Warren’s Kyle Anthony picks the ball for a throw-in during Thursday’s high school boys soccer match against Athens in Vincent. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

VINCENT — All Zane Ott saw was a blue uniform. And that was good enough for him.

After tracking down a pass from Kyle Anthony near the corner on the offensive end, Ott sent a pass across the opposite side of the field, found teammate Liam Grosselin who scored the game-winning goal as Warren defeated Athens 2-1 in overtime, Thursday in a Division III district quarterfinal boys soccer match.

Warren (11-4-2), which has won six straight and nine of its last 10, advances to next Tuesday’s Division III district semifinal against top-seeded Gallia Academy at Logan High School. The match is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start. The two teams met nearly two months ago and tied 1-1.

Warren trailed Athens 1-0 until Ian Gardner’s goal off a pass from Reme Fairbanks tied the match at 1 with 5:55 remaining in regulation. Grosselin’s goal patched up any deficiencies the Warriors may have had prior to the overtime heroics.

“Tonight was probably one of the first times we have been fully dominated in the first half,” Warren coach Ben Atkinson said. “The play which resulted in the overtime goal is what we work on every single day, getting the ball across the line and just getting the easiest chance possible.

Warren’s Ethan Eddy (23) and Athens’ Flynn Ryan (14) jostle for position during Thursday’s high school boys soccer match in Vincent. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“So to see that pay off after a really bad start feels just amazing.”

The scoring sequence in the first overtime was textbook. The connection on the hockey assists by Anthony and Ott required just 23 seconds under a format of two, 15-minute overtime periods.

“I had hurt my hamstring, but in my mind I just had to keep going – I couldn’t stop until we won,” Ott said. “When I made the pass, all I saw was blue.”

Ott may not have known exactly which teammate was in scoring position, but Grosselin didn’t waste any time getting a shot off with an open net in his view.

“I saw Zane make that run, so I ran into a spot where Zane could make a perfect cross to me,” Grosselin said. “I have to give credit to the guys – I just put it into the net. I saw net. I hit it and once I saw it go in, it filled my face with joy.

Warren’s Gabe Gandee (10) and Athens’ Carter Boeninger (3) look skyward for the ball to come down during Thursday’s high school boys soccer match in Vincent. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“A moment like this has got to be number one. It’s got to be the one.”

Anthony’s pass to Ott down the right sideline deep into Athens territory put to rest an otherwise frustrating night for Anthony, who had a conversation with coach Atkinson as he came off the field for a substitution during the second half.

“I had like three turnovers in a row – coach pulled me out and he got my head leveled, and gave me some time to regroup,” Anthony said. “I was confident Zane had his man and that’s why I played it. He got his hips around him perfectly. When he passed it to Liam, I was like that’s golden. Perfect ball.

“I’m still stunned – I’m shocked. I couldn’t see a better way to end it. It was our last game on our home field this season, and for our seniors, too.”

With time winding down on Warren’s season deep into the second half, the Fairbanks-to-Gardner combination also played out just as it was drawn up. After receiving the pass left of center, Gardner found enough time to set his footing and sent a shot attempt upper right corner.

Warren’s Liam Grosselin (1) tries to evade the sliding tackle from an Athens’ defender during Thursday’s high school boys soccer match in Athens. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Gardner played with a separated right shoulder he suffered on senior night.

“Played with a lot of pain and a lot of meds – I just took the fight to play with this team again,” Gardner said. “Can’t ask for a better teammate than Reme. He’s always looking for your. He knows when you are there and when you are not. He knows when to pass – just one heck of a teammate.

“As far as the overtime goal, honestly I was stretching my shoulder. I wasn’t watching. Everybody is going nuts. Turns out we scored. I was looking at the field. I figured it out when everybody was rushing the field.”

Athens, which ends the season at 8-6-4, opened the scoring at the 7:23 mark of the first half and it occurred on the sixth corner kick of the match for the Bulldogs.

Athens’ designated player for corner kicks, Mikael Mends, gave one of his taller teammates, Carter Boeninger, the perfect opportunity for a header past the Warren keeper.

Athens’ Braeden Tally (10) takes a shot on goal past Warren’s Ethan Eddy (23) and a second Warrior defender during Thursday’s high school boys soccer match in Vincent. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“It was a really poor start tonight – Athens worked hard and put us under pressure and they dominated us in the first half in all honesty,” Atkinson said. “We settled down a little bit and created some chances and it got way better.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com

Athens keeper Enzo Servedio kicks the ball away as Warren’s Zane Ott approaches during Thursday’s high school soccer match in Vincent. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)