The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Girls soccer regional semifinal capsules
MADISON VS. MASSILLON JACKSON
What: Division I regional semifinal When: 7 p.m., Oct. 30 Where: Nordonia, 8006 South Bedford Road, Macedonia Records: Madison 14-5, Massillon Jackson 11-3-5 What’s next: The winner will advance to a regional final Nov. 3 against Twinsburg or Medina at a site and time to be determined.
What to look for: Much to the delight of their excited and loyal fan base, Madison embarks on regional competition for the first time in girls soccer in school history . ... The Blue Streaks advanced with an exciting 2-1 extra-time win over Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, getting the match-winner from sophomore Haylee Winfield on a nice workrate intervention and counter . ... Madison has had to adapt in the second half of the season after a torn ACL suffered by standout senior striker Alyssa Caruthers (11 goals, three assists). Seniors Grace Terelmes (7-12) and Kaitlyn Rohl (7-3) have been impressive in helping to get the Blue Streaks back on track in the offensive third . ... No mention of Madison in the attack is complete, of course, without dynamic striker Mykayla Askew (19-7). The junior is smart with her touches, versatile, a nightmare 1-on-1 with defenders and great on set pieces with her corners and free kicks . ... The backbone of this side is the defensive-third unit, led by goalkeeper Jordan Pasalaqua and center back Victoria Tromba. Pasalaqua may very well be this area’s best goalkeeper. Her form as a shot-stopper, especially down the stretch, has drawn raves from across the local soccer community, and deservedly so. ... In what is no surprise coming out of their section of Ohio, Massillon Jackson is a load . ... The Polar Bears have conceded just 13 goals against one of the state’s most demanding schedules, and their losses were to a who’s who in Twinsburg, Walsh Jesuit and Medina . ... Among many options in the attack, Izzy Arnold and McKenna Morrison, who scored in a district final win over Canfield, are worth keeping an eye on, as is Grace Vickers. Goalkeeper Haley Durr is also very solid . ... Given how good Jackson can be year after year, the formula for the Blue Streaks is likely to have to be defensive-third oriented with proper shifting in the back to cut down through-ball lanes and then push for counter play. It might be wise to use Askew as a target striker, drawing attention in order to maximize hard counters and maximize her spacing as well . ... This is a tall order for the Blue Streaks, but they’ll give it the best shot they have.
LAKE CATHOLIC VS. CARDINAL MOONEY
What: Division II regional semifinal When: 7 p.m., Oct. 30 Where: Streetsboro, 8585 Ohio Route 14
Records: Lake Catholic 12-5-1, Cardinal Mooney 13-3-4
What’s next: The winner advances to a regional final Nov. 3 against Marlington or Revere at a site and time to be determined. What to look for: Fresh off its breakthrough last fall, advancing to a state final in girls soccer for the first time in school history after so much lament at the elite-eight level over the years, Lake Catholic returns to regional competition once again. ... The Cougars, to their credit, have learned to adjust tactically without 2017 News-Herald girls soccer player of the year Kati Druzina in the side. Druzina has been out all season due to injury, and few players in Ohio can take over a match the way she can . ... What has balanced that missing element to some degree has been development throughout the squad . ... Senior Keka Babic (19 goals, six assists) is tireless up top and gives her midfield options with smart, piercing runs off the ball . ... Ella Hadley (5-12) has grown as a sophomore into a quality playmaker and distributor in the middle of the park . ... Gianna Carcelli (8-3) has been a welcome addition as a freshman striker, and sophomore Kennedy Rieple (93) has taken on the challenge from Coach Chris Hastings of more of an attacking role and done it well. Rieple is a rocksolid outside back who can also play wide in midfield, versatility that helps this time of year especially . ... Giuliana Grgic and Andrea Babic are capable tonesetters for the side in midfield. ... With so many members of this side having logged valuable minutes during that state-final charge a year ago, the moment isn’t too big when nerves can play a key role this deep in the postseason . ... Cardinal Mooney has been on red-hot form, on a 13-match winning streak since Sept. 12 and after starting its campaign 0-3-4 . ... With so many regular-season routs, it was hard to get a read on the Cardinals, but three consecutive 2-1 wins in tournament play, including a district final win over West Branch, has shown mettle. ... Mooney lost to NDCL, 4-0, on Aug. 27 . ... The Cardinals have lost their last seven matches against News-Herald coverage area sides since 2015, getting outscored, 28-3, along the way. Youngstown-area sides – typically, but not always – struggle generally speaking to adapt to pace from area sides . ... If that’s true again here, then quick, combination play from the outset could put Lake on its way.
KIRTLAND VS. SOUTH RANGE
What: Division III regional semifinal When: 7 p.m., Oct. 30 Where: Solon, 33600 Inwood Drive Records: Kirtland 17-2, South Range 13-7
What’s next: The winner will advance to a regional final Nov. 3 against Warren Champion or Doylestown Chippewa at a site and time to be determined.
What to look for: After a Division III state final appearance last fall, the first in girls soccer in school history, Kirtland is back and justifiably expects to make a pretty good run at that and maybe more . ... The Hornets were down at halftime for the fifth time this season, albeit a concern, but rebounded beautifully for a 4-2 win over fellow Chagrin Valley Conference side Cuyahoga Heights in a D-III district final . ... When Kirtland is on form up and down the pitch, it’s not an exaggeration to say there are few sides in Ohio regardless of division that are better . ... Freshman striker Erika Zschuppe (31 goals, three assists) has been an epiphany up top. She is one of the most exciting prospects to come through area soccer for quite a while, with pace, ball skill, touches and field vision well beyond her years . ... What has allowed Zschuppe to slide into that spot so well has been the willingness of Maya Zovko (7-20) to take on more of a playmaker role in the side. With the standout junior’s workrate and sense for service, Zovko is at the hub of making this side so dynamic in the attack . ... Lidia Rodin (7-5) had a knee injury scare late in the regular season that was thankfully just a scare, and her versatility and set-piece work is invaluable . ... Jenna Sayle (7-5) is a highly skilled performer and gives the Hornets pace out wide . ... The defensive third work, anchored by senior Emily Ungrady, is very solid with 16 goals yielded and eight clean sheets against a tough schedule . ... Kirtland coach Ed Bradac, never one to leave stones unturned with nonconference opposition or potential postseason foes down the road, noted that he scouted South Range in the regular season . ... Shaking off a four-match losing skid bridging September and October, the Raiders have won six straight to get to regional competition . ... Bree Kohler (335) and Rachel Maynard (16-10) are quality attackers . ... But with all due respect to South Range, the key question will be, “Have the Raiders seen a side like Kirtland this season?” It’s reasonable to wonder . ... This feels like a match, if the Hornets perform to their capability, that they can see through.