Local Sports

Tigers fall to Falcons 1-0 in district final

LOGAN, Ohio -- For the fifth time in the last six years, Marietta and Fairfield Union squared off in the postseason tournament.

All five times, the match has been decided by one goal.

This time around, it was the third-seeded Falcons who prevailed over the top-seeded Tigers 1-0 in Thursday's district championship match at Logan High School.

Last year, Marietta beat FUHS 1-0 in the district final. Two years ago, Fairfield Union won in the district semis. In 2022, Marietta bested the Falcons in the regional semis, and the year before that, Fairfield Union eliminated Marietta in the district final.

"We know every year that it’s going to come down to one of us," said Fairfield Union head coach Casey Bischof, who has guided the Falcons to three district titles in the last four years.

"Every time we play, there’s that one chance that you sometimes finish. Last year, Marietta finished their one chance. Tonight, we finished our one chance."

That chance came in the 56th minute. The Falcons had a free kick around midfield. Ruby Warthman lofted the ball to Maddi Mitchell in the right corner, and Mitchell placed a perfect shot.

"Maddi’s really good at making runs in behind the defense," Bischof said.

"(Marietta) keeper (Maura Misel) is so good that if you don’t put in the perfect spot, she’s going to save it. Maddi was able to put it just over her backside."

It was one of three shots on goal on the night for Fairfield Union. Misel saved the other two.

"They had one quick finish on a foul that we were really just kind of caught out of position," said Marietta head coach Bill Mannix.

"At the end of the day, the effort was there. We just had a tough time connecting passes."

Marietta also put three shots on frame, all in the second half. FUHS keeper Kaeda Miller came out of it with three saves and a clean sheet. Her toughest challenge came with two minutes left. Marietta's Grace Spencer dribbled through the defense and took a shot, but it hit off the right post and Miller was there to gather it up.

"I still don’t really know how that one didn’t go in," Bischof said. "Marietta is so good at throwing numbers forward and they have so many girls that can score. We looked gassed, but we were just able to keep pushing, keep working, stay energized. Honestly, probably kind of lucky that the ball stayed out of the net."

Earlier in the half, Parker Weppler had a corner kick that was headed for the back of the net, but Miller got up and punched it away. Fairfield Union's defensive approach limited what Marietta could do.

"They dropped in four to five on defense the whole night, and we just continued to try to play into that, as opposed to possessing the ball into the final, which is difficult to do," Mannix said. "They really dictated the possession because we played it in, then they worked the ball out and kind of worked through the middle and there was a lot of space. Then we would win the ball back, come back down, give it right back to them, and they work it out again. We just never really could connect the passes."

It was just the second loss of the season for the Tigers, who finished the 2026 campaign with a 15-2-2 record. Fairfield Union improved to 14-4-2 and will take on Tri-Valley on Tuesday in the regional semifinals.

"It’s two good teams that are in the district final, and you just never really know," Mannix said. "Fairfield Union brought a good game plan in, and they stuck to it, and they and we just couldn’t really make the adjustment to get a goal back in the net."

Marietta's seniors -- Spencer, Fiona Fowler, Adelia Berner, Braxton Kroft, Jaydynn Felter and Omnia Offenberger -- produced a record of 59-15-5 over the last four seasons.

"They’ve given so much to this team over the years," Mannix said. "They’ve been great leaders. They’ve done a great job. They’ve put a tremendous amount of time and effort in, and they’ve really led the team this year very well. We’re going to definitely miss them next year."

Fairfield Union's seniors had their junior campaigns ended by the Tigers. Thursday, they were able to exact some revenge. Bischof, though, has the utmost respect for Marietta as a program.

"I can’t say enough good things about Marietta," Bischof said. "(Assistant) coach Ben (Schenkel), and Coach Bill, they’re so good with those girls. For them to go out with a district championship and to kind of knock off Marietta after them ending their season last year, I know they’re going to be pretty pumped about that."

Contact Jordan Holland at jholland@mariettatimes.com.

At Logan High School

Division III Southeast District Final

Fairfield Union 1, Marietta 0

F 0 1 -- 1

M 0 0 -- 0

F: Maddi Mitchell, Ruby Warthman assist, 56th minute

Team stats

Shots on goal: F: 3; M: 3; Keeper saves: F: Kaeda Miller 3; M: Maura Misel 2; Corner kicks: F: 5; M: 3

Next match: Fairfield Union vs. Tri-Valley, TBD Tuesday at Logan (Regional Semifinal)