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The two best teams in the NE8 conference and two of the best soccer teams in northeast Indiana met for the second time in two years in the regional final at Norwell High School and the Leo Lions took home the crown for the second consecutive year by an identical 1-0 scoreline.
The victory for the Leo girls followed a thrilling, last-minute victory by the Leo boys, who won on a penalty kick in the final minute against Concordia on the same field in the same rain.
Ironically, it was the Leo boys who also ended Bellmont’s season all the way back on the opening night of the soccer postseason in Indiana.
Maddie Schwalm’s goal from long distance was the difference in the match for the Lions, who will head, with their male counterparts, to Chesterton Saturday for the semi-state. The goal came after the Leo midfield won a 50/50 ball from Carly Gilbert, knocking the senior to the ground. Play continued despite Bellmont protests and the only goal of the match was scored.
Leo dominated possession throughout the match and midway through the first half, coach Steve Lee was forced to take Gilbert from her usual position and play her at center back alongside Bri Converset.
The Lions’ scoring chances were limited with Gilbert in the back, but the shift in formation did little to change the possession numbers as Bellmont struggled to win the ball on goal kicks from either end or on throw-ins.
Leo thought they had scored in the first half, but Taylor Louis made one of the most outstanding saves of her career, flicking the ball over the goal and off the football crossbar. The ball bounced back into play and was hit home by the Lions, but the officials rightfully determined that the ball had struck the football upright and not the crossbar and was therefore out of play.
The Braves’ only shot on goal was a weak one from distance that was handled by Sam Christle.
The loss for Bellmont was the first one for the Braves since August 19th and ended a remarkable season that saw coach Steve Lee’s team win 16 matches and an eighth consecutive sectional title.
Gilbert ended her career with 90 goals and tied with Rylie Velez for the program’s all-time lead.