KETTERING - Last night the Fairmont Firebirds Men's Soccer team hosted GWOC rival Springboro High School. Springboro withstood early chances from the hosts, who saw a shot from Bien Niyonkuru skim just outside the left post in the sixth minute and another of his shots hitting the post in the twelfth minute. The senior forward caused the Panthers’ back line trouble all night long, instinctually getting behind his man and putting the ball into scoring positions throughout the game.

However, the Panthers grabbed the first goal of the night in the thirty-third minute off a rebound following a save from the Birds’ keeper Gavin Fourman. Aaron Black was taken down in the box in the final minute of the half, but the referee waived off the penalty and sent the teams into halftime with the visitors ahead by a goal.

The second half saw the teams bring the ruckus crowd to the edge of their seats, with both searching for the next goal. In the fifty second minute, the Birds earned their equalizer with quick passing along the edge of the Panthers’ box from Bien to Gavin Weaver to Torin Brock, who sent the ball past the keeper. Chris Schafer and Freddy Irakoze nearly put Fairmont ahead in the fifty-third and fifty-seventh minutes, but the Panthers regained the lead in the fifty-eighth minute with a singular effort by their center midfielder. The lead only lasted 19 seconds following a handball in the box by the visitors. Grey Danner stepped up to take the spot kick and squeezed it past the keeper, leveling the score at 2-2.

Bien nearly had the go-ahead goal with thirteen minutes left in the match, but his shot from 32 yards was just over the crossbar. Fairmont took the lead with four minutes left in the match when Will Herman found the ball at his feet following a poor Springboro clearance and he sent the ball past the outstretched arm of the keeper and into the net. However, Springboro bounced back and snatched two goals in the dying moments of the game, handing the Birds their first loss of the season.

It was an electric game throughout, and fate may see these two teams square off again in the postseason. The Firebirds travel to Centerville High School next Tuesday, September 9th, where they'll take on the Elks with JV kickoff at 5:30 p.m. and Varsity at 7:15 p.m.