Giesler, Galena turn back Gaels

Bishop Gorman’s boys didn’t allow goal in 110 minutes of play Friday.

The only problem was the Gaels couldn’t sneak one past Galena goalkeeper Max Giesler.

And they couldn’t beat Giesler, a 6-foot-4-inch junior, in the first round of sudden-death penalty kicks, either.

Giesler sprawled to his right to make a fingertip save on JoJo Vitale’s penalty kick as Galena downed the two-time defending state champions in a Class 4A state semifinal at Bettye Wilson Park. The Grizzlies advance to meet Las Vegas in the final today at 11 a.m.

Giesler slowed the ball, then grabbed it just as it was approaching the goal line.

“It was very close,” Giesler said. “I saw his hips turn a little, so I knew he was going (to my) right.”

After two scoreless halves and two scoreless 15-minute overtimes, each team scored on its five penalty kicks, forcing sudden-death rounds.

Galena’s Trevor Johnson scored on a low shot low to the right side. Vitale stepped up and tried to beat Giesler in the low left corner of the net.

“We just ended up on the wrong end,” said Gorman coach Nick Arbelaez.

Galena, which advanced to the state by beating Northern Region top seed Carson in a penalty-kick shootout last week, slowed Gorman’s offense. The Gaels had eight shots on goal in regulation and the overtimes, but few quality scoring chances.

“They contained our forwards,” Arbelaez said. “They’re a scrappy team, and they challenge everything. They played with a lot of heart.”

The scoring chances Gorman did have were turned away by Giesler, who can easily reach over the crossbar on the goal.

“Max has come a long way,” said Galena coach Marco Merlo. “He was injured last year, and he has really worked hard to get back.”
Giesler’s best save came just past the midway point of the second half when Gorman’s Austin Cain corralled a high pass and set up Nic Eary for a shot from 22 yards. Giesler was in perfect position to catch the ball.

Gorman managed just two shots on goal from inside the penalty area.

“We just tried to play physical against them,” Merlo said. “It’s not dirty, but it’s physical. We’re a blue-collar team.”

Gorman goalkeeper Jake O’Rourke made four saves.

“It was a great season,” said Arbelaez, whose team finished 17-7-1. “The kids battled through a lot of adversity. We hope to learn from this.”