Comeback victories have not been one of the Crestwood Red Devils boys’ soccer team’s strengths in the last year-and-a-half. That changed when the Red Devils erased a first-half deficit against Portage County rival Ravenna, scoring three goals in the second half to win 3-1 last Saturday evening at Jack Lambert Stadium in Mantua.
“This was actually the first game in the two years that I had taken over the team that we have ever come from behind and won a game,” noted Red Devils’ Coach Amanda Parsons. “This is the first time we have ever done it, so it says a lot about how the team has grown because last year had we gone down one goal, we were not going to get it back.”
For the second straight season, Crestwood (3-2-0, 0-1-1) won the Portage County rivalry against the Ravens (0-5-0, 0-1-0), as it struck first last year by trumping Ravenna in a road duel 5-1.
A year before the teams will officially become league foes again by joining the Greater Portage Athletic Conference, the Red Devils hold an edge against Ravenna.
“It feels good to have a rival that we can play and compete against,” said sophomore striker Colt Byers. “We hope we can win more, we hope we can increase our dominance but it’s all we have.”
On Saturday, the Red Devils began the second half trailing 1-0, as Ravenna scored its first goal since its season-opening duel against Southeast when sophomore midfielder Tay Askew scored off a cross with a direct shot into the left side of the net in the middle of the box inside the 22nd minute of regulation.
After only recording four shots on goal in the first half, the Red Devils’ attack became more relentless in the second half, keeping the pressure on Ravens’ junior goalkeeper Johnny Adams.
Byers scored on a direct shot off an assist from junior forward Grasyon Schultz in the box inside the 63rd minute of play, tying the game at 1-1.
Crestwood’s second-year coach acknowledged that Crestwood needed a change and adjusted the line-up by moving Byers from center midfielder to striker in the second half.
“He is extremely passionate when he is out there,” said Parsons. “He is trying to rally the team. After that first goal went in, he was saying we don’t let up and keep going. He has that mindset to put goals in the back of the net.”
Once Crestwood ended its scoreless drought, the offense continued attacking, and sophomore midfielder Henry Sommer booted the go-ahead goal in from the top of the box off an assist from Schultz at the 68th minute of regulation, pushing Crestwood ahead 2-1.
“I think it got a lot of our energy back,” Byers added. “We felt a fire lit under us, and we felt back together like a team again.”
In that span of five minutes, the Red Devils had turned the tables against Ravenna.
Although the Ravens generated three shots on goal in the first half, they only recorded two shots on goal in the second half as the offensive attack once again went stagnant.
Ravenna Coach Eric Hedge acknowledged it was an all-too familiar feeling as the team experienced another quiet offensive game.
“It has been the story all year,” said the third-year coach. “We come out with intensity in the first half, and it was beautiful soccer. I could not have been prouder of the boys, we were moving the ball, good things were happening but unfortunately, we had a couple of chances that we should have finished the ball out and we didn’t.”
Byers delivered his second goal of the match when he scored on a penalty kick inside the 74th minute of regulation, finishing with two goals.
Byers’ offensive breakout is supported by an experienced Red Devils’ defensive back line, with senior defender Owen Overfield, senior goalkeeper Gabe Weaver, senior defender Giovanni Brock and sophomore defender Evan Goodell forming the Red Devils’ defensive third.
Although Overfield is the only returning starter, Parsons said that the senior leadership on defense has anchored Crestwood.
Following a road duel against Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division rival Berkshire on Tuesday evening, Crestwood will stay on the road and face Triway at Triway Stadium in Wooster on Saturday morning at 11 a.m.
After a road match against Metro Athletic Conference foe Tallmadge on Tuesday evening and a home match against MAC rival Woodridge on Thursday night, the Ravens will return to action by taking on Akron Coventry at Coventry Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in Akron on Sept. 12 at 5 p.m.
