“We’ve played parts of matches at the level we need to play, but we need to play the whole match at a high level to beat Summit,” said Latham, whose team needed overtime to survive the last two rounds. “We have to reach another gear. We can’t just play in spurts to beat them.”
Central (18-2-1) knocked off Summit (14-2-3) at home this season 2-1. But the Silver Knights are the defending state champions and ranked No. 1 in the final state poll. Central was ranked fifth.
“It’s very likely that the winner of this game will have a good chance to win the state title,” Latham said.
Central’s last trip to the state semifinals was in 2010. The Irish have been four times and won state titles in 2001 and 2007.
Latham knows Summit well. After the Irish beat Summit in a regional final in 2001, Latham began scheduling regular-season games against the Silver Knights and other Cincinnati schools to prepare for tournament play. The teams have played almost every year since either in the regular season or the tournament or both.
“They’ve got quality players at every position, so there’s not one particular player you can key on,” Latham said. “They play at a very fast pace, move the ball very well and spread the field out very well.”
Summit has had the better of Central since 2008, including 5-0 and 2-0 victories last year. So Latham knows his team’s September victory over Summit might give his team confidence but not guarantees.
“It will be very close,” he said. “They’re relentless.”
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