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Sectional play in the Kent Division I District boys soccer tournament begins tonight at four sites. Roosevelt goalkeeper Tyler Mohnacky is among the premier players competing this 12-team field.

KENT, Ohio – Sectional play begins today in the Kent Division I District boys soccer tournament and no bracket in this year’s postseason is more muddled.

Ten of the 12 teams in the field have a chance to win a district title. There is no clear-cut favorite.

How mixed up is Kent Division I boys?

Nordonia (11-4-1) and Warren Howland (10-3-3) have the most wins in the bracket and neither team has a top-four seed.

Solon (8-4-3), Twinsburg (9-3-4), Hudson (8-7-1) and Aurora (9-4-2) claimed the top four slots in that order.  Then No. 3 seed Hudson creamed No. 2 Twinsburg 6-1 at Tiger Stadium the day after the seeds came out.

In fact, it will be more of a surprise if all four top seeds advance to the district semifinals.

No. 1 seed Solon (8-4-3) limped through the finish line with shutout losses to Strongsville and state-ranked Amherst Steele.

The Comets will likely have to deal with Walsh Jesuit (6-8-1) in the second round. The Warriors, one year removed from the Division II state semifinals, have played a rigorous schedule and lost six one-goal games. Walsh has a Hall of Fame coach in John Kissner and an All-Ohioan in junior forward/midfielder Nick Parianos

Twinsburg might be the most vulnerable among the top four. The Tigers anticipate Nordonia in the second round, after the Knights have posted a school record for victories.

Seemingly primed for a big year, boasting 16 seniors, Hudson is Exhibit A-1 for this district. The enigmatic Explorers have played like the stock market.

Coach Greg Shoults’ team has lost five 1-0 games and had three or more goals in seven matches.

Bryan Burrows (8 goals, 2 assists), Alberto Marchi (6, 5), Randall Berkley (5, 5) and Taylor Reasoner (6, 0) give Hudson plenty of offensive firepower.  And with senior captains David McCallops and goalkeeper Duncan Moran anchoring the defense, the Explorers would appear to have as good a chance as any side to win this tournament.

Hudson finally is free from Massillon Jackson, but will this senior-dominated team take full advantage of a wide-open bracket with no state-ranked teams?

The Explorers will get either Kenston (8-6-2) or Howland in the second round. Howland is receiving votes in the state poll and possesses a big-league offensive threat in Connor Gilmour (15 goals, 5 assists).

The most intriguing sectional semi has Kent Roosevelt (5-4-6) playing at Stow-Munroe Falls (5-6-5) and their recent history suggests this match will be a donnybrook.

Roosevelt knocked Stow out of the playoffs last year.

The winner will play Thursday at Aurora. The Greenmen are 9-1-2 since opening the season with three losses.

KENT DIVISION I DISTRICT – BOYS SOCCER

Tonight’s schedule – Sectional tournament play

Bedford at Walsh Jesuit, 7 p.m. (Winner plays Thursday at Solon)

Chagrin Falls Kenston at Warren Howland, 7 p.m. (Winner plays Thursday at Hudson)

Warren G. Harding at Nordonia, 7 p.m. (Winner plays Thursday at Twinsburg)

Kent Roosevelt at Stow-Munroe Falls, 7 p.m. (Winner plays Thursday at Aurora)