PHOTO BY ROMM PHOTOGRAPHY
Green senior Zach Lucas scored a goal in the final seconds to beat GlenOak and the Bulldogs won at Kent Roosevelt to advance to a regional date with Jackson on Tuesday.
SHARON CENTER -- Eighty high school soccer teams still are playing in Ohio.
Seven Summit/Medina County teams, four boys and three girls, have made the Sweet 16 in their respective divisions and begin regional play on Tuesday.
Both Walsh Jesuit teams have it made to regional play and one was expected to be here, the other was not. Coach Dino McIntyre’s girls (16-0-2) have made the trip to regionals a rite of fall. Coach John Kissner’s boys squad, on the other hand, having endured a rugged schedule and a 4-7-4 regular season, has caught fire in the postseason (7-7-4).
Kissner’s Warriors won a Division II state title in 2006, but were knocked out of the tournament by neighborhood rival CVCA in 2007 and 2008. Now the Royals (13-0-5) are playing Division III and the Warriors’ path has been cleared of a major obstacle.
Another surprise boys team is the Green Bulldogs (12-4-3). Led by 16 seniors, Green started 5-0-2, hit a rough patch in the middle, and now has run off six straight wins enroute to a district title. The Bulldogs meet backyard rival Jackson (18-1-0) in what figures to be a physical match from the start.
Losing only to St. Ignatius (3-0), the Polar Bears have blanked 14 opponents, yielding eight goals the entire season.
The Suburban League has two boys teams still playing. Revere (14-2-3), ranked fifth in the final Division II poll, is a deep team with multiple scoring threats. The Minutemen also have a tough assignment in meeting fourth-ranked Bay (15-1-3) at Rocky River.
On the girls’ side, a year ago, Jackson (17-2-1) upset Walsh Jesuit in a regional semifinal and the Warriors (16-0-2) are hoping to avenge that loss on Wednesday at Brecksville-Broadview Heights.
Medina (17-1-2), led by the foursome of Becca Candler, Sarah Flanders, Jillian Graff, and goalkeeper Taylor Burke, looked very impressive in a 4-0 win over Strongsville. The Bees are peaking at the right time of year.
The St. Vincent-St. Mary Irish (15-2-3) won a thrilling match over Chippewa in the district final and been difficult to score against, allowing just 13 goals in 20 matches.
Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m.
(Div. I-Boys) Green (12-4-3) vs. Jackson (18-1-0) at Ravenna High School
(Div. II-Boys) Revere (14-2-3) vs. Bay Village Bay (15-1-3) at Rocky River High School
(Div. II-Boys) Walsh Jesuit (7-7-4) vs. Mentor Lake Catholic (13-4-2) at Solon High School
(Div. III-Boys) CVCA (13-0-5) vs. Bristol (13-6-0) at Brunswick High School
Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.
(Div. I-Girls) Medina (17-1-2) vs. Westlake (15-1-3) at Bay Village Bay High School
(Div. I-Girls) Walsh Jesuit (16-0-2) vs. Jackson (17-2-1) at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School
(Div. II-Girls) St. Vincent-St. Mary (15-2-3) vs. St. Mary’s Memorial (15-4-1) at Lexington High School