Controversial call costs Middletown

Bellbrook scores winning goal on a direct kick to win sectional match.

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By John Bombatch, Staff Writer 2:45 AM Sunday, October 25, 2009

BELLBROOK — The host Bellbrook Golden Eagles will be the ones heading on to the Division I sectional final on Monday, but for the underdog Middletown Middies girls soccer team, Saturday’s 1-0 loss felt like a win.

It just wasn’t.

It took Bellbrook senior Jessie Jarrett’s direct kick with 30 minutes left in the match to win it for seventh-seeded Bellbrook. And it took a controversial call to set up the play.

“You saw the same thing I did,” explained Bellbrook coach Doug Wampler. “The game officials were making odd calls out there, and I really think it took both teams out of their normal style of play. On the foul that set that goal up, there was one foul by one of our girls that happened before the foul on one of Middletown’s girls set up the direct kick. I have no idea why that foul wasn’t called, yet the other one was.”

The first foul left Middletown’s Aunjanna Million sprawled across the Bellbrook Field Turf, but there was no whistle blown. Another collision that occurred at the same time and in the same area of the field, was whistled and Jarrett was given a direct kick from about 24 yards away.

The Bellbrook senior midfielder bashed a solid kick into the upper left corner of the Middie goal beyond the grasp of Middletown goaltender Katie Noble.

“I told the girls after the game that just because the win didn’t come out in our favor didn’t mean that we didn’t go out there and reach all our goals tonight,” Middletown coach Amanda Messer said. “I don’t feel like we failed by any means. We can come away from here feeling proud of ourselves for the way we played here.”

Despite losing Molly Lindsey, LaTia McKeller, Liza Williams and captains Ellie McGuire, Betsey Strait and Allyssa Pena from this season’s 7-10-2 squad, Middletown has a promising future.

Sophomores Michelle Brownlee and goalkeeper Noble will be back, along with the team’s regular season scoring record holder junior Darien Perrin.

Perrin scored 14 goals to break the record once held by Alexis Heard (2006), Tracy Evingham (‘84) and Tara Wagner (‘98).

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2851 or jbombatch@coxohio.com.

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