By: Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP - For 62 minutes at Ballaban Field at St. Xavier High School, the nets were impenetrable. 

The home team Bombers, who had defeated Sycamore 5-1 in October, couldn't solve Aves goalie Jake Isaacs. 

Likewise, Briggs O'Toole had all of the tools to stop Sycamore between his pipes. Finally, with 22 minutes past in the second half, Lawrence White snuck a shot by Isaacs that lifted a major weight off the collective St. Xavier shoulders. 

"It's tournament time," St.Xavier coach Brian Schaeper said. "We knew it was going to be a different game. Sycamore played hard and fought 'til the end. They caused some chaos. Another moment and the game could have gone differently."

St. Xavier had only been shutout twice all season and White made sure there wouldn't be a third. White connected from the left, with his right and all was right off North Bend Road.

"I really can't explain the feeling to score a game-winner," White said. "I got a ball from  my fellow player Jason Steigerwald and I just put it in the back of the net. All kudos to Sycamore. They played a great game and put their hearts on the line."

St. Xavier hasn't won a regional final game since 2008 when many of the current seniors were just beginning their educations. Now, they have a shot for the first state soccer title in St. Xavier history since 1983 when Ronald Reagan was President and Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video had yet to be released.

For St. Xavier's Briggs O'Toole it was another shutout, giving him 8.5 for the season. He led the Greater Catholic League-South in that category. He also leads in visibility with his lime green keeper kit.

"We kind of take a little swagger when we take the field representing St. X with the new uniforms," O'Toole said. 

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