Chagrin Falls Boys Soccer has its championship.
The Tigers clinched the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division title with Tuesday’s victory over Rootstown, improving to 4-0 in division play and ending the Rovers’ bid to catch them.
It is the first completed chapter in a CVC boys soccer championship picture that has come into much sharper focus.
Fairview Boys Soccer has completed its Metro Division schedule at 4-0-1, but the championship is not yet settled, as Beachwood Boys Soccer can earn a share of the title by defeating Trinity Boys Soccer in the final CVC league match on Oct. 8. Meanwhile, Hawken Boys Soccer has taken command of the Chagrin Division, and Madison Boys Soccer remains in control of the Lake Division, although both races still have consequential games ahead.
Chagrin Falls locks up Valley crown
Chagrin Falls entered Tuesday’s showdown with Rootstown atop the Valley Division, but the Rovers still had an opportunity to make the race interesting.
The Tigers eliminated that possibility.
Chagrin Falls improved to 4-0 in the division with the win, while Rootstown completed its league slate at 3-1-1. The result guaranteed Chagrin Falls the championship regardless of what happens the rest of the way.
The victory was especially significant considering the offensive firepower Rootstown brought into the game. Zach Pastor is tied for the CVC lead with 16 goals and ranks second with 37 points. Bryson Scarlett has added seven assists, while goalkeeper Noah Zager has recorded 38 saves.
Chagrin Falls has countered with balance throughout its championship run. Colin Struk-Marn is among the conference leaders with seven assists.
The Tigers still have games remaining on the schedule, including an Oct. 6 trip to Berkshire, but the Valley championship already belongs to Chagrin Falls.
Hawken grabs control of Chagrin Division
Hawken’s 4-1 victory at West Geauga on Tuesday may prove to be one of the defining results of the Chagrin Division race.
The win pushed the Hawks to 4-0 in division play and dropped West Geauga to 3-2. Orange remains directly in the hunt at 4-1.
That leaves Hawken in control of its path to the championship, but the Hawks still have work to do.
Harvey remains on Hawken’s division schedule, and the Red Raiders are a dangerous opponent despite sitting at 2-2 in league play. Harvey is 6-3 overall and features Saul Rodriguez, who has scored nine goals and totaled 20 points.
Hawken has several of its own players among the CVC leaders. Tristen Boseman has scored eight goals, Brandon Shaw has seven assists, and Parker Branford has made 56 saves.
Orange Boys Soccer also has plenty at stake. The Lions’ 4-1 division record keeps them positioned to capitalize on any Hawken stumble, and goalkeeper Iain Rowe leads the conference with 74 saves.
West Geauga’s title chances took a hit against Hawken, but the Wolverines remain part of the late-season equation at 3-2. Jack Ackworth has been one of the CVC’s most productive players with 27 points, nine goals and nine assists.
One of the division’s final major matchups comes Oct. 6 when Orange visits West Geauga Boys Soccer.
For Hawken, the formula is simpler: keep winning and the championship is theirs. Orange needs to handle its remaining business and hope somebody can slow the Hawks.
Madison controls Lake race; North still alive
The Lake Division remains a two-team race between Madison and Eastlake North Boys Soccer.
Madison sits atop the standings at 4-0-1, while North remains unbeaten in division play at 2-0-2.
Their earlier head-to-head draw is a major reason the race remains open.
Madison has only one division game remaining, an Oct. 6 trip to Jefferson Boys Soccer. A victory there would remove any possibility of North catching the Blue Streaks.
North still has two opportunities to gain ground. The Rangers host Jefferson on Sept. 29 before traveling to Lakeside Boys Soccer on Oct. 6.
That makes Jefferson an interesting factor in the race. The Falcons just defeated Lakeside and now get opportunities to affect both contenders down the stretch.
Madison goalkeeper Matthew Schlifke has played a prominent role in the Blue Streaks’ run, recording 58 saves, the fourth-highest total currently reported in the conference.
North’s path is clear: the Rangers need to take care of their remaining schedule and get help from Jefferson against Madison.
Madison, meanwhile, controls its own outcome.
Metro Division to be decided in final league match
The Metro Division race will come down to the final CVC boys soccer league match of the season.
Fairview has completed its division schedule at 4-0-1, while Beachwood sits at 3-0-1 with one game remaining.
That game will be played Oct. 8 at 5 p.m. when Beachwood hosts Trinity. The matchup originally was scheduled for Sept. 15, was moved to Oct. 8.
The championship scenarios are straightforward.
A Beachwood win would move the Bison to 4-0-1, giving them a share of the Metro Division championship with Fairview. A tie or loss would leave Fairview alone at the top and give the Warriors the outright title.
Fairview and Beachwood already played to a draw earlier in the season, so neither contender has lost a division match.
That gives the final league match added significance: Beachwood-Trinity will determine whether Fairview wins the Metro Division outright or shares the championship with the Bison.
One title decided, two races remain
The CVC boys soccer championship picture now has two certainties.
Chagrin Falls is the Valley Division champion.
Beachwood has one game to earn a share of the Metro Division title with Fairview.
The remaining attention turns to Hawken and Orange in the Chagrin Division and Madison and North in the Lake.
Hawken has the advantage in the Chagrin race after Tuesday’s decisive win over West Geauga, but Harvey presents another serious test. Madison has the advantage in the Lake, but North still has enough games remaining to keep pressure on the Blue Streaks.
