Chagrin Falls and Rootstown both pulled out penalty kick wins in their respective regional semifinal games on Wednesday, earning a spot in Sunday’s Elite Eight.
Chagrin Falls outlasts Mooney
After 110 minutes of gritty soccer, Chagrin Falls and Cardinal Mooney were deadlocked, 2–2, forcing a six-round penalty-kick shootout to decide the Division IV, Region 13 semifinal on Wednesday at Portage Community Bank Stadium.
When it was over, the Tigers stood victorious — 5–4 in the shootout, 3–2 overall — their season still alive.
“The composure carried over from the last game we had against Lake Catholic. It was a very emotional game, and it almost went to PKs,” said Chagrin Falls head coach Brian McKenna. “We told them to relax, have some fun, and play like we did in the summer. With the work they’ve put in, we felt it would be rewarded with a victory — and it was.”
Chagrin Falls wasted no time setting the tone. Just three minutes in, Owen Edwards drilled a low shot inside the corner off a pinpoint pass from Colin Struck-Marn to give the Tigers a 1–0 lead.
Mooney answered in the 23rd minute on a breakaway strike from Dmitri Zoumis, but Edwards had more magic before halftime, slotting home his second goal in the 38th minute to restore the Tigers’ lead at 2–1.
The Cardinals evened things again midway through the second half on an own goal in the 58th minute, and from there, both teams battled through the cold, rain, and exhaustion without finding the net again.
That set the stage for a nerve-racking shootout — one that showcased Chagrin Falls’ resilience and preparation.
Edwards, Grayson Fisher, Ben Ettinger, Ethan Johnson, and finally, Harrison Horvath all converted their kicks. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Ethan Nielsen turned hero, stopping two Mooney attempts — including the decisive save on the final shot.
“We practice this every day after training. It’s about trusting ourselves and what we know how to do,” said Horvath. “We practice it every day — and we know how to finish.”
Nielsen, calm under the pressure, credited faith and teamwork for his composure.
“In terms of mental preparation, all the glory goes to God,” Nielsen said. “Walking up, I’m praying. I know my coaches and teammates have my back, and that eases the pressure for me to make the save.”
For McKenna, the win was another example of a team hardened by experience and built on trust.
“It was terrific to see the mental toughness again tonight,” McKenna said. “This is a group that’s been a joy to coach. They’re a great bunch of young men on and off the field. A few years ago, we only won three games through a season full of injuries, but these guys weathered that storm. Now their time and effort are paying off, and they play for each other.”
Now, the Tigers get a chance to settle unfinished business. Chagrin Falls faces Bay Village — a team that beat them 4–0 earlier this month — in the Division IV, Region 13 championship Sunday at Streetsboro’s Rocket Stadium.
“We did not have our best game against Bay, and we’re hoping to play better Sunday,” McKenna said. “The boys want this opportunity because they know they didn’t give their best effort last time. They’re eager to go out there and prove themselves.”
Rootstown to make second appearance in Elite Eight
Rootstown led 1-0 after Bryson Scarlett found Melvon Acosta in the box with just 38 seconds remaining in the first half.
The Rover lead held until Champion scored the equalizer with 25:03 left in regulation.
After two scoreless overtime periods, Rootstown emerged victorious in the penalty kick shootout, 3-2.
Ben Smith, Caleb Fillmore, and Scarlett each found the back of the net, and Noah Zager, who finished the game with nine saves in 110 minutes, prevented Champion from scoring on its first, fourth, and fifth penalty kicks.
The Rovers will make just their second appearance in the Elite Eight when they play Kidron Central Christian on Sunday at North Royalton at a time to be determined.
