Boys soccer: Shawnee advances to Division II state semifinals

BOWLING GREEN — High winds knocked out the power around Bowling Green High School.

But the wind-tunnel blasts couldn’t short-circuit Shawnee.

Matteo Fusillo scored off a corner kick by his brother, Luca, with two minutes to play to lift Shawnee to a 3-2 victory over Revere in the Division II boys soccer regional championship match Saturday at Bowling Green High School.

“I saw an open space at the near post and felt I better get there,” Matteo Fusillo said. “It came to me, so I put a foot on it and put it on target. It went right inside the left post. ’’

“I saw Matteo come to the front post and I said, ‘We had it,’ ’’ Luca Fusillo said. “I was going for the near post. The goalie likes to come out. It’s amazing, me to him. I couldn’t ask for any better. I bet my dad couldn’t ask for anything more.’’

Added Shawnee coach Ryan Quatman, “You see Luca play those kinds of balls and you see Matteo finish like that, regularly.’’

The Shawnee defense did the rest for the last two minutes, as it had most of the match.

In the back line were the usuals, Noah Scheid, Noah Neth, Caleb Miller and Ethan Parlapiano.

Collin Scheid was also there at defensive midfielder gobbling up loose balls.

Shawnee (19-1-1) advances to the state semifinals against Warren Howland on Wednesday at site to be named.

Shawnee has won 16 in a row.

It marks the third trip to state for Shawnee boys soccer, after going to the state semifinals in 2001 and 2020.

Revere, which was ranked No. 1 in the state poll, is 18-2-1.

Luca Fusillo added, “To get to go to state, it feels amazing.’’

The game was played through a full-throttle, 26-mph wind, with gusts over 35.

Revere outshot Shawnee, 12-7.

Shawnee goalkeeper Jack Tenwalde made 13 saves, several diving and a few leaping.

Revere goalkeeper Ryan Cunningham made four saves.

Austin Miller and Sam Tenwalde scored one goal for Shawnee.

The match was tied at 1 at the half, with Revere rolling with the wind at its back.

“We were battling it (the wind) in the first half and we wanted to keep it even,” Quatman said. “Oh man, that was really fun.’’

Shawnee took a 2-1 lead on an Austin Miller goal from 10-yards out. He one-timed the shot into the left corner of the net, off a pass from Matteo Fusillo.

“I looked at Matteo and he saw me,” Miller said. “He slid it to me and I was able to find the back of the net.’’

That came with 32:06 to play.

Revere tied the match at 2 with 31:42 to go on a goal by A.J. Catlett, who drilled the shot after there was a scramble for the loose ball in front of the goal box.

Revere outshot the Indians 9-3 in the first half.

“Those guys (the Revere forwards) run hard,” Quatman said. “They have a great first touch. … I see why they are the number-one team ranked in the state all year long.’’

Revere’s Desmond Johnson scored first on a spinning shot from 12-yards out. He received a nice slip pass in the box from Shay Makker.

The goal came with 27:28 left in the first half.

Shawnee managed to notch a goal going against the wind in the opening half.

The defender came out to play a bouncing ball 15-yards out, but the ball bounced over his foot and Shawnee forward Sam Tenwalde was there for the steal.

Tenwalde took a couple of dribbles and drilled the shot from 8-yards out.

That tied the match at 1.

“That was a great effort on Sam’s end,” Quatman said.

The goal came close to the 15-minute mark of the first half.

The time was approximated because the power in Bowling Green, including the scoreboard, went out for the day with 24 minutes left in the first half.

Warren Howland knocked out Shawnee in the state semifinals in 2020.

This will be a state semifinal rematch.

“They were great then,” Quatman said. “It’s special for our guys to do this.’’

Tom Usher wrote this story for LimaScores.com. Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.