Wyoming junior goalkeeper Teddy Peterson stopped two penalty kicks to secure the Ohio Division IV state soccer title, denying Worthington Christian’s final attempt in the shootout. The match ended with Wyoming winning 3-1 in a best-of-five shootout on November 15 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Stadium in Columbus.
Wyoming, with a 17-4-3 record, lifted its second state title, having first won in 2021. Worthington Christian, the defending champions and 18-3-3 this season, finished as runner-up for the third time in four years. This final marked the 19th time the Ohio Division IV boys soccer championship has been decided by penalty kicks.
Peterson, a first-year starter, saved Worthington’s second penalty and caught the decisive fourth-round attempt. Wyoming’s shooters, seniors Miles Steininger, Nolan Franco, and Brayden Strong, converted every spot kick.
Peterson had also made the final save in the semifinals, stopping Worthington’s seventh-round penalty after Liam Hagerman scored to extend the shootout.
The match itself was tightly contested over 110 minutes, including 30 minutes of overtime. Wyoming took the lead six minutes into the second half when junior forward Liam Hagerman scored his seventh goal of the season with a right-footed shot inside the near post. Worthington equalized 21 minutes later through Colton Hoskinson, who volleyed a diagonal cross near the far post.
Both teams showed strong defensive performances throughout the game. Worthington allowed only 20 goals in the season, Wyoming 17. The match produced balanced chances, with Wyoming firing 16 shots (four on target) and Worthington 14 shots (five on target).
Worthington had a tense sequence in the first half of overtime, including a blocked header, a shot that hit the crossbar, and another header saved by Peterson. Nolan Franco nearly scored in the second overtime for Wyoming but missed.
Worthington came into the final having won the title the previous season and finishing runner-up twice before. Their history includes four state championships and six semifinal appearances. Wyoming, champions in 2021, have made four semifinal runs in six seasons.
Wyoming’s starting lineup included Peterson, Will Haid, Ethan Nordstrom, Brayden Strong, Nolan Franco, Caleb Kahn, Miles Steininger, Everett Johnson, Carter Snyder, Dawson Feldman, and Cayden Walters. Five players scored in double figures this season, with Snyder leading at 13 goals and five assists. Johnson had 12 goals and 11 assists, Franco 11 goals and nine assists, Steininger 10 goals and 12 assists, and Walters 10 goals and five assists. Hagerman and junior Ethan Harrison scored seven goals each, while Kahn contributed five.
Peterson finished the season with 11.5 shutouts.
Wyoming’s senior class included Will Haid, Ethan Nordstrom, AJ Nikolaidis, Brayden Strong, Nolan Franco, Caleb Kahn, Tristan Pitman, Miles Steininger, Everett Johnson, Carter Snyder, Greg Kleinschmidt, and Dennis Cummings.
Worthington Christian’s three missed penalties and Peterson’s saves ultimately decided the match, delivering Wyoming’s second state title in five years.
According to Yahoo Sports.
