our returning players will leverage this experience to fuel their drive for improvement. We’ve set a standard now, and I believe we will build on this year’s foundation.
**Editor:** Twinsburg made its first appearance in a state final this season. What does that mean for the school and the soccer program?
**Coach Lally:** This is monumental for Twinsburg, not just for the soccer program but for the entire school community. It demonstrates that we’re capable of competing at high levels across different sports. It boosts morale and encourages younger athletes to pursue excellence in their athletic endeavors. We take great pride in being seen as a competitive program.
**Editor:** what’s next for you and the team as you look ahead?
**Coach Lally:** We’ll be back to work soon, but we’ll also take some time to reflect on what we accomplished this season. Our focus will be on developing the skills of our returning players while also beginning to identify the next generation of talent in our younger grades. We want to keep building towards that state championship and bring it back to Twinsburg.
**Editor:** Thank you so much for your time, Coach Lally. Best of luck as you continue to build on this incredible season!
**Coach Lally:** Thank you! We appreciate the support.
