MANSFIELD — Last week’s sectional tournament reinforced what area fans already knew.
Richland County is a hotbed for girls soccer.
The All-Richland County district tournament will kick off Wednesday at Lexington. Top-seeded Madison will play No. 4 Clear Fork at 5 p.m. and No. 2 Lexington will meet No. 3 Ontario at 7 p.m.
The Rams, who were ranked second in Division II in the most recent coaches state poll, opened tournament play with a 10-0 win over Mansfield Senior and followed with a 10-0 win over Galion. Taylor Huff leads the way with 25 goals and 20 assists, while Phyllis Stanfield has 16 goals and Kari Eckenwiler has 10.
Clear Fork had a first-round bye and blanked fifth-seeded Norwalk 3-0 in the sectional finals. Carly McCue and Lilly Wortman each have eight goals to lead the Colts. Trinity Cook has seven goals and seven assists.
Lexington, ranked 10th in the Division II state poll, won a sectional championship with a 10-0 win over seventh-seeded Vermilion. Lady Lex is led by Lacee Bethea, who has 26 goals and 14 assists. Lauren Alexander has 18 goals, while Abby Eifrid has 13 assists.
Ontario blanked Sandusky Perkins 10-0 to capture a sectional title. Kyla Spencer has a team-high 22 goals, while Alaina Reed has 18 goals and a team-best 14 assists.
In Division I, fourth-seeded Ashland beat No.8 Findlay 6-3 in the sectional championship match and will meet No. 6 Perrysburg in the district semifinals at 5 p.m. Monday at Sylvania Northview High School. McKinley Mendenhall has a team-high 17 goals for the Arrows, while Katie McQuillen has 16 goals and a team-best nine assists.
In Division III, second-seeded Crestview will take on No. 3 Mansfield Christian at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Ashland.
The Cougars, who are ranked sixth in Division III in the coaches state poll, beat 10th-seeded Ada 8-1 in the sectional opener and pounded No. 11 Willard 22-0 in the sectional finals. Carley Campo leads Crestview with 28 goals and is one of six Cougars with at least 10 goals. Kathleen Leeper has 25 goals and 19 assists, while Mary Leeper has 18 goals. Rhyele Salser, Frankie Dinsmore and Eden McFarland each have 10 goals.
Mansfield Christian reached the district tournament with a 4-1 win over No. 4 seed Van Buren. Olivia Bekeleskie leads the Flames with 20 goals while Abby Little has 16 goals.
