High school soccer: Braden Macauda lives up to high standard as Medina outside midfielder

Living up to expectations isn't easy as a member of the Medina boys soccer team, but Braden Macauda is killing them. As if playing for the four-time regional champion wasn't enough, Macauda plays the outside midfielder position where Josh Cabacungan roamed last season. That would be Cabacungan, the one who assisted Parker Csiszar for the game-winning goal in the 2018 state championship, which happens to be the only boys soccer title in Medina County. That would be Cabacungan, who plays for Ohio Wesleyan and finished with 23 goals and 11 assists at Medina after an All-Gazette and All-Greater Cleveland Conference senior season. "It's never easy replacing guys that have scored 15-25 goals," Macauda said. "To have to step in and produce those numbers, there's a lot of pressure. My biggest thing was not focusing on the goals. My biggest thing was focusing on how to help the team win. "That's the way I've always played. I don't focus on the individual accolades. I don't really care who scores. I personally wouldn't care if I touched the ball two times if we were winning. That's just how I was raised by my dad and mom and how I was taught to play the game." The senior comes in with eight assists, and no one is happier than leading scorer Cole Werthmuller, who has been on the receiving end of five of them.They've come in monster games as well. One look at the résumé shows assists to Werthmuller against current regional semifinalists Hudson, Massillon Jackson, Solon and New Albany. The other came in a district final against St. Edward. "It's because he screams at me really loud to get him the ball. That might have something to do with it," Macauda said with a laugh. "No, we've played together for some time now. It's instinct of him knowing where to run and where I'm going to get him the ball. After that, he just does his job. He's all I can ask for." All kidding aside, the two's chemistry goes back to the Medina Rangers. Add various club and tournament teams and it's easy to see why the two connect. "We've played together for a while now," Werthmuller said. "Even before high school, but I don't know what it is. We always seem to find each other on the field. Magic happens when we combine." Macauda's rise to greatness doesn't come as a surprise to anyone on the team. A student of the game, he learned from watching Mason Provost, Mike Kelly, Cabacungan and Parker Csiszar. He's also played alongside Gavin Csiszar. "He's very quietly confident," coach Simon Spelling said. "He has a big soccer IQ. He knows how to compete. He doesn't talk before he gets results and channels his energy. He knows what his strengths and weaknesses are and plays to his strengths every time. "He's part of the quality of the players we've had here the last four or five years. They put the program and the team first. They find their role. Now, it's time for him to step up, and he's happy to fill the shoes of those who have gone before him." As the Bees head into a game Wednesday against Region 5 winner Avon Lake (16-2-1), there's a quiet confidence. A lot of that comes because Macauda, who is one of the best facilitators on the club. "I knew Braden was a great player," Werthmuller said. "He proved it to everyone that he can do it. He was great for us last year. He played good minutes and now he's one of the best players on the team." Contact Brad Bournival at bournival929@gmail.com.