District girls soccer: Medina returns to regionals

ELYRIA — For the second straight season, the Medina girls soccer team lifted a district championship trophy. Relying on a blend of experience and newcomers Saturday, the third-seeded Bees toppled eighth-seeded Mentor 3-0 at Elyria Charities Field at Ely Stadium to advance to a Region 4 semifinal Tuesday against top-seeded Walsh Jesuit at Twinsburg. The Cardinals ended 11-5-3. Medina tied the Warriors 1-1 on Sept. 26. The Bees will attempt to advance to their first regional final since 2019. The district title was the first for eight varsity newcomers. "I'm feeling so happy, because there's new people to the team, some seniors that didn't come last year and now they get to win their first district championship," senior captain Madi Kautzman said. "I feel like that's such a rewarding feeling for everybody." One of those newcomers, freshman Lydia Tighe, made her presence felt with 5:19 remaining in the first half when she crossed a shot high over the outstretched arms of Cardinals goalie Mackenzie Blazek (7 saves) for Medina's first goal. "Freshman season, this is exactly what I wanted coming into the postseason," Tighe said. "We're here, and it just feels great." Tighe's goal came after the Bees (15-3-1) applied relentless pressure on Mentor's defense throughout. Medina finished with a 10-2 edge in shots on goal and a 4-0 difference in corner kicks. Still, the Cardinals defense held firm until Tighe broke the ice with her ninth goal of the season. "We were very much in their half throughout the first half," Tighe said. "Putting one in the back of the net really solidified the fact that we're going into this and we're winning no matter what." With Mentor pushing forward more in the second half, Bees leading scorer Emma McTigue extended the lead with a great move and shot after receiving a pass from Sophia Lazar on the left side of the box. McTigue, who earned All-American status as a freshman last season, pocketed her second goal of the game and 15th of the season with 4:30 remaining off a Naomi Sundermeier corner kick. "We were able to play in their half, always," McTigue said. "We contained the ball, played to feet and were really aggressive. When we lost (the ball), we were able to get it right back." Former Greater Cleveland Conference rivals, the Bees defeated the Cardinals 4-2 on Oct. 12, but this time Medina's defense locked down Mentor with a great effort. Freshman goalie Delaney Miller stopped both shots on target while the back line headed by seniors Kautzman and Kamaya Watts handled most of the threats the Cardinals presented. "The whole entire playoffs, we've been practicing staying more compact," Kautzman said. "I think that really showed in today's game. They really never beat us. They only beat us on counterattacks. "It shows how strong we've gotten and how we've built as a team." The familiarity of Mentor was beneficial for Medina. "We knew what to expect," McTigue said. "We knew they were going to be aggressive, and we just needed to come out 10 times harder and want it more." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Medina 3, Mentor 0 Division I, Northeast 4 District Final MENTOR &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;0 0 — 0 MEDINA &emsp;&emsp; 1 2 — 3 First Med — Lydia Tighe, 5:19. Second Med — Emma McTigue (Sophia Lazar), 34:34. Med — McTigue (Naomi Sundermeier), 4:30. Shots on goal — Mentor 2, Medina 10. Corner kicks — Mentor 0, Medina 4. Saves — Mackenzie Blazek (Men) 7, Delaney Miller (Med) 2. Records — Mentor (11-5-3), Medina (15-3-1).