Ottawa's Stoops stops penalty kick in victory

Ottawa High School senior goal keeper Scott Stoops has made all kinds of saves during his career.

Several easy ones and some big ones and huge moments in contests.

The senior came up with another one that helped turn Ottawa into a winner Thursday against Gardner at Ottawa University’s grass field.

In the second half, Gardner had sliced a 2-0 halftime deficit to 2-1 and had a penalty kick.

The Trailblazers sent one of their top scorers and it was one-on-one.

Stoops came up huge with the save and it gave Ottawa a big momentum boost. Ottawa won 3-1.

“He was unreal,” Ottawa coach Glen Cahill said of Stoops.” The ball was there and he smothered it.”

Ottawa jumped all over Gardner early with two Braden Ward goals in the first 15 minutes. The opening goal came two minutes into the contest.

Ward scored off an assist from Eric Messenger. The second came off a errant clearance from the Trailblazers. It was Ward’s third goal in the past two matches.

“He has been on a tear the past couple of games,” Cahill said.

The coach said it was key to jump on top early.

Ottawa regained its two-goal cushion when junior Sean Cahill buried a penalty kick.

Ottawa kept the pressure on offensively and kept Gardner bottled up defensively.

Cahill said the defenders were solid in the back. Ottawa maintained control of the ball and kept Gardner on its heels.

“We moved very well off the ball,” Cahill said. “The effort was incredible. They left it all on the pitch.”

Ottawa (8-4) plays Tuesday at Louisburg.