MADISON TOWNSHIP — It may have sounded like he was splitting hairs, but Madison coach Zac Huff knows what awaits the Rams in Tuesday’s state semifinals.
Huff could find precious little to take issue with after Saturday’s 10-1 dismantling of Oak Harbor in the Division II regional championship match, but the one thing that bothered him was the lone goal the Rams surrendered.
“That was the only bad thing, that goal we gave up,” Huff said afterward. “That was a miscommunication, but that can’t happen on Tuesday.”
The second-ranked Rams (17-1-4) will take on No. 17 Chagrin Falls (18-2-1) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Strongsville High School. The Rams are in the Final Four for the second time in three seasons, while the Tigers are making their sixth appearance in the state semifinals and first since finishing runner-up in 2016.
Chagrin Falls blanked third-ranked Copley 2-0 in Saturday’s Nordonia regional final. The Tigers have given up just 13 goals all season and have 13 shutouts, including three in five postseason games.
“We tried to fly under the radar all season long, just taking care of business,” longtime Chagrin Falls coach Pamela Malone told the Willoughby News-Herald after Saturday’s win. “Our game plan is one game at a time — learn from that one, learn from that one, learn from that one.”
The Tigers will have their hands full Tuesday evening. All-American Taylor Huff and Kari Eckenwiler each scored four goals in Saturday’s victory. Huff also had two assists. She has 34 goals and 26 assists this season, while Eckenwiler has 14 goals and nine assists. Phyllis Stanfield has 19 goals and seven assists and Kalie Blaising has 10 goals and 10 assists.
“All of us have the same mentality,” Eckenwiler said Saturday. “Ever since the tournament started, we have the same mindset. We have big dreams.”
Chagrin Falls is led by Peyton Gellin, who has 20 goals and five assists. Sara Burgess has 12 goals and 10 assists.
The winner of Tuesday’s match will play either top-ranked Kettering Alter or Granville for a state title at 1 p.m. Saturday in Columbus. Alter and Granville play at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Chillicothe.
“It’s just an amazing opportunity for us,” Taylor Huff said. “You always want to make it to state.”
