Daichi Itabachi's (18) goal late in the second overtime period lifted Ogemaw Heights to Saturday's district championship game.
Ty Richards nearly put the game out of reach with a corner kick header in the final seconds of the first half, but Falcon goalkeeper Sean McClintic provided just enough defense to keep the Glenn lead at 2-0.
Brent Baker
Jordan Moore scores the game-tying goal late in the second half despite the best efforts of Glenn keeper Eric Reder.

OGEMAW HEIGHTS - Oct. 15, 2008 - "We're doing it again!" shouted Ogemaw Heights goalkeeper Sean McClintic as the mob of celebrating Falcons began to disperse after Wednesday's 3-2, double-overtime district semifinal defeat of John Glenn.

Indeed, the Falcons added another chapter to their improbable run of tournament successes over the past two years, coming from two goals behind to toppled a John Glenn team that had beaten them twice this season. This just two days after rallying from a 2-0 deficit to eliminate Mt. Pleasant in overtime.

Ogemaw Heights' last six post-season games have all been decided by one goal, and four of those have gone into at least one overtime period.

"The kids picked their game up," said Ogemaw Heights coach Jeff Young. "In the second half and overtime we played the way we should have played all year. Our record might have been better, but at the same time, we're stepping up when it's important."

The Falcons dominated the overtime periods, launching 15 shots and forcing John Glenn goalkeeper Eric Reder into several diving saves. The game-winner came on a direct kick that Robbie Kish launched from 40 yards out, dropping it in front of the goal where Daichi Itabachi one-touched it in.

"I knew it was too far to shoot," Kish said. "I tried to set up the cross, and Daichi was where he was supposed to be and kicked it in.

"We played solid at the end of the year, and we're definitely playing better now when it counts the most."

The Bobcats had their way in the first half and easily could have had a four or five-goal lead with a few more fortuitous bounces. Stefan Michalsky finished off Ty Richards' deflected shot about 10 minutes into the game for the first score. Richards and Michalsky again teamed up for the second goal as Richards, on a run up the left sideline, crossed to the wide-open Michalsky at the right corner of the box, who ripped it back inside the left post for the two-goal margin.

"We came out flat," Kish said. "We were concentrating so much on stopping Ty that we forgot about Stefan."

Richards also had two shots bang off the post in the first half and nearly scored off a pair of corner kicks soon after halftime where he was left unmarked but headed the ball just over the crossbar.

Jordan Moore broke the ice for the Falcons about five minutes into the second half, stealing the ball in the Glenn backfield and winning a one-on-one with Reder to cut it to 2-1.

From there the Falcons gained confidence, getting numerous opportunities that either went just wide or that Reder stopped.

Moore got his second goal after Reder stopped Kish's point-blank shot but couldn't hang onto it, crashing the goal and punching it into the open net with under 10 minutes remaining.

The Falcons outshot Glenn 15-2 in the overtime periods before finally cashing in on Itabachi's score.

"It was a great effort by both squads," said Glenn coach Steve Gribbell, whose squad finished at 14-8. "Questionable officiating, but an outstanding effort by Ogemaw to get back in the match and eventually win."

"Eric just played a great game," said Kish of the Glenn keeper, who finished with 16 saves. "He stopped a lot of tough shots. I'm sorry he had to go out like that."

It also marked the end of Richards' record-setting career as the Falcons held the high-scoring forward off the scoreboard, despite his two assists.

McClintic had 10 saves, most in the first half.

One of two non-extra time district tournament contests the Falcons have played in the last two seasons was a last-minute win over Petoskey in last year's semifinals in what was one of the biggest upsets of the state tournament. Those same Northmen (17-1-3), now third-ranked in the state, await the Falcons (12-9-1) as their opponent in Saturday's district championship. Game time is 11 a.m. at Grayling High School.

A Falcon win, which would again be a monumental upset, would give them the district title and move them into the Cedar Springs regional on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. against the winner of the Grand Rapids Christian district.