BATTLING BACK FROM A DEFICIT

Kirtland advanced to the district championship game with a 2-1 win over Wickliffe in overtime. The Hornets actually trailed 1-0 in that game but didn’t panic and tied the contest shortly after the Blue Devils’ scored just their second goal against the Hornets in 11 games.

The experience and confidence the Hornets play with allowed them to shake off the early deficit, something they did in a 2-2 draw with Division I Mayfield on Oct. 7. The Wildcats had jumped out to an early 2-0 lead but again the Hornets stuck to the game plan and earned the tie.

Berkshire enters the district final having trailed in a game just one time all year. Lordstown took a 1-0 lead over the Badgers in a Sept. 20 game but Berkshire scored three goals in the second half to pull out the win.

How will the Hornets and Badgers respond to a deficit in such a pressure-filled situation? We’ll find out on Thursday.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Berkshire has scored 95 goals in 18 games this season while the Hornets have found the back of the net 47 times in the same amount of contests.

Obviously, the strength of each team’s schedule contributed to their goals per game average, so it’s a bit more relative to look at the postseason scoring for each team.

Berkshire outscored its two postseason opponents, 5-3, while Kirtland topped its two playoff foes, 11-1.

Another factor in Kirtland’s goals per game average is the quality of its schedule. Just six of Kirtland’s 18 opponents are assigned to Division III. The Hornets outscored those teams, 28-2.

Why does this matter?

Both teams have potent offenses, even if Kirtland’s goals per game average doesn’t show it.

The Badgers have four players who have scored double-digit goals: Lexi Boyk enters the contest with 32 goals and 18 assists, while Julia Frank has scored 17 times and Allie Barcikowski and Amber Taraska have found the back of the net 13 and 12 times, respectively.

Maya Zovko leads the Hornets with 18 goals. Katie McCollister is next with five and Jenna Sayle and Leah LaVerde both have four.

Missing from the top of Kirtland’s leading scorers is Hannah Vouk, who has just three goals this year after switching positions, and Lidia Rodin, who has yet to score after seeing limited playing time this year. Vouk tied for the team lead with 11 goals in 2014 and now has scored 29 career goals. Rodin led the Hornets with 14 goals last year as a freshman.

With so much firepower on both teams, will either coach flinch and change his style of play to protect the goal?

Odds are both teams will play to their strengths.

For Berkshire, that’s playing fast and using through balls to feed Boyk and Frank. Kirtland takes a more methodical approach on the offensive end, using a superior technical ability to possess and buildup on the offensive end.

Wickliffe had some success against the Hornets in the district semifinals by packing the defensive end, minimizing Kirtland’s strength. A loose ball led to a long-distance goal as the Blue Devils built a 1-0 lead. The Hornets quickly responded but neither team managed to finish off the game in regulation.

The Hornets struck just 26 seconds into overtime when they were able to use a long pass from McCollister to Rodin in the left corner. A perfect cross led to Sayle’s toe-poke finish.

Defensively, the Hornets have plenty of speed to match up with the dangerous Boyk.

Maggie Kadas ran down several Wickliffe breakaway attempts and Danielle Bryll is a state-qualifier in the sprints.

It’s likely to see both coaches play to their strengths early in the contest then make the necessary adjustments as the game progresses.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Home field advantage rarely comes into play during a soccer game, at least when it comes to crowd noise.

Attendance increases a bit as the playoffs progress, but few games will draw anything close to the amount of fans drawn to other sports contests.

Berkshire’s magical season has helped the Badgers buck that trend, at least at their two home playoff games.

In a 3-2 win over Cornerstone Christian in the sectional finals, the Badgers drew a near capacity crowd and some fans even went so far as to say the girls’ soccer team drew more fans than the football team did at any home game this year.

It’s no secret that athletes feed off the intensity from the crowd and a strong showing by either side could be the difference in this contest.

Load up the Spirit Bus, a trip to regionals is on the line.