Indians Outlast Bees for District Title

medina staff, October 28, 2011 7:49 a.m.

The Copley Indians saved their best for last in Thursday Night's District Final.  The Bees took a 1-0 lead as Sophomore Aaron Liezert converted a Nate Libertowski through ball.  The Indians equalized with less than 2 minutes to go in the half as Riley Grant tapped in a Brad Ruhaak free kick.  The Indians would go up 2-0 early in the 2nd half as the Medina keeper was beaten on a header from in front.  A penalty kick with about 13 minutes to go, would find Gareth Evison tie things up for the Bees.  Shortly after Aaron Liezert would tally again from an Evison corner and it appeared as if the Bees might be going to the regionals for the first time since 2007.  However, a Taylor Graf free-kick from 23 yards out with 50 seconds remaining on the clock would hit the inside of the post and go in to knot things up at 3.  Two exciting overtimes later, and multiple near misses, and the teams would find themselves congregated at midfield for penalty kick shootouts to decide the Brunswick District Champions.  In the end, Copley's kickers would go 4 for 4 and Goalkeeper Kirby Rice's diving save would carry the Indians to the Regional Semi-finals.   Congratulations to both teams.  The Bees bow out at 12-2-6, Copley moves on to Bay High School Tuesday night.