“Our game did not flow well,” Limpert said. “There were a lot of weather issues getting it started and then we had some problems clearing the ball out of our own end early in the game that caused us to be on defense longer than we could handle.”
Moeller, the sixth seed, claimed a 10-5 win over second-seeded Mason before knocking off top-seeded St. Xavier 10-7 to advance to the first OHSAA state lacrosse tournament.
“Moeller was on the upswing,” Limpert said of the Crusaders, who knocked off his team by two goals two weeks prior to the semi. “When we watched them accelerate into the playoffs we knew we would have a tough game on our hands. I believe they are playing the best they are capable of playing currently and that gives them a very good chance to win it all based on what I have seen of the other teams in the state.”
The Comets had a hard time in transition and in maintaining an attack, which put the pressure on the defense.
“Our defense was rock solid this year,” Limpert said. “But any defensive unit that has to spend 70 percent of the game actively defending will eventually wear down and give up some goals they normally would not have.”
As the team gathered for one final team meeting after the game, Limpert went back to day one with some of his discussion.
“It was a great run by our seniors, they played hard to the very end and never gave up,” Limpert said. “I told them that I was proud of them for the effort they put in this year and the progress they made. We asked them to play the best they are capable of playing in each and every game and with the exception of a couple of games I believe we did that.
“Only one team in Division I can win the state title each year and there are so many things that have to line up in that one team’s favor to make that happen that they do not have control over.”
Boys tennis: Mason's two single players came up one round shy of placing at the state tournament held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason over Memorial Day weekend.
Freshman Saiprakash Goli beat Tim Cianaciola of Canfield 6-4, 6-4 in the opening round and jumped to a 6-1 first set win over Hilliard Bradley’s Mitchell Thai before dropping the final two sets 2-6, 4-6.
Sophomore Niraj Komatineni opened with a 6-3, 6-3 win over St. Ignatiuus’ Josh Hsai. The Comet also jumped on Robert Case of New Albany 6-3 in the first set before dropping the last two sets 0-6, 1-6.
The doubles team of junior Shashank Singuri and sophomore Pranav Viswanathan lost to Graeme Green/Nathan Jose of New Albany 0-6, 2-6 in the opening round.
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