MADISON TOWNSHIP — The road back to MAPFRE Stadium won’t be an easy one for Madison.
The Rams earned the No. 1 seed in the 10-team Lexington district tournament field and will begin defense of its district title at home against 10th-seeded Galion at 5 p.m. Oct. 21.
Madison (12-0-2) has won three straight district titles and is the top-ranked team in Division II in the most recent Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association state poll. The Rams were Division II state runner-up last year, falling 2-0 to Kettering Alter in the championship match at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus.
Ontario (10-2-3) earned the No. 2 seed and will open tourney play at home against No. 8 Shelby at 6 p.m. Oct. 21. The Warriors, who are ranked seventh in the OSSCA state poll, battled the Rams to a 1-1 draw earlier this month. The teams have met in the district championship match each of the past three years.
No. 3 seed Clear Fork (8-5-1) will play backyard rival Lexington for a sectional title at 3 p.m. Oct. 24 in Bellville. Lady Lex (6-7-2) is the No. 4 seed.
No. 9 seed Mansfield Senior has an opening-round bye and will play the winner of the Madison-Galion match in the sectional finals.
Division I
Ashland (10-4-1) earned the No. 2 seed in the Sylvania Northview district tournament and will host No. 13 Fremont Ross in the sectional finals at 5 p.m. Oct. 21. In the central district, Mount Vernon was the No. 34 seed and will host No. 35 Westerville South at 7 p.m. Oct. 21.
Division III
Mansfield Christian earned the No. 4 seed in the Bluffton district field and opens tourney play at home against No. 10 Ada at 5 p.m. Oct. 20.
No. 3 seed Crestview will host either Cory-Rawson or Van Buren in the sectional final at 5 p.m. Oct. 22. No. 8 seed St Peter’s plays No. 5 Riverdale for a sectional title at 5 p.m. Oct. 20 in Mount Blanchard.
In the northeast district, No. 14 Mapleton hosts No. 21 Hillsdale at 6 p.m. Oct. 19. No. 11 Loudonville hosts No. 22 Rittman at 6 p.m. Oct. 19.
