Madison romps past Oak Harbor to reach Final Four

CLYDE — The Madison girls soccer team is riding the wave of talent oozing from its storied 11-member junior class. Fortunately, that group has already proven it knows the way to the Division II state tournament.

On Saturday, junior Taylor Huff tied a career-high with four goals and contributed two assists, while junior Kari Eckenwiler drilled a career-high four goals as the second-ranked Rams romped to an incredible 10-1 regional championship victory over Oak Harbor.

That victory sends Madison (17-1-4) back to the Final Four for the second time in three years. The Rams are slated to meet Chagrin Falls (18-2-1) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at a site to be determined. The Wildcats blanked third-ranked Copley 2-0 on Saturday in the Nordonia regional championship game.

In the other state semifinal, 14th-ranked Granville (12-4-5) plays No. 1-ranked Kettering Alter (18-1-1). The Blue Aces beat Norwayne 2-0 on Saturday, while Alter stopped previously undefeated and sixth-ranked Monroe 2-0.

The state championship game pits the survivors and is slated for Nov. 9 at a site and time to be determined.

“It’s just an amazing opportunity for us,” said Huff, a multi-year All-Ohioan bound for the University of Tennessee. “You always want to make it to state.”

Huff is one of the top players in Ohio, and was a key part of the 2017 team that also rolled to the state tournament. But she had plenty of help on Saturday.

Classmate Eckenwiler found the back of the net just as frequently as the Rams’ offense simply overwhelmed the Rockets.

“I think we were really confident,” Eckenwiler said. “All of us have the same mentality. Ever since the tournament started we have the same mindset, we have big dreams.”

Unfortunately for the Rockets (14-5-1), they were outgunned. It didn’t help when second-team all-conference defender Kori Helle hurt her back on Thursday and proved unable to play.

“We knew we were going to have a real battle on our hands,” Oak Harbor coach Renee Williamson said. “She hurt her back and we had to play a JV girl. But that doesn’t detract from Madison. They’re great.”

Madison’s offense shook off the frigid, rainy conditions and emptied its full arsenal in the first half.

Exactly two minutes into the game, Huff split the posts to give the Rams a 1-0 lead they would never relinquish. Four minutes later senior Kalie Blaising slipped in a goal to make it 2-0.

The Rockets only score came at 32:15 of the first half, as a long ball got between a pair of Madison defenders and Oak Harbor’s Hannah Schultie dribbled it into an empty net in the wake of the collision.

“That was the only bad thing, that goal we gave up,” Rams coach Zac Huff said. “That was a miscommunication, but that can’t happen on Tuesday.”

There was no reason for concern, the Madison offense went back to work immediately and continued to pepper the net as the goals came fast and furious.

Eckenwiler’s first goal eluded the keeper at 29:02, and her second got home at 20:32. Huff notched her second score at 19:44, and Eckenwiler changed the scoreboard again at 18:55. Huff matched her hat trick at 16:11 and junior forward Phyllis Stanfield drilled another goal at 9:50 to complete the dizzying display with an 8-1 halftime bulge.

Eckenwiler’s final score came at 26:09 of the second half, and Huff’s last goal hit the net at 21:09. Oak Harbor rarely threatened, and never scored again.

“We’ve been here and that benefited us,” Zac Huff said. “But I guarantee on Tuesday it’s going to be more like a 1-0, or 2-0 game.”