PREP BOYS SOCCER: Bethany Christian’s inexplainable comeback ends in a heartbreaker

LIGONIER — For a brief period Saturday, everything that happened two years ago to the Bethany Christian boys soccer program was happening again.

The Bruins didn’t just score late like they did in the 2023 state championship game, but they did it again when everything in the game prior had told them they’d never get close.

It was pure bliss when they did.

Then suddenly, it was all over.

“It’s great, it’s like we’ve got all the momentum heading into overtime,” Bethany Christian boys soccer head coach Tony Janzen said after the Bruins scored two goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation to force overtime in the Class 2A Sectional 19 championship game against Leo.

“You think then [that the] worst-case scenario is you just go to penalties,” Janzen continued. “Down 2-0 you’d take penalties any day, especially when you’re down 2-0 with 10 minutes left.”

But after Zane Parson scored miraculously in the final minute of regulation to force two seven-minute overtime periods, deadlocked at 2-2, the Bruins gave up their third goal just 30 seconds into the first extra period. They couldn’t find the equalizer, and for the first time since 2022, Bethany Christian will be held sectional-less, losing 3-2 to Leo.

From a miracle to misery in just one minute.

“It’s a bit disappointing because we just didn’t play our best today,” Janzen said. “It’s sad when you get into a game like that, but the guys were a bit tired and give [Leo] all the credit, they played very well. A lot of the stuff they did was the reason why we didn’t play well.”

No. 15 Bethany Christian and No. 12 Leo met as the final two ranked teams in the Class 2A sectional field at West Noble Saturday afternoon. Leo had cruised to the championship without much resistance from its opponents. Bethany, however, was the little train that could. One of the smallest schools in the state playing up a class due to success-factor, earned the toughest draw.

To get to the championship, the Bruins beat No. 9 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger and No. 18 West Noble with the winning score over the Chargers coming in the final minute of overtime Wednesday.

“Leo’s a tough team and it’s a really tough sectional,” Janzen said. “We battled and battled and battled, it was just one battle too much for us to get past.”

Both teams had shots called back in the first half. A Leo corner went out of bounds before curving back in play and being headed in just six minutes into the game. Because the ball flew out of play, the goal was nullified.

A Bethany free kick was scored off as well when a Bruin player recovered a rebound and put the ball in the net. He was ruled offsides.

It was scoreless at halftime.

"It felt good, like, OK, now we’ve got new life,” Janzen said. “Then we give up that goal immediately in the second half.”

The Bethany defense was caught in the opening minute of the second half. Owen Graves potted the shot and gave Leo the 1-0 lead. 11 minutes later and freshman Dayne Roth scored a ball at the 52nd-minute for a 2-0 lead.

The Bruins looked tired and at the 60-minute mark, began to move Sawyer Beachy up the pitch into a high position. A free kick taken by Beachy rolled out of play at the 65th-minute as Parson and a teammate missed the shot opportunity.

Leo played safe with a two-goal lead, putting much of its team on defense and daring Bethany to make a move. It wasn't a wise decision. With 10 minutes remaining, the Bruins rallied.

Noah Subera landed the first strike. He took the second of two-consecutive corners, one on each side, and his shot deflected off a Leo player’s lofted heel and curved into the frame at the 72nd-minute.

Then, under a minute to play, Parson played the hero. The senior kept possession against three defenders in the box. Somehow, he broke away enough to get off a shot that glanced off a defender and rolled into the goal slower than a snail’s pace. Dramatically, Parson, who hit the ground and sat with his back to the ball turned around to see his shot had scored, tying the game with 20 seconds to play.

“Zane was just working so hard to get to his left foot,” Janzen said. “It took a deflection and just wrong-footed the goalie and barely rolled in.”

“I know, he barely got off one [shot],” Janzen said. “We joked that it was his most powerful left-footed shot of the season.”

In the first minute of overtime, Roenin Dye approached the Bethany goal and juggled the ball over keeper Jacob Bontrager. With no one behind Bontrager, Dye easily scored the game-winner.

“I’m proud of them, they battled,” Janzen said. “They didn’t have their best today but they battled and to bring it back to tie to go into overtime and I was like ‘Guys, just don’t give up any more goals’ and 20 seconds later they gave up a goal. It’s a hard one to take, especially the seniors who have done so much for this program.”

“I’m super proud of the guys,” Janzen said. “You can’t be disappointed. Sometimes the result doesn’t go your way. You just have to congratulate the other team and move on.”

Of the eight seniors on the roster, six of which start, all were on the state championship team in 2023. They had also been a part of a group that went to two-straight semistate games. Those seniors included Parson, Beachy, Benji Fleming, Zach Reiff, Jude Miller, Toby Mast, Trey Caffee and Pablo Columna.

Janzen knew they’d still be able to compete in Class 2A.

“I had a feeling, but you never know heading into the season what the other teams look like,” he said. “I had a feeling with this group that returned nine of 11 starters, the experience that they had, I felt like we’d be competitive.”

He added more on his senior class, which includes Beachy, a commit to Division I Detroit-Mercy.

“They’re incredible,” he said. “They’ve done so much for the program. They’ve done everything that I’ve asked of them. They’ll be missed, incredibly much.”

Bethany Christian ends the season 11-6-2. Leo is now 11-4-3 and will host their regional semifinal against Fort Wayne Bishop Luers.

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PREP BOYS SOCCER

Class 2A Sectional 19 Championship at West Noble

#12 Leo def. #15 Bethany Christian 3-2 (OT)

Goals:

(L) 41’ — Owen Graves (L 1-0)

(L) 52’ — Dayne Roth (L 2-0)

(B) 72’ — Noah Subera (L 2-1)

(B) 79’ — Zane Parson (Tied 2-2)

(L) 1’ OT — Roenin Dye (L 3-2)

Shots, on goal: L (15, 6), B (8, 4)

Corners: B (8), L (2)

Saves: B (3), L (2)

Fouls: L (14), B (7)