The Gilmour Academy varsity boys soccer team won its postseason opener this past week as the Lancers claimed a 1-0 win over Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School on an unseasonably warm afternoon at Weber Stadium.
The win gave the Lancers a measure of revenge against their local rivals as NDCL had eliminated Gilmour from the playoffs last season.
The game remained scoreless at halftime as Gilmour held a 3-2 edge in shots on goal. One of the Lancers' best chances in the opening 40 minutes came when Alexander Beedles '22 drove toward the left side of the goal, but his low effort was sent just wide of the far post.
Gilmour would take the lead in the 48th minute off a corner kick.
Carter Richmond '25 delivered a gorgeous, inswinging ball into a dangerous area. Defender Ian Baird '23 rose above everyone in the vicinity and got his head to the ball. Baird's header was directed down into the turf, and it bounced high off the ground and into the upper left corner of the net.
Richmond notched his team-leading seventh assist of the season while the goal was Baird's second of the year.
Gilmour had a chance to add to its lead later in the half, but the NDCL goalkeeper turned away a few dangerous chances to keep his team in the match.
However, the Gilmour defense and goalkeeper Nathan Nootbaar '22 were able to hold on to the slim lead and see out the win.
Nootbaar made five saves to earn his third shutout of the season. Baird, Michael Giancola '23, Andrew Minder '24, John Stack '23 and Michael Tippen '22 were all key pieces of the GA back line that helped the Lancers keep a clean sheet.
Unfortunately, Gilmour's postseason came to an end this past Saturday with a 2-1 defeat to Streetsboro High School in the Sectional Final of the OHSAA Tournament.
The match was tied 1-1 at the half, but the Rockets scored the lone goal of the second half with about 20 minutes remaining and Gilmour ran out of time to mount a comeback.
Beedles tallied his team-leading 21st goal of the season in the final game, bringing an end to his lethal offensive season.
Although the season ended in disappointment for Gilmour, the Lancers still produced a third consecutive season with a record of .500 or better.