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Staff Photo / Brian Yauger Howland’s Kylan Mowatt-Larssen (13) passes the ball in the Tigers’ 4-2 loss to Boardman on Tuesday.
HOWLAND – The Howland Tigers boys’ soccer team’s 42-game unbeaten streak came to an end when the Boardman Spartans visited on Tuesday.
Howland, who hadn’t lost since the 2019 Division II state championship game, fell behind and couldn’t catch up as Boardman came away victorious 4-2.
“We’re not really talking about the unbeaten streak,” Howland (7-1) coach Brian Stiles said. “It’s a young team. So it’s a different team than the one we’ve had for the past three years. This team has had a seven-game winning streak.
“Tonight we learned a lesson. We were beaten by a better team. Boardman came with more agitation. They played a smarter game. They remained disciplined. It caught us off guard and we paid the price. Most importantly, Boardman was better than Howland.
The Spartans’ victory also marked the first time Boardman has beaten Howland since 2004.
“I don’t want to go too far ahead of ourselves” Boardman (6-1-1) coach Eric Simione said. “It was a big game, but it’s just one more step towards our goals. We don’t want to overdo it.
“Howland is a great program. There are very few players in our squad who were born again the last time we beat them. Someone had to end this invincibility streak. If not us, who? If not now when? “
It was Tuesday for Boardman as the Spartans took a 1-0 halftime lead in soggy conditions as rain fell throughout the game.
The slippery turf didn’t slow down Boardman junior Ian McGavin. His goal right in front of the net gave the Spartans a 2-0 lead early in the second half.
Boardman’s defense did a great job taking up space with each touch. They pushed up and made it difficult for Howland to stay inside.
However, elder Nicholas Durig was able to find compatriot Fernando Ramos Jr. for Howland’s first goal.
The Tigers had a few good shots to tie him up. First, junior Jet Hua couldn’t adjust the ball for the shot. Then senior Dylan DiPiero tore him up right on a free kick.
Boardman took advantage of Howland’s inability to hit the back of the net as junior Logan Thompson placed the Spartans in the lead 3-1.
“The guys were ready for this” said Simione. “They wanted this game. They did something that so many of our guys have tried to do over the years. We have had so many close calls. It was a big effort from a big group of guys.
Senior captain Cole Congson added an insurance goal to make it 4-1 with 5 minutes remaining.
“It’s been a goal all season to beat Howland,” said Congson. “I’ve been playing college since I was in first year and we’ve never beaten them. We tied them up once.
“Every year it’s Howland. These are the state champions and state finalists. We haven’t beaten them for seventeen years. We wanted this to be our year.
It’s Boardman’s year after Pasquale Carannante scored another goal for Howland.
“This is my senior season” said Congson. “Everyone came out ready. This is probably our best performance of the year. We went as hard as we could, for eighty minutes, and left with the W. ”
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