Boys soccer: Injury-riddled Medina drops opener to Westlake

MEDINA — The Medina boys soccer team brought back almost its entire roster from last season, so the learning experiences from a rough 2024 should help. Unfortunately for the Bees, the big thing that hampered them last fall carried into the first game: the inability to put goals on the board. Missing three starting midfielders and struggling to get any consistent offensive pressure led to a 2-0 non-league loss to Westlake on Saturday. Medina scored just 24 goals last season — 12 came against Euclid — and ended on a six-game winless skid (0-3-3). "We are having a real hard time finding our way on the offensive third," Medina coach Doug Careno said. "A big part of our problem is we are a bit immature right now. We got guys that want to offer advice to other players, and they turn around and make three errors on the next three plays. It is something that I as the coach have to get a handle on, because we are not a disciplined team right now and it shows." The Bees (0-1) were missing junior Michael Fishbach and seniors Brody Gannon and Cooper Fuller from the middle of the field, and the result was a squad that showed flashes but seemed a little off with passes just missing a foot, players slightly out of position and other frustrating moments. "I think we just need one," Medina defender Chase Wilbur said. "I think the goals will start to come. We've been working in practice at staying relaxed in the final third and trying to find opportunities. It will come." All-Gazette keeper Bennett Werthmuller had no chance to make a stop on either Westlake goal. The senior made five saves, including a big one in the first half to keep the game 1-0 and another early in the second half from point-blank range. "He was the top goalkeeper in the district last year," Careno said. "He is picking up right where he left off. I don't think he was at fault for either goal we gave up today. He's a good rock in the back." One thing that was evident throughout was how Werthmuller's huge leg can spark things at the offensive end. The veteran often completely turned over the field with kicks soaring a legitimate 75 yards and had a pair of free kicks from just over center that just missed going on goal. Senior Ben Gardner tallied the Bees' lone shot on goal with 4:30 left in the first half. That shot was from 20-plus yards away, and Gardner couldn't get much heat on it as Demons' keeper Michael Bosch gobbled it up easily. With the midfield missing key pieces, Buckeye transfer Gavin Williams frequently dribbled deep into Westlake territory from his center back position, trying to create a spark. "Right now — I don't like making excuses — but we have a lot of guys injured," Williams said. "When they come back, we will get back to normal. I think overall we played well today. New team for me and some of the other new guys we are trying to build a chemistry together. We'll come out stronger in the next one." Williams' best chance came with the deficit still one goal when he battled through multiple defenders and was taken down just outside the box for a free kick. His attempt went a bit high. Santino Zingales Jr. and Sean Brouillard scored the Westlake goals, with Colin McGregor notching an assist on the latter. Contact Chad Grant at sports@medina-gazette.com. Westlake 2, Medina 0 WESTLAKE&emsp;1 1 — 2 MEDINA&emsp;0 0 — 0 First W — Santino Zingales Jr., 19:21 Second W — Sean Brouillard (Colin McGregor), 14:02 Shots on goal — Westlake 6, Medina 1. Corner kicks — Westlake 3, Medina 4. Saves — Michael Bosch (W) 1, Bennett Werthmuller (M) 5. Records — Westlake (1-0), Medina (0-1). Junior varsity — Westlake 2, Medina 1.