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Warrior Run boys suffer 3-2 loss to Benton in D4 championship game; denied first title since 2004

By Jon Gerardi 5 min read

DANVILLE -- As the clock at Danville's stadium ticked to just under two minutes left, Warrior Run set up for a direct kick from just over 20 yards out and sent a great shot high, hoping to sneak it just underneath the crossbar.

It was out of the reach of Benton keeper AJ Varner, but the shot ended up hitting off the crossbar, and getting cleared out.

It was a last-ditch effort to put in an equalizer and possibly fight to go to overtime, but just an inch or two on that crossbar separated Warrior Run from a momentum-shifting game-tying goal and coming up shy.

That shot off the crossbar was Warrior Run's final shot on goal as Benton held on Thursday night to defeat the Defenders, 3-2, at Danville and win the District 4 Class A championship. It denied the Defenders their first district title in 22 years.

"It's the game of soccer, a game of inches. An inch down lower that ball skims into the net and it's a different outcome," Warrior Run coach Troy Emmert said. "But the boys played their heart out, very proud of them. I told them the season's not done, onto states."

Both Benton and Warrior Run advance to compete in Tuesday's first round of the state playoffs at sites and times to be determined.

While that last direct kick didn't connect, Warrior Run did convert earlier in the night. From 30 yards out, Collin Brandt ripped an absolute missile of a shot toward the left post in the first half which tied the game up at 1-1.

Abe Heiss scored six minutes into the game for Benton to put the Tigers ahead 1-0 before the Defenders tied it up.

In the second half, Benton went back ahead four minutes in when Heiss lined up for a penalty kick and sent his shot low to the left for the 2-1 lead. Benton wouldn't let the lead slip away again.

Just 11 minutes later, Heiss fired a shot from outside of the 18 to the left post for the hat trick and a 3-1 lead.

The Defenders kept fighting though and would put in a goal near the 6-yard box via the foot of Ori Kennel to cut the deficit down to 3-2, but the Defenders couldn't put in another to tie it and possibly force overtime.

"That's exactly what we expected to be honest with you (was a tough, physical game). Two good teams battling it out," Emmert said. "We hit the crossbar three times and had opportunity right at the end. Couldn't capitalize. That was a heck of a game by both teams. The boys are disappointed obviously, but we can't hang our heads. It was fun."

And for the Defenders, getting that second goal to cut the deficit to one was huge for the team to spark them and give them some confidence and momentum against a tough Benton defensive squad.

"They had to have that. That gave the spark back in them and now we're back in the game. Then we just need one more to tie it up. I always said a 2-0 lead is the worst lead to have, or by two goals, because one goal and all of a sudden momentum change," Emmert said. "That's what happened with us. Then we hit the bar a couple of times. They were fortunate but they played a heck of a game. They put the ball in the net and we didn't."

Max Burden came up huge in the second half with a big penalty kick save, diving to his right to block the shot and kept it a 3-1 deficit at the time, not letting the Tigers go up by three.

"If that ball went in, it probably would have deflated us. There's no doubt about that," Emmert said. "That kept us in it. We kept fighting until the end."

Benton, and Warrior Run for that matter, have a lot of speedsters in the midfield and up top, and both used that speed to their advantage. It was a contrast type of style of play compared to what the Defenders are used to after playing a more possession-style game against other opponents.

"We have two totally different play styles. I know a lot of teams we played, Loyalsock, we played possession based and made opportunities. They kick and run," Emmert said. They have the speed up there to do that. Our defense was able to take care of business; they did a good job with it."

In the first half with 10:12 left, Brandt had another direct kick from 25 yards out which he got a great shot off, only to see it hit the crossbar and eventually get cleared after a follow-up rebound shot was blocked.

Both teams ended with nine shots on goal.

Benton 3, Warrior Run 2

(DISTRICT 4 CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP)

B--Abe Heiss, 33:58. WR--Collin Brandt (direct kick), 16:18. B--Heiss (penalty kick), 36:09. B--Heiss, 25:35. WR--Ori Kennel, 16:35.

Shots: WR 9, B 9. Corners: WR 2, B 2. Saves: WR 6 (Max Burden), B 6 (AJ Varner).

Records: Benton (14-7-1), Warrior Run (16-5).

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