With the postseason approaching, there is still plenty left to settle before every CVC championship trophy has a home.
Chagrin Division
 Hawken Hawks | 6-0 | 1.000 | 16-3-2 | 0.810 | 4-1-0 | 0.527 |
 West Geauga Wolverines | 4-1-1 | 0.750 | 9-6-3 | 0.583 | 2-2-1 | 0.579 |
 Orange Lions | 4-2 | 0.667 | 9-8-2 | 0.526 | 3-1-1 | 0.543 |
 Harvey Red Raiders | 3-4 | 0.429 | 12-8 | 0.600 | 3-2-0 | 0.496 |
 Willoughby South Rebels | 2-3-1 | 0.417 | 9-6-3 | 0.583 | 2-2-1 | 0.491 |
 Chardon Hilltoppers | 2-5 | 0.286 | 9-11 | 0.450 | 3-2-0 | 0.559 |
 Perry Pirates | 0-6 | 0.000 | 5-16-2 | 0.261 | 2-2-1 | 0.494 |
Lake Division
 Madison Blue Streaks🏆 | 5-0-1 | 0.917 | 9-9-1 | 0.500 | 3-2-0 | 0.479 |
 North Rangers | 4-0-2 | 0.833 | 10-9-7 | 0.519 | 1-2-2 | 0.529 |
 Geneva Eagles | 3-1-2 | 0.667 | 8-7-4 | 0.526 | 3-2-0 | 0.434 |
 Edgewood Warriors | 4-2-3 | 0.611 | 5-7-4 | 0.438 | 2-3-0 | 0.419 |
 Jefferson Falcons | 4-5-1 | 0.450 | 8-7-1 | 0.531 | 2-2-1 | 0.331 |
 Lakeside Dragons | 2-5-3 | 0.350 | 4-10-4 | 0.333 | 0-3-2 | 0.399 |
 Conneaut Spartans | 0-9 | 0.000 | 2-16 | 0.111 | 0-5-0 | 0.404 |
Metro Division
 Fairview Warriors🏆 | 4-0-1 | 0.900 | 10-6-4 | 0.600 | 3-1-1 | 0.487 |
 Beachwood Bison🏆 | 4-0-1 | 0.900 | 7-9-1 | 0.441 | 1-4-0 | 0.543 |
 Independence Blue Devils | 2-2-1 | 0.500 | 12-5-2 | 0.684 | 4-1-0 | 0.366 |
 Cuyahoga Heights Red Wolves | 2-3 | 0.400 | 2-14-1 | 0.147 | 0-4-1 | 0.601 |
 Trinity Trojans | 0-3-2 | 0.200 | 2-11-2 | 0.200 | 1-4-0 | 0.434 |
 Brooklyn Hurricanes | 0-4-1 | 0.100 | 0-15-3 | 0.083 | 0-4-1 | 0.569 |
Valley Division
 Chagrin Falls Tigers🏆 | 5-0 | 1.000 | 17-5 | 0.773 | 4-1-0 | 0.591 |
 Rootstown Rovers | 3-1-1 | 0.700 | 18-2-2 | 0.864 | 5-0-0 | 0.291 |
 Kirtland Hornets | 3-1-1 | 0.700 | 13-5-1 | 0.711 | 4-1-0 | 0.473 |
 Lutheran West Longhorns | 2-3 | 0.400 | 12-7-1 | 0.625 | 2-2-1 | 0.482 |
 Crestwood Red Devils | 1-4 | 0.200 | 9-7-2 | 0.556 | 2-3-0 | 0.399 |
 Berkshire Badgers | 0-5 | 0.000 | 10-9-1 | 0.525 | 4-1-0 | 0.494 |
American Division
 Twinsburg | 1-0 | 1.000 | 3-0 | 1.000 | 3-0-0 | 0.540 |
 Aurora Greenmen | 1-0 | 1.000 | 2-1 | 0.667 | 2-1-0 | 0.649 |
 Kenston Bombers | 2-1 | 0.667 | 10-1-2 | 0.846 | 5-0-0 | 0.656 |
 Mayfield Wildcats | 2-1 | 0.667 | 6-4-1 | 0.591 | 4-1-0 | 0.554 |
 Copley | 0-1 | 0.000 | 3-1 | 0.750 | 3-1-0 | 0.528 |
 Barberton | 0-1 | 0.000 | 1-1 | 0.500 | 1-1-0 | 0.587 |
 Nordonia | 0-2 | 0.000 | 2-2 | 0.500 | 2-2-0 | 0.603 |
 Revere | 0-0 | — | 1-0 | 1.000 | 1-0-0 | 0.519 |
National Division
 Solon | 0-0 | — | 4-0 | 1.000 | 4-0-0 | 0.524 |
 Wadsworth | 0-0 | — | 1-0-1 | 0.750 | 1-0-1 | 0.390 |
 Stow | 0-0 | — | 1-1-1 | 0.500 | 1-1-1 | 0.433 |
 Medina Highland | 0-0 | — | 1-2-1 | 0.375 | 1-2-1 | 0.554 |
 Medina | 0-0 | — | 0-1 | 0.000 | 0-1-0 | 0.519 |
 North Royalton | 0-0 | — | 0-1 | 0.000 | 0-1-0 | 0.261 |
 Brecksville-Broadview Heights | 0-0 | — | 0-0 | — | 0-0-0 | — |
 Hudson Explorers | 0-0 | — | 0-0 | — | 0-0-0 | — |
