“Friday Night Futbol” kicks off soccer season

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Normally Friday nights in Ohio are reserved for high school football. But this Friday night belonged to soccer.

The OSHAA allows high school soccer teams to start their season one day earlier, on a Friday rather than a Saturday. It’s to showcase high school soccer and make sure that it’s the only game in town.

A large crowd was on hand at Sulsberger Stadium to watch the boys and girls soccer teams from Zanesville and Rosecrans open the season. The bands were also in the stands to make it feel like a Friday night football game.

“The atmosphere here tonight was fantastic. We had a great game. The band was playing for us, we had a huge crowd, and we’re raising some money for the program so it’s fantastic,” said Zanesville boys head soccer coach Steve Ashby.

Neither team could push across a goal in the  boys game, and it ended in a scoreless tie. Zanesville’s Leikyn DalPonte scored on a free kick in the first half to give the Blue Devils a 1-0 victory over the Bishops in the girls game.