Dover boys soccer wins back-to-back district titles over New Phila

For the second consecutive season, the Dover boys soccer team found itself celebrating a district championship at the expense of its biggest rival.

Behind an early goal from senior Owen Duda and a strong defensive performance, the Crimson Tornadoes defeated New Philadelphia 1-0 on Thursday, Oct. 29, to capture their second straight district championship, securing another trip to the OHSAA regional tournament.

This time, the senior found the back of the net early, giving the Crimson Tornadoes a lead they would protect for the remainder of the game.

After his performance against John Glenn, Duda said he entered Thursday's championship with a renewed sense of confidence.

"I can do this. I have the confidence to do it," he said. "I can put it in the back of the net, and I can lead my team."

Knowing the importance of the rivalry matchup, Duda also made it a priority to ensure his teammates were energized from the moment they arrived.

"I made sure that the entire time we're warming up, the entire bus right here was loud," he said. "During warmups, we're here yelling while we're shooting.

"You have to get the positive energy going early."

With the early advantage, Dover coach Austin Wade faced a decision about how aggressively his team should continue to attack.

Rather than completely shifting into a defensive approach, Wade wanted his players to maintain the possession and offensive opportunities that established the lead.

"We talk about wanting to sit in and get a little more defensive, but at the same time, we don't want to change from our gameplan," Wade said. "We felt like we were able to get good looks and good control, especially in the midfield and up top, and we didn't want to give in to that."

Wade said managing his players' stamina and making adjustments were important factors in protecting the one-goal advantage. For Wade, the opportunity to celebrate another district championship with his eight seniors made the victory particularly meaningful.

"It doesn't get old," Wade said. "These seniors have given everything to this program."

Wade credited the leadership of his upperclassmen for helping the Crimson Tornadoes navigate the pressure of another postseason rivalry showdown.

"They're just the backbone for the rest of the team," he said. "They lead by example, and they are true role models for these younger guys."

The significance of winning another championship against New Philadelphia was not lost on Wade.

"There's a certain respect for this level of rivalry, and it just makes the game so exciting," he said. "I'm really grateful to be with these kids and with these coaches, and come here and have this type of rivalry game with these high stakes."

For Duda, the championship was about more than defeating a rival or adding another trophy to the program's collection.

"It's the first time in a long time that we've actually won two in a row," Duda said. "This is probably by far my favorite group of guys. And I'm just glad I get to celebrate it with them."

Now, Dover turns its attention toward unfinished business.

Last season, the Crimson Tornadoes advanced to the regional championship before falling short of a trip to the state semifinals.

Duda said last year's postseason matchups against Jackson and Bishop Watterson taught him what to expect as the competition gets tougher.

"The opponents get bigger and stronger," he said. "We just have to keep up."

Wade echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that each postseason presents different challenges and requires adjustments.

"It's a different level for sure, and so tactics change a little bit from team to team," he said. "These guys, they'll be ready tomorrow, looking to learn and get better.

"They're excited about the opportunity."