x
Breaking News
More () »

Strongsville girls soccer team loses in state title game following extra player controversy

Video showed Strongsville playing with an extra player for roughly six minutes during its semifinal win against Twinsburg.

Strongsville High School girls soccer team played and lost in the state championship Friday to Beavercreek amid heavy controversy stemming from its semifinal victory against Twinsburg.

During that previous game, with just the under 12 minutes left in the match, Strongsville subbed in its goalie but another player also ran onto the field, meaning the Mustangs played for roughly the next six minutes with 12 players when they were only allowed 11.

None of the referees caught the mistake as Strongsville went on to win the game by a score of 1-0 and advance to state championship game.

James Bolinger, a Strongsville parent who also says he is a referee, was at that game. He says no one in the stands—on either side— noticed the rule violation.

"Nobody was screaming, '12! 12!'," Bolinger said.

Lori Kroese is also wondering how that could slip through the cracks.

"How didn’t [anyone] catch it?," she said. "Referees, family, other players and other coaches."

Kroese says she believes it was an honest mistake.

"I know from parents, who have kids on the team, that nothing was done intentionally or maliciously."

Intentional or not, a number Twinsburg parents and fans took exception and voiced their frustration on social media. District Superintendent Kathi Powers was not too happy either, and said in a statement the violation impacted the Lady Tigers' ability to score. She also said the coach violated another rule by not reporting the situation to officials.

But, it's out of her hands: The Ohio High School Athletic Association does not allow appeals, and therefore, nothing could be done. Twinsburg did consider filing a grievance in court, but eventually decided against that, as a ruling against them could've led to the girl forfeiting their first regional title in program history. The school will instead file a complaint to OHSAA in regard to the officiating.

Strongsville parents say they feel for Twinsburg, but they also feel their team deserved to be in the state title game.

"Five minutes," Bolinger said. "It's just hard to say you lost the game because of that five minutes."

The OHSAA says they are investigating the matter "internally."

Before You Leave, Check This Out