The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Lake Catholic, Kirtland set for state final four
LAKE CATHOLIC VS. MANSFIELD MADISON
Chris Lillstrung previews tonight’s two girls soccer state semifinals involving area sides — Lake Catholic taking on Mansfield Madison in Division II while Kirtland takes on Liberty Benton in D-III.
What: Division II state semifinal When: 7 p.m., Nov. 7 Where: Nordonia, 8006 South Bedford Road, Macedonia
Records: Lake Catholic 16-32, Mansfield Madison 21-1
Road to state: Lake Catholic — def. Harvey, 13-0, def. Hawken, 1-0 (OT), def. Gilmour, 2-1 (SO), def. CVCA, 2-0, def. Canfield, 2-0; Mansfield Madison — def. Mansfield 16-0, def. Norwalk, 9-2, def. Ontario, 4-1, def. Wapakoneta, 5-0, def. Bay, 2-1 What’s next: The winner advances to the state final Nov. 10 against Big Walnut or Indian Hill at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus. What to look for: Now that the state door has finally been open for Lake Catholic, it’s eager to see what it can find next. The Cougars are in the final four for the first time in girls soccer in school history after a 2-0 win over Canfield, snapping an 0-5 skid in eliteeight matches since 2004. This postseason run has had its share of drama, needing extra time to see off Hawken in a district semifinal and a shootout to eliminate Gilmour in a district final, as well as clear signs of growth. The midfield workrate has been very solid, including senior Kennedy Newhart and junior Giuliana Grgic. In the defensive third, holding mid Brynn Morgan and the back three of central defender Gianna Salatino and outside backs Kennedy Rieple and Julia Marusic have developed a good rapport in front of standout senior goalkeeper Kennedy Solymosi. Up top, junior striker Kati Druzina can be a pacey option for her midfield to latch onto with service, and the Notre Dame recruit also has the willingness to go into the middle of the park and get touches that way as well. In totality, it’s a side with personnel that meshes well together — maybe as effectively as any Lake girls side that has contended for the elite eight and beyond since Kirtland’s Jessica Hepper, right, vies with Elyria Catholic’s Emilie Uhnak for possession during the second half of the Hornets’ 5-0 Division III regional final win Nov. 4. 2004. Mansfield Madison has run roughshod over north central Ohio, averaging more than five goals a match and is on an 18-match unbeaten run since its lone loss Aug. 31 to Ontario. The Rams spread the wealth in the offensive third with freshman Taylor Huff (34 goals, 21 assists), senior Hayley Huff (13-25), sophomore Kalie Blasing (16-12) and senior Tara Andrews (15-13). Mansfield Madison has been in only five one-goal matches all year and, like Lake, is young in the back in front of a senior goalkeeper. The Rams have three wins over Greater Cleveland foes this year in Twinsburg, Holy Name and Hathaway Brown. Against a side that potent, it’s vital for Lake to dictate the rhythm of the match through good combination play and efficient service and be physical on 50-50s. Suffice to say, value on set pieces won’t hurt either.
KIRTLAND VS. LIBERTY BENTON
What: Division III state semifinal When: 7 p.m., Nov. 7 Where: Sandusky Perkins, 3714 Campbell Street
Records: Kirtland 14-4-3, Liberty Benton 16-3-2
Road to state: Kirtland — def. Pymatuning Valley, 9-0, def. Wickliffe, 2-1 (OT), def. Berkshire, 4-1, def. Rootstown, 4-0, def. Elyria Catholic, 5-0; Liberty Benton — def. Ashland Crestview, 5-0, def. OttawaGlandorf,
2-0, def. Riverdale, 2-0, def. Coldwater, 2-0, def. Archbold, 1-0
What’s next: The winner advances to the state final Nov. 10 against Grandview Heights or Summit Country Day at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus.
What to look for: Kirtland is back in the state final four for the second time in three years on an 11-match unbeaten run after a 5-0 regional final throttling of Elyria Catholic. The Hornets have been outstanding in the defensive third since the start of September with 11 clean sheets and effectively marked out prolific EC attacker Ryan Kunkle from being a decisive factor. Hopefully this isn’t becoming broken-record material at this point, but Kirtland has a side that’s not fazed by the big stage and has experience on it. The legacy of that 2015 state run is on display now — not only in the then-underclassmen on the pitch such as now-senior midfielder Hannah Vouk (four goals, 12 assists) but current players who hadn’t gotten to high school yet but were inspired watching such as sophomore striker Maya Zovko (21-8). It’s a starting 11 that works well in unison, a side that can be steady in the back, turn in a good workrate in midfield and utilize wide play through direct runs and overlaps. The Hornets are also typically not wasteful on set pieces. After a three-match losing skid in early September, Liberty Benton is on a 12-match unbeaten run since, including a 1-0 regional final win over Archbold for its first-ever final four berth. Junior Savanah Richards (275) keys the attack and netted the match-winner against Archbold with a nice left-footed chip side net. Freshmen Maya Rickle (11-9) and Alexis Rickenbacher (611) have given the side a big boost in the offensive third. The Eagles, paced by senior defenders Carson Garlock and Jessi LaFontaine and freshman goalkeeper Sophie Aschemeier, have yielded just nine goals and recorded a school-record 15 clean sheets. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Hornets mark Richards and in turn put the onus on a young side to initiate the attack. It also feels like a match on paper in which Vouk could be highly influential as a tonesetter in possession.