High school boys soccer: Brock Harman scores goal in overtime as Avon wins Division II state championship

COLUMBUS — After a season of training sessions, film study and words of wisdom from coach Chris Dore, Sunday's Division II boys soccer state final came down to a simple piece of advice players hear from the first time they step on the field ... play until you hear the whistle. Eagles senior forward Brock Harman followed that advice and it brought Avon its first state championship when he chipped in a goal in the 89th minute to give his team a 1-0 overtime victory over Kings Mills Kings at Historic Crew Stadium. Avon (17-2-3) had turned up the pressure on the Knights from the beginning of the overtime session but it was quick thinking by Harmon, the Eagles' leading scorer this season, that changed the course of the game and made history. Harman was outside the box on the near side of the field when he played a ball down to the ground off the top of his shoulder. The Kings momentarily hesitated expecting a handball call. Harman, thinking championship or bust, never hesitated and put the ball in the back of the net to make Avon the first soccer state champion to hail from Lorain County. "The keeper came out really far I was just able to get a touch on it and I chipped it over him," Harman said. "I think everyone thought it was a handball when it hit off of my shoulder and I just took a touch and hit it. "It felt so great. We really accomplished something this year and it feels great to do it with my teammates." The Eagles had four of their seven shots on goal in overtime. "You could feel the energy rising in our team," senior defender Logan Fitchko said. "We knew we were going to score in the next couple minutes." Goalkeeper Oliver Dobrovic turned away five Kings shots while earning his third shutout of the postseason and Avon's 13th of the year. "It was quite a back-and-forth game in the first half," Dobrovic said. "We had most of the possession in the second half and that sparked our momentum going into overtime. In overtime we really just put it on them. Our will to never give up is what gave us the opportunity to win today." Dore waited 19 years for his chance to coach Avon to a title. "It was a magical season," he said. "It's been a long time coming not just for me but for everyone in the locker room. They have earned every bit of success they've had. I want to say thank you to the these guys, the Avon community." Although Kings (15-3-5) only managed five shots on goal on the wet, slippery Crew Stadium grass, Dore said they gave Avon a challenge unlike anything it faced all year. "That team was phenomenal," Dore said of the Knights. "I believe that was the toughest team we faced all year. They were super organized." Avon ended its season with a 15-game unbeaten streak dating back to Sept. 8, all while playing most of Northeast Ohio's elite teams. "I feel like the tough schedule made us better and prepared us for moments like this," Harmon said. Like Avon, the Knights were also making their first appearance in a state final after winning its state semifinal game against Westerville Central. "(Avon) came out ready and they were more physical," Kings senior midfielder Sam Wik said. "We were panicked a little bit, which is something that normally doesn't happen to us, but credit to Avon ... they played well and possessed the ball." Dore said it was impossible to describe all of the emotions he was feeling as celebrations erupted across the field after Harman's goal, but he took a moment to look at how far the Avon program has come over the past two decades. "When I first got here in 2007, we used to play on a little grass field in front of the high school," he said. "Now we're winning a state championship. It's very hard to describe, but I'm just happy for everyone who cares about Avon soccer." Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Avon 1, Kings Mills Kings 0 (OT) GOALS: (A) Brock Harman (89th minute) SAVES: (K) Brody Sucher 6; (A) Oliver Dobrovic 5 CORNER KICKS: Kings 2, Avon 4 FOULS: Kings 14, Avon 7 OFFSIDE: Kings 1, Avon 2 YELLOW CARDS: (A) Kyle Delury (25th minute) HALFTIME: 0-0 FULLTIME: 0-0