Ashton Cofer’20 aims ball into the goal. Andrew Barren’22/Media

The Academy boys soccer team’s tournament hopes to move beyond district semifinals were thwarted on Wednesday night, October 24, as the group lost in heartbreaking fashion to Olentangy Berlin.

The 2nd-seeded Vikings took on the 7th-seeded Bears under the lights in the bitter conditions for 110 minutes of play, and as if that wasn’t enough, topped off the ordeal with penalty kickes.

Through the 80 minutes of regulation play, the Vikings moved with consistent poise in the mid and back fields, allowing Berlin to hold possession only for fleeting moments. The Vikes maintained control of the ball on the offensive end for the overwhelming majority of the minutes, but they simply couldn’t capitalize to put one in.

The scoreless regulation called for a 15-minute overtime period, where a single goal would end one team’s tournament hopes and send another to the next round. 

Neither team cashed in, and, thus, a second period commenced. 

Once again, 15 minutes wasn’t enough for the Vikings or the Bears to get the ball through the net. So a winner would have to be decided through penalty kicks.

Academy students made their way down the bleachers onto the track to watch their classmates on the pitch attempting to carry on their season hopes. The penalties began with the Vikings on defense and Gunnar Geiger’19 in goal.

The Bears capitalized on every one of their first three opportunities, and the Viking kickers failed to match any of the scores.

The disheartening defeat certainly ended the Vikes’ tournament hopes prematurely, and as they look on to next season, a rebuilding process will be needed as they look to replace their senior-heavy roster. Judging from this season though, our Viking underclassmen are more than capable of taking control of the ship.