MANSFIELD — Brendan Ernsberger set a Mansfield Christian single-season record with 36 goals this fall but it was the one he didn’t score that lifted the Flames to the Division III state championship.
Ernsberger, the Richland Source Boys Soccer Player of the Year, was the intended target of Stevie Brown’s free kick near midfield during overtime of the Division III title game against Grandview Heights. Pushed by a strong wind, the ball sailed just over a leaping Ernsberger to a hard-charging Sammy Paul. Paul’s leaping header past Bobcats’ keeper Micah Miller, who was anticipating an Ernsberger shot, gave the Flames a 4-3 victory.
“I’ve always said I feel confident if any of us get in front of the goal, we’re going to score,” said Ernsberger, an Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association All-Ohio first team selection. “Sammy scored, but it was an entire team effort.”
Paul, Brown, Brandon Mount and David Cochran joined Ernsberger on the Richland Source team. All are juniors.
Like Ernsberger, Mount was an OSSCA All-Ohio first team pick. He scored 35 goals, including one in the state championship game, and was selected the North Central Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association district player of the year in Division III.
Best known for his defensive prowess, Brown led MCS with 17 assists and added eight goals. He was an NCOSSCA all district first-team selection.
Mansfield Christian’s trademark possession game wouldn’t be possible without solid midfield play and Cochran provides it. The younger brother of former MCS All-Ohioans Will and Josh Cochran, David had eight goals and nine assists on the season. He was a second team all-district pick.
The undersized Paul is at his best on the biggest stage. He scored only seven goals all season, but two of them — including the game-winner — were in the state championship game. Paul had an assist in the 2013 state title game, a 2-1 Mansfield Christian loss to Summit Country Day.
Lexington won the Ohio Cardinal Conference championship and advanced to the regional tournament before falling to eventual state runner-up Bay Village and forward Kyle Alexander was a big reason why. The senior was the Ohio Cardinal Conference Offensive Player of the Year and an OSSCA All-Ohio second team pick in Division II.
Junior Connor Baughman was selected to the Richland Source team after starring in the Lexington midfield this fall. He was an all-district pick and an all-OCC first team selection.
Lexington senior Nick Adams anchors the Richland Source team’s defense. Like Baughman, Adams was an OCC and all-district first team selection.
The Richland Source goal keeper is Lexington’s Zac Ritchey, the OCC Defensive Player of the Year. Ritchey had nine shutouts on the year.
Clear Fork pushed Lex for the district crown, falling 3-2 in overtime. A pair of Colts, senior midfielder David McKinley and senior defender Matt South, round out the Richland Source team. McKinley was an All-Ohio second team selection, while South was an all-district first team pick in Division II.
Honorable Mention: Lenell Shelby, Ontario; Erik Klimczynski, Ontario; Jake McClelland, Temple Christian; Nick Standridge, Temple Christian; Kyle Weere, Mansfield Senior; Drew Weeks, Mansfield Senior; Drew Randall, Mansfield Senior; Will Wilcox, Mansfield Senior; Levi Cross, Madison; Jordan McKinney, Madison; Trenton Mortimer, Madison; Cody Cole, Madison; Bailey Faust, Lexington; Christopher Wendling, Lexinton; Chris Odson, Lexington; Cade Hickenbotham, Clear Fork; Caleb Merendino, Clear Fork; Griffin Robinette, Clear Fork; Jared McPeek, Mansfield Christian; Chandran Higgins, Mansfield Christian; Michael Berick, St. Peter’s; Adam Blunk, St. Peter’s.
