No. 1 seed Copley tops Barberton in boys soccer, 4-1
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Highland junior Ryan Downey, right, scores against Firestone goalie Thomas Cooke during the Hornets' 3-1 victory in a sectional final of the Brunswick Division I District.
The Copley Indians moved into the district semifinals of the Division I boys soccer tournament as they defeated Barberton 4-1 at Copley Stadium on Thursday night.
The Indians are top-seeded in the Brunswick District and showed why as they scored three goals in a five-minute span of the first half against the Magics.
Junior forward Colin Burton got the first goal of the night for the Indians in the 15th minute as he converted a cross from Copley co-captain, senior midfielder Tanner Manfull and buried his shot in the lower right-hand corner of the net. Barberton goalkeeper Kyle Sykes was injured on the play and had to leave the game. He was replaced by senior defender Eric Hummel.
Copley turned up the offensive pressure with Hummel now in goal. The result, two quick goals that put the game out of reach.
Junior forward Riley Grant scored on a shot just inside the right post. The play was set up on a run by sophomore defender John Harter. That made it 2-0 Copley in the 17th minute.
Michael Dichlian made it 3-0 in favor of the Indians on a setup from senior midfielder Taylor Graf.
Junior midfielder Forest Galloway closed out Copley’s scoring in the first-half in the 38th minute on a feed from Manfull.
“It was a good first half,” said Copley head coach Dave Antal. “We haven’t played a game since last Tuesday. We had a long lull off and it kind of affected the guys in the first half. Then we came out and played really hard.”
Manfull was happy for the fast start.
“We came out fast in the first half and put them away with some quick goals,” Manfull said.
Barberton scored its only goal in the second half as senior defender J.D. Cuckler found the back of the net.
Is their any extra-added pressure on Copley in being the top-seed? Antal doesn’t think so.
“These guys started off a bit slow, losing two of their first four games,” he said. “It’s been a progression for us to get better each game. We earned the top spot. All we want to do is play at home and represent the top spot.”
Manfull knows the rest of the field guns for the top seed.
“I’m sure a lot of teams want to take out the top seed,” Manfull said. “But, I’m glad we’re up there. We worked hard this season.”
Copley will play Brunswick on Monday night at Copley Stadium in the district semifinals.
More from the Division I Brunswick District…
HIGHLAND 3, FIRESTONE 1. It was brother helping brother for the Highland Hornets on Thursday night in the boys Division I soccer sectional finals at Copley High School. The Hornets defeated fourth-seeded Firestone 3-1 to move into the district semifinals.
It was the brothers Sefcik that carried the Hornets to the win. Senior co-captain Ryan Sefcik scored a goal in the match. His brother, Bob, is not a teammate but the head coach of the Hornets. Bob Sefcik is in his first year leading the Hornets.
“I love playing for him because I grew up with him,” said Ryan Sefcik. “It’s natural. There’s nothing weird about it.”
Bob Sefcik, 24, said that when his 17-year-old brother is on the field, he’s one of the guys. “All the players out there are my little brothers,” Bob said. “(Ryan) is one of the only guys who calls me coach on the field.
“I love the kid to death. He’s doing great things this year. He’s a leader for us. That’s why Ryan wears a captain’s arm band for us.”
Highland scored the only goal of the first half as junior Paul Burns converted a cross delivered by junior Jeff Hall and put it past Firestone goalkeeper Thomas Cooke.
Highland extended its lead to 3-0 by the 53rd minute on second-half goals by Ryan Downey and Sefcik.
Firestone scored its only goal in the 64th minute off the foot of senior Mike Eberly.
The game was moved from the Copley Road Soccer Fields in Akron to Copley High School because of field conditions.
“We haven’t practiced on turf the entire year,” said Falcons head coach Mike Householder. “We only played one game on turf, and that was against Western Reserve Academy. We just couldn’t play our possession game.”
Highland has faced plenty of adversity this year, changing coaches and losing plenty of seniors from last year’s team.
“We finally have some momentum and we have to keep it going,” Ryan Sefcik said.
Highland co-captain Brandon Poling agreed.
“Everyone thought that because we lost all those players it would be a rebuilding year, so it’s nice to get to the district semis,” Poling said.
The Hornets will play Medina on Monday night in the district semifinals.
MEDINA 2, CLOVERLEAF 0. At Westfield Twp., No. 2 seed Medina won the sectional final behind goals from seniors Nick Everetts and Gareth Evison.
The Bees (10-1-6) will play Monday against Highland.
BRUNSWICK 4, WADSWORTH 0.At Brunswick, the Blue Devils won the sectional final and will face Copley on Monday in the district semifinal.
Brunswick (7-8-2) scored first on a cross from junior midfielder Ross DiDonna to junior defender Brett Janik, who headed the ball past Wadsworth's senior keeper Eric Black. Brunswick took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Blue Devils' offense exploded with three more goals coming from senior midfielder Jake Marianut assisted by junior forward Justin Miller. Then DiDonna and Miller scored goals of their own to seal the victory.
Brunswick's senior goalkeeper Zak Petrenko recorded his second shutout of the season with eight saves in the match.