The calendar says September, but Tuesday’s boys soccer schedule has the feel of a championship night.
Two of the biggest games on the Chagrin Valley Conference schedule feature unbeaten division records, with Chagrin Falls Boys Soccer traveling to Rootstown Boys Soccer in the Valley Division and Hawken Boys Soccer visiting West Geauga Boys Soccer in the Chagrin Division.
On the girls’ side, Willoughby South Girls Soccer travels to Kirtland Girls Soccer for a non-conference matchup between two of the area’s stronger teams.
Chagrin Falls at Rootstown
The Valley Division race could take a significant turn when Chagrin Falls visits Rootstown.
Rootstown enters the matchup 8-0-1 overall and 3-0-1 in division play, while Chagrin Falls is 7-2 overall and 3-0 in the division.
That leaves the Rovers and Tigers occupying the top two spots in the Valley Division standings heading into Tuesday.
The Rovers have yet to lose this season and enter off a 3-0 win at Ursuline after battling Kirtland to a 3-3 draw. Rootstown also recently rolled past Berkshire, 9-2.
Chagrin Falls has won two of its last three, including a 3-0 road victory over Orange and an 8-0 win over Crestwood. The Tigers’ only loss during that stretch came in a 1-0 decision at unbeaten Hawken.
Rootstown’s attack has been powered by senior Zach Pastor, who enters with 16 goals and five assists for 37 points.
Senior Sam Textor has added seven goals and three assists, while junior Dylan Boland has six goals and two assists. Senior Bryson Scarlett has contributed seven assists along with two goals.
Chagrin Falls counters with a balanced group led by senior midfielder Grayson Fisher, who has six goals and three assists.
Senior Ben Ettinger has five goals and four assists, while Colin Struk-Marn has created opportunities throughout the season with seven assists to go along with two goals. Elliot Kler has chipped in three goals and an assist.
With both teams still unbeaten in Valley Division play, the result could carry major weight when the conference championship is decided.
Hawken at West Geauga
The Chagrin Division has its own championship-level matchup when unbeaten Hawken travels to West Geauga.
West Geauga currently sits atop the division at 3-0 and enters 6-2-1 overall.
Hawken is 2-0 in division play and 8-0-2 overall, leaving the Hawks with an opportunity to move directly into the heart of the championship race.
The Hawks have been especially difficult to score against recently. Hawken defeated both Chagrin Falls and University School by identical 1-0 scores before playing Howland to a scoreless draw.
West Geauga has produced far more offense over its recent stretch.
The Wolverines defeated Beachwood, 7-3, knocked off Chardon, 3-1, and played Lake Catholic to a 2-2 draw.
Junior midfielder Jack Ackworth has been at the center of West Geauga’s attack with nine goals and nine assists for 27 points.
Junior Jordan Green has six goals and five assists, sophomore Adrian Yutzy has scored seven times, and sophomore Drake Bryan has four goals and six assists.
Hawken has relied on sophomore Tristen Boseman, who leads the Hawks with eight goals and two assists.
Senior Brandon Shaw has four goals and seven assists, senior Grayson Rezaee has four goals and two assists, and senior Joey Skoczen has added two goals and two assists.
With West Geauga protecting an unbeaten division record and Hawken trying to remain perfect in conference play, Tuesday’s result could become one of the defining results of the Chagrin Division season.
South at Kirtland
The girls matchup between South and Kirtland will not count in the conference standings, but it still brings together two of the CVC’s top teams.
South enters 6-1-1, while Kirtland is 9-2.
The Rebels are also 3-0 in Chagrin Division play, tied with West Geauga atop the division standings.
Kirtland is 2-0 in the Valley Division and enters Tuesday riding a three-game winning streak.
The Hornets have scored 15 goals during that streak, defeating Rootstown, 7-1, Perry, 3-1, and Madison, 5-0.
Kirtland’s current run also places the Hornets among five CVC girls soccer teams with active winning streaks of at least three games. Beachwood, Cuyahoga Heights, Hawken and Lutheran West each enter the week riding five-game winning streaks.
South has shown plenty of offensive firepower of its own.
The Rebels defeated Harvey, 18-0, and Orange, 10-1, before dropping a 2-1 decision at Fairview.
Junior Olivia Pickens leads Kirtland with 12 goals and 15 assists for 39 points.
Sophomore Gabby D’Amato has scored 10 goals with seven assists, senior Lexi Vosicky has six goals and eight assists, and freshman Cici Slomo has four goals and an assist.
South freshman Alyvia Proctor leads the Rebels with seven goals and six assists for 20 points.
Senior Lily Robison has eight goals and three assists, senior Addyson Matriano has four goals and six assists, and sophomore Aila Jasarevic has four goals and five assists.
There are no conference points on the line in Kirtland, but with both teams chasing division championships and both positioned near the top of the local rankings, it remains one of Tuesday’s most intriguing tests.
Records, results, rankings, leaderboard statistics, and schedules are based on information entered in the OV Sports Engine and are updated as scores, stats, and schedules are reported.
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TODAY IN CHAGRIN VALLEY CONFERENCE
No games scheduled today.
Next Scheduled Games
Next games begin tomorrow.
Perry Pirates
Cornerstone Patriots
