Walsh improved to 17-0-2 and will meet Canfield in the finals Saturday at noon at Rocky River High School.  Jackson ended its season 17-3-1. 

 

The Warriors got started quickly. Junior midfielder Kelsey Smigel fed freshman midfielder Sandra Yu just to the right of the penalty area. Yu faked right, and went left and unloaded a kick that found the right hand corner of the goal to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.

 

Jackson came right back and scored twice off restarts. In the 13th minute, senior forward Mindy Thomas scored off a free kick taken by Emily Sanders. That shot tied the match at a goal apiece. 

 

Jackson kept the pressure on, and scored off another free kick.  Abby Pachan took a free kick to the right of the penalty area.  Her kick came loose inside the box.  Walsh Jesuit junior goalkeeper Erin Flynn came off her line to corral the ball.  But, Jackson's Maggie Rusnak got to the ball first and chipped it over Flynn's outstretched arms and into the back of the net giving Jackson a 2-1 lead. 

 

Walsh had a great opportunity to tie the match midway through the first half.  Smigel came open at the top of the box and hit a left-footed shot toward the goal.  Jackson goalie Danielle Wiseman saved the shot but the rebound got behind her. The ball was headed toward the goal when the Polar Bears' Andi Adams slid and kicked the ball just before it crossed the line.

 

Walsh controlled play in the second half starting with the opening kickoff.  It took 10 minutes for the Warriors to tie it up.  Sophomore midfielder Christen Westphal scored the equalizer from 20 yards out high into the right corner off a pass from junior Elizabeth Bollinger. 

 

Walsh kept the pressure on Jackson for the next 14 minutes, only allowing the Polar Bears  past midfield twice in that stretch.  Finally, the Warriors cashed in.

 

Sophomore midfielder Kaylee Semelsberger let a shot go that was headed towards the right corner of the goal.  Wiseman dove and made the save, but the rebound squirted free.  Sophomore midfielder Alyson Smigel buried the rebound in the back of the net to give the Warriors a 3-2 lead with less than 17 minutes to play.

 

The Warriors were looking to make amends for a crushing loss to Jackson in last year's regional semifinal.

 

SCORING:

 

Massillon Jackson - 2-0 -- 2

Walsh Jesuit 1-2 -- 3

 

FIRST HALF

 

WJ - Sandra Yu (unassisted) 9:05

 

J - Mindy Thomas (Emily Sanders) 13:25

 

J - Maggie Rusnak (unassisted) 16:53

 

SECOND HALF

 

WJ - Christen Westphal (Elizabeth Bollinger) 49:34

 

WJ - Alyson Smigel (Kaylee Semelsberger) 63:17