Central returns to regional title game

Photos: Regional: Reading vs. Cath. Central

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Catholic Central High School’s Calum Latham is congratulated with a hug from Mitch Maletic (16) and others after a first-half goal during a Division III regional semifinal match Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Virgil M. Schwarm Stadium in Hamilton. Dan Mullins (12) also joins in the celebration. Central topped Reading 2-1. Contributed photo by Ryan Podracky

Irish hold off Reading, will meet Seven Hills on Saturday for berth in state tournament.

By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer Updated 8:23 AM Wednesday, November 4, 2009

HAMILTON — For the second time in three seasons, the Catholic Central High School boys soccer team is back in the Division III regional finals.

Calum Latham and Joe Halula each scored first-half goals as the Irish beat Reading 2-1 in a fast-paced, physical D-III regional semifinal match at Hamilton’s Virgil M. Schwarm Stadium on Tuesday night, Nov. 3.

The Irish (20-0-1) will face Cincinnati Seven Hills, a 2-1 winner over Cincinnati Summit Country Day, in the D-III regional finals at Hamilton High School at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

“It’s fantastic,” said Irish coach Shane Latham. “You just try to make little adjustments. The players, it’s their game. They know what they’re supposed to do. You just hope they make good decisions most of the time and that’s what they did. We did enough to win. (Reading) is a very good opponent.”

Seven minutes into the match, Mitch Maletic’s corner kick found Calum Latham in front of the net and he beat the keeper to give the Irish a 1-0 lead.

With 20 minutes remaining in the first half, Halula scored to make it 2-0. The ball ricocheted off a defender and fell to Halula, who dribbled around the oncoming goalkeeper and scored from about 10 yards out for the Irish.

Taylor Estes pulled the Blue Devils to within 2-1 off a free kick with eight minutes to go in the first half. Kyle Simpson’s free kick deflected off an Irish defender to Estes’ feet and he was able to put it into the net.

“They’re hard-nosed, very tough in the tackle,” Latham said. “They just played so fast and furious. They played very direct. They put us back on our heels, but I thought we handled it very well.”

The Blue Devils frantically pressed for another goal in the second half, but couldn’t produce one.

With eight minutes remaining, Derr saved the match for the Irish. Reading’s Daniel Wicks, who started the match in goal, took a left-footed shot from eight yards out, but Derr made a diving save.

Reading finished its season 15-1-4. It was the school’s first-ever trip to the regional semifinals.

“It was a great game,” said Blue Devils coach Bill Simpson. “It was definitely a fun game to watch. I thought we had a little better of the play. We made a couple mistakes early and they took advantage of them.”

The Irish had several chances to score in the waning moments, but couldn’t find a goal to seal the win. In the end, they wouldn’t need it.

“We knew we could catch them on the counter attack with 5 to 10 minutes remaining,” Latham said. “They had everybody pulled up. We probably should’ve iced it. In these games, the margins are so slim. You just never know. We’re happy to come away with a 2-1 win.”

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