MANSFIELD — When you have outscored three tournament opponents by a combined score of 38-2 there isn’t much to gripe about, but Mansfield Christian coach Stephen Armstrong still sees room for improvement.
The Flames (15-2-2) will meet Elyria Catholic in the Division III regional semifinals at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Ashland’s Community Stadium. The same two teams met in the regional semifinals last year in Ashland with MCS rallying for a 2-1 win en route to a regional championship and state runner-up finish.
The Flames fell behind Elyria Catholic in the second minute of last year’s game and the deficit could have been worse. The Panthers outshot Mansfield Christian 8-3 in the opening half before the Flames settled down and took control of the tempo.
That fact, coupled with Mansfield Christian’s slow start against Riverdale in last week’s district championship game in Tiffin, is cause for concern. The Flames trailed Riverdale 1-0 at intermission and 2-1 midway through the second half before scoring three goals in the final 22:05.
“We didn’t play poorly against Riverdale. It’s just that their keeper was stopping everything in the first half,” Armstrong said. “That said, we are looking to get off to a stronger start Wednesday.”
MCS can’t afford another sluggish start against an Elyria Catholic side with a deceptive 10-7-1 record. The Panthers are 6-1 against Division III opponents, their only loss to powerhouse Western Reserve Academy. Other losses were to Division I regional qualifier Avon and Division II regional qualifier Bay.
“They play a very tough schedule, which prepares them for the tournament,” Armstrong said. “They play a lot of Division I and Division II opponents and a lot of those schools are still playing.”
If the Flames fall Wednesday it won’t be from a lack of preparation. Armstrong produced an eight-page scouting report Monday afternoon at Comstock Field when asked about the matchup.
“We are more of a possession team and they are more of a through ball, over-the-top team,” Armstrong said. “We have contrasting styles.
“Our guys are excited to play them again.”
Bay awaits Minutemen: Lexington’s reward for its emotionally draining overtime win over backyard rival Clear Fork in last week’s district championship game is a date with Ohio soccer royalty.
The Minutemen (16-3-1) will meet Bay Village Bay (16-2-1) at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Sandusky Perkins High School.
Bay has been to the Final Four each of the past two years and 13 times overall, among the most in state history.
“When you think about boys soccer in Ohio, Bay is at the top of the list,” Lex coach Peter Them said. “It is a program you expect to see at this time of year.”
Lexington punched its ticket to the regional for the first time since 2011 with a gutsy 3-2 overtime victory over the Colts in Clyde.
“Clear Fork played very intense and it took our boys a little while to match their intensity,” Them said. “The boys regrouped going into overtime. They were saying, ‘we’re not ready for this to be over,’ ”
Bay’s deep roster features 10 players with at least three goals.
“We have a few ideas about how we want to attack them. Those are things we will discuss this week in practice,” Them said. “The boys are confident right now. We are going to stick with what we have been doing well.”
Regional Return: Clear Fork advanced to the regional tournament for the third time in four years with Saturday’s convincing 5-1 win over Richland County rival Ontario. The Colts (15-2-2) will play Parma Heights Holy Name (9-5-4) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Brunswick High School.
Holy Name beat Bay 3-2 in overtime last week at Bay High School.
“We actually scouted them already,” Clear Fork coach Brittany Bechtel said. “We took a look at them this past week against Bay so we got our scouting report.”
Clear Fork advanced to the regional championship game in 2011 and 2012 before falling to Ontario 3-0 in last year’s district championship game in Ashland. The Warriors ran into eventual state champ and nationally-ranked Rocky River in the regional semifinals, falling 7-0.
Holy Name beat Rocky River 3-2 in the district semifinals.
“We let the girls know they’re not going to see Rocky River this year,” Bechtel said. “Last year that fed into our mind (in the district final).
“We told them, ‘This year the path … is doable. Let’s make this the first state run Clear Fork girls soccer has ever had.”
