Game photos click here.
The Berkshire Badgers and Chagrin Falls Boys and Girls Soccer Teams and the Kenston Bombers Boys Soccer Team won OHSSA Sectional Titles and advanced to the District Playoffs from Oct. 22 to Oct. 26.
The Bombers Boys Soccer Team, the regular season WRC champions, defeated the Nordonia Knights, 6-0, on Oct. 17 to win the OHSSA Sectional Title and advance to the district semifinals.
Scoring goals against the Knights in the title game were Aiden Caspell, Andrew DiBernardo, Ryan Flynn, Ethan Gaskin, Tyshon McKinney and Jack Purcell.
In the OHSAA District Semifinal on Oct. 24, the Bombers gave great effort, however, the Tallmadge Blue Devils pulled away at the end to claim a 3-1 victory.
After the Blue Devils scored first in the 13th minute, the Bombers tied the contest at 1-1 late in the first half on a goal by sophomore Aiden Caspell.
After the contest, Caspell described the goal.
“I played a ball to Dibo (Andrew Dibernardo), and Dibo slid it through to Gaskin,” said Caspell. “Gaskin played it across, bounced off the keeper, and I just hit it in with my left. Felt great, second playoff goal of the year, and just wow, the crowd went crazy.”
The contest remained tied until the Blue Devils scored in the 67th minute to take a 2-1 lead.
In addition to the Bombers having a great year, senior captain, Ethan Gaskin, received the WRC Player of the Year Award.
Also, playing in the district semifinals was the Berkshire Badgers Boys Soccer Team. After winning the OHSAA Sectional Title with a 3-2 victory over Badger, the Badgers met the Rootstown Rovers on Oct. 24.
The Badgers scored right away within the first minute on a goal by Ryan Kessinger to take a 1-0 lead over the Rovers.
The Rovers were able to tie the game in the 21st minute and then scored with 4:30 left in the first half to take the lead.
Neither team scored in the second half as the Rovers went on to claim a 2-1 District Semifinal victory.
The Tigers were the only Geauga County Boys Soccer Team to reach the District Finals.
The Tigers advanced to the OHSAA District Semifinals after defeating the Orange Lions 4-2 on Oct. 16 to claim the OHSAA Sectional Title. Scoring all four goals against the Lions was senior captain, Oscar DiFranco.
Head Coach Brian McKenna said that this was a nice victory and a bit of redemption since the Tigers had previously lost to the Lions during the regular season.
In the District Semifinal, on Oct. 23, the Tigers defeated the Firelands Falcons, 3-1 to advance to the District Finals.
Leading the Tigers offensively against the Falcons was DiFranco who scored two goals early in the contest. Also, adding a goal for the Tigers was Owen Edwards.
In the District Finals on Oct. 26, the Tigers lost to the Poland Seminary Bulldogs, 5-0.
After the loss to the Bulldogs, Coach McKenna emphasized how proud he was of all that the Tigers had accomplished this season.
“We were very pleased with our playoff run,” said Coach McKenna. “The district finals appearance was what we were shooting for all season long, and we were able to accomplish that.”
Certainly, helping the Tigers accomplish their goal was senior captain Oscar DiFranco.
Not only did Difranco score six goals in the playoffs, but Coach McKenna said that DiFranco broke the single season school record for goals in a season with 34.
In addition to the Tigers making the district finals, two Geauga County Girls Soccer Teams won OHSAA District Titles on October 26th.
The Tigers Girls Soccer Team also advanced to the Regional Semifinals as they scored seven second half goals to defeat Fairview, 8-2.
The Tigers will next play the West Branch Warriors on Oct. 29 in the Regional Semifinal game.
