BERLIN, Ohio. - Prior to their game on Saturday, July 2, Amish Country United's four meetings with Stark County United have never resulted in an ACU win. A draw and three losses have been all the Amish have been able to manage against the only other remaining team from the NOSL's inaugural season in 2019. Despite a slow start to the season (four losses in four matches), Stark County came into Saturday's game having won three of their lost four. The Amish would have it even harder as many players were unavailable due to it being July 4th weekend and defender Braden Mast playing in goal as all other rostered goalkeepers were either injured or unavailable for selection.
Despite having a shallow bench and a field player in goal, the Amish came out and played well early on. However, about twenty minutes in, a Stark County shot was nastily redirected off defender Jordan Miller's leg. The redirected ball went over Mast's head, nicked off the crossbar, and went in to give Stark a 1-0 lead. Skipping ahead to the second half, Amish Country's Caleb Beachy received a knee to the mouth and was required to exit the game early due to what looked to be a nasty injury. As the half wore on, ACU kept getting closer and closer to converting one of their many chances. Josh Ragon finally gained possession of the ball on the left wing, maneuvered through three defenders, and shot the ball into the net to even things up at 1-1 with what was surely Amish Country United's goal of the season.
With the score level at 1-1, ACU began to push higher up for the game winner but this left the hosts exposed at the rear. Following an Amish Country attack with only a few minutes left, Stark countered quickly and a deflected ball found the feet of ex-Accipiter FC forward Micah Boggs. Boggs blasted the ball into the net and sealed the win for the visitors. The Amish Country United loss and Delaware Rising's 2-1 win over Ambassadors FC Ohio means Amish Country will need to win its final game against Delaware Rising next Saturday, July 9 in order to clinch a playoff berth.
ACU will travel to Buckeye Valley High School in Delaware, Ohio in a must-win game against Delaware Rising FC on Saturday, July 9. Kickoff is set for 11:00am.
