ROMM PHOTOGRAPHY

Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy's Alexandra Blair kicked the game-winner in overtime to lead the Royals over St. Vincent-St. Mary in a Kent Div. II sectional championship.

AKRON, Ohio – There are no secrets between the girls soccer teams at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy and St. Vincent-St. Mary. The Royals and Irish are quite familiar with each other.

Junior forward Alexandra Blair scored a "golden goal" with a minute left in the first overtime to give visiting No. 5 seed CVCA a 2-1 victory Saturday afternoon over No. 3 seed St. V-M in a Kent Division II sectional final. It marked the third time in the last four seasons that CVCA (13-5-0) had topped St. V-M in the postseason.

“It’s a friendly rivalry,” CVCA coach Bob Adamov said. “(St. V-M coach Rob Young) is a friend of mine. We know their players by name. They know our players by name. It’s an intense, well-played soccer game every time we play. “

After a scoreless first half, St. Vincent-St. Mary (3-11-2) took a 1-0 lead a goal from freshman Taylor Ceepo with 15 minutes left in regulation. Senior Miranda Yeaton assisted on the score.

With their season in jeopardy, the Royals stepped up the offensive pressure. Adamov said he didn’t need to change his lineup but he did move some players up in the formation to add more attackers.

“We got a little more aggressive,” he said. “We were getting good (scoring) opportunities, but the shots just weren’t falling. We didn’t need to work as much (defensively) there.”

CVCA outshot St. V-M 13-3 and kept Irish freshman goalkeeper Leah Rauscher (11 saves) busy.

The adjustments worked for the Royals and senior defender Katie Cook scored the tying goal on a restart from about 25 yards and forced overtime.

Blair punched home the game-winner in overtime to set up a district semifinal match for CVCA at Revere on Wednesday.

It will be the first matchup between the Royals and Minutemen. Adamov said Revere’s speed will be a challenge for CVCA.

“They are a very strong team moving down from Division I,” he said. “We need to work to not allow (goals on) break-aways.”

Brunswick Division I sectional championship matches:

WADSWORTH 3, BARBERTON 0.  At Copley's InfoCision Field, senior midfielder Jessie Gearhart scored twice to lead the Grizzlies to the sectional championship.

"We just played our game. We thought we would have some room to run in the midfield," first-year Wadsworth coach Paul Williford said. "With the formation (Barberton) played, Jessie was able to push up."

Gearhart scored on a header off a corner kick and then on a missed clearance followed up with a well-placed shot in the corner of the goal.

In between, sophomore Leah Runkle scored her 30th goal of the season and junior Brittany Fullbright had two assists for Wadsworth (13-2-0).

The Suburban League co-champs led 3-0 at half.

The Grizzlies were able to neutralize Barberton's leading goal scorer Kiersten Shifferly.

Kailie Reed had six saves in goal for Wadsworth, which outshot the Magics 14-6. 

Senior goalkeeper Nicole Thacker made 11 saves for Barberton (11-6-0).

The No. 2 seed Grizzlies travel to  No. 1 seed Medina, an 8-0 sectional winner against Firestone, in a Tuesday district semifinal.

"We're looking forward to it," Williford said. "It will be a fair test for both teams because we both play on grass."

WOOSTER 1, HIGHLAND 0. At Granger Township., freshman Sydney Sleek scored the only goal of the match to push the Generals into the district semifinal.

Wooster (13-3-2) will face Copley on Tuesday.

Wooster goalkeeper Staci Hackett made three saves, while sophomore Abby Rinard made four saves for Highland (10-5-2).

Brunswick Division II sectional championship matches:

ARCHBISHOP HOBAN 9, COVENTRY 0. At Akron, Colleen Rosen and Kirsten Stepanek scored two goals apiece to lead the Knights to the sectional championship.

Also scoring for Hoban (9-5-3): Maria Libertin, Alexis Becker, Molly Carson, Madison Kaser and Jamie Dean.

Archbishop Hoban will face Field in a district semifinal on Wednesday.

FIELD 2, NORTHWEST 0. At Brimfield, Township.,sophomores Ashley Calcei and Sarah Francis each scored to lead the Falcons. Jolyn McGarvey and Megan Francis added assists.

Field (9-6-2) will play Archbishop Hoban in the district semifinal on Wednesday.

Senior Cheyenne Hardy had four saves for Field.

Rocky River Division II  sectional championship match:

BUCKEYE 3, FAIRVIEW 0. Freshman Norah Barnes, and seniors Jordan Davis and Emily Giesen each scored goals to give the Bucks the sectional championship.

Buckeye (12-5-0) will face Holy Name in the district semifinal on Wednesday.

Kent Division III sectional championship match:

ROOTSTOWN 2, BRISTOL 1. At Rootstown, Grace Durbak and Amanda Savage scored goals to lead the Rovers to a sectional championship.

Rootstown (10-5-2) outshot Bristol 16-2 and will play the winner of the Badger-Girard match Wednesday in a district semifinal.