High school soccer: For Medina girls, expectations never change

Don't expect much of a sophomore slump out of the Medina girls soccer team under second-year coach Brad Wojnarowsky. In fact, don't anticipate a hiccup at all. That's the news coming out of Bees camp as they look to return to the Division I state semifinals for the second consecutive season and the 10th time overall. "It is my second year, but I think the one thing that has made us so successful over the 13 years I've been here (he was an assistant under Doug Coreno) is we have never been satisfied," Wojnarowsky said. "I don't think we've been overconfident. We've always respected our opponents. "I like to say soccer is a stupid game. It's the one sport where you can outshoot somebody 30-0 and somehow find a way to lose that game. That's always been my approach. It's been the approach of the program for a decade now. I think that's what prevents us from having that monumental upset. We understand the game and respect our opponent." Under Wojnarowsky, these Bees understand the game at every level. Last season, he employed a multitude of formations throughout the regular season to get Medina ready for its postseason run. There were some bumps along the way with a third-place finish behind Strongsville and Brunswick in the Greater Cleveland Conference, but the Bees will tell you they don't play for league titles. They play for district and regional titles and they have a multitude of them. Medina found its personality and rolled to its eighth consecutive district final, posted shutouts against Massillon Jackson and Walsh Jesuit in Region 2 and finished with a 17-3-2 record. With 12 letterwinners back and nine starters, the Bees are poised to throw even more looks at teams in their quest for Columbus. "It's going to be an exciting year," defender Meghan Heath said. "We're definitely driven to go farther. We have more formations coming this year. Having these different looks helps so much because teams are going to expect a 4-3-3 from every high school team and us being able to play a 4-4-2 or even a 3-5-2 is a huge advantage." With all-county selections in Heath, Tori Lyncha, Chloe Tesny, Riley Kerber and Rachel Smith, there's plenty of experience. Add honorable mention selection Kayla Perfect to Avery Heine and Olivia Sipsock and this season's team will be ready. Unlike a season ago, when the Bees threw the ball up top to Gazette MVP Haley Anspach, who scored all four goals in the two regional games, this team will score by committee. Anspach accounted for 18 goals and six assists last season, but Smith (7, 7), Tesny (9, 1) and Kerber (6, 4) are more than ready to take the next step.It won't be the first time Medina has played without a first-team All-Ohioan. Anspach was injured early last season and the team grew exponentially in her absence. "There are so many players on this team this year that can bring something on the offensive end," Smith said. "Haley was unbelievably good, but this year we can piece something together where everyone participates." As for the pressure of being one of the elite programs in the state, it comes with wearing the green and white. The expectation is a state title. Anything less is an unfulfilled dream. "We had this conversation the other day," Wojnarowsky said. "I've seen this program eat kids up and spit them out because of the pressure. I think it takes a special mentality, a special kid to be able to deal with that. "The expectations are so high, but they have such an appreciation for where they've come from in the youth program. They've seen how kids put in the work while they were here. I don't know that they have that much pressure. I just think they want to do and repeat what came before them." Contact Brad Bournival at bournival929@gmail.com.