“Wake me up when September ends” is a hit song by Green Day, but for now, it’s a mantra for high school teams as the midpoint of the season has passed, and well, September is nearing its end.
Here’s a look at the current situation for each division in soccer and volleyball:
BOYS SOCCER
Chagrin Division
Hawken clinched the division title with a 1-1 draw with Orange back on Sept. 24. The Hawks concluded league play with a 3-0-2 record. Harvey and Orange tied for second with identical 2-1-2 records, although Harvey won the regular season matchup giving the Red Raiders the nod for second place. Chagrin Falls finished 2-2-1, West Geauga went 1-2-2, and Lutheran West finished league play at 0-5-1.
Lake Division
Madison enters the week needing just a win over Perry on Oct. 9 to clinch the Lake Division title for the second consecutive season. The Blue Streaks are 3-0 in conference play with one game remaining. Should the Blue Streaks stumble, Geneva and Perry are within reach at 3-1 and 1-1, respectively, and could earn a share of the conference title. The Eagles have completed their league schedule and need help from Perry to beat Madison to earn its share of a split title. Perry plays Lakeside on Oct. 7 and Madison on Oct. 9. The Pirates need wins in both games to share the title with the Blue Streaks and Eagles.
Metro Division
Beachwood clinched another conference title by finishing league play with a 5-0 mark. Fairview finished second at 3-1-1 and Cuyahoga Heights rounded out the top three with a 2-2-1 mark.
Valley Division
Kirtland swept its conference schedule to win the league with a 4-0 mark. Wickliffe placed second with a 3-1 mark and Berkshire and Crestwood tied for third at 1-2-1.
GIRLS SOCCER
Chagrin Division
West Geauga won the conference title last fall but a tie with Chagrin Falls this season left the Wolverines and Tigers as co-champions of the Chagrin Division with 3-0-1 records. Hawken finished third with a 2-2 record.
Lake Division
Madison’s second straight CVC Lake Division title is within reach. All the 4-0 Blue Streaks have to do is win at Perry on Oct. 9 and they’ll own back-to-back titles. The Pirates, however, also need to win that game to claim the conference title. They currently sit 3-0-1 and would move to 4-0-1 with a win over the Blue Streaks. Circle that date, it’s a big one!
Metro Division
A 1-1 draw between Wickliffe and Fairview back on Aug. 22 has left this division in limbo until Oct. 3 when the Blue Devils travel to Trinity and the Warriors play at Brooklyn. If both teams win or lose, they’ll split the division title. A slipup by either squad on Oct. 3 leaves the other as the conference champion.
Valley Division
Berkshire clinched the conference title with a dominating win over Jefferson on Sept. 26. The Badgers finished league play 4-0.
VOLLEYBALL
Chagrin Division
Perry controls its own destiny as the Pirates are 6-0 with four conference matches remaining. Win all four and the Pirates will celebrate a conference title. Stumble just once, and Hawken (6-1) or Chagrin Falls (5-2) could pounce on their opportunity to clinch at least a share of the title. The Pirates must play Orange, Hawken, Chagrin Falls, and Harvey, while the 6-1 Hawks have matches remaining against Perry, West Geauga, and Chagrin Falls. The 5-2 Tigers have matches left with Orange, Perry, and Hawken. Keep your eyes on this division, it could be a fantastic finish.
Lake Division
Edgewood is in control of its own destiny at 6-0 with matches remaining against Conneaut (0-5), Geneva (3-2), Madison (3-4), and Jefferson (5-1). Jefferson, Geneva, and Madison all remain in the hunt, but that window closes more and more each time Edgewood wins.
Metro Division
Independence’s lock on the conference title looks like it will carry over to the 2024 season as the 8-0 Blue Devils need a win at Richmond Heights on Oct. 3 to seal the deal. Cuyahoga Heights and Trinity await the Blue Devils after that. Should the Blue Devils stumble, and they’d need to lose three of their remaining matches for it to happen, Fairview (6-2) could sneak into the title discussion.
Valley Division
Kirtland and Berkshire are on a collision course once again as both teams enter the week sitting at 5-1. The Hornets defeated the Badgers earlier this season with the second match of the season series taking place at Berkshire on Tuesday. The winner of that match is in the driver’s seat but nothing will come easily as Cardinal is 4-2 and 2-3 Crestwood already has a win over the Hornets.
