Andrews Osborne-Ottoville boys soccer state semifinal capsule
Nov. 6—Andrews Osborne vs. Ottoville
What: Division III state semifinal
When: 7 p.m., Nov. 8
Where: Clyde, 1015 Race Street
Records: Andrews Osborne 16-0-1, Ottoville 21-0-1
What's next: The winner advances to the state final at 7 p.m. Nov. 11 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus against Worthington Christian or Waynesville.
What to look for: Andrews Osborne has made history before it even steps on the bus westward for Clyde. The Phoenix are savoring their first state final four berth in boys soccer in school history and look like a side that just might have two more wins in it. The days of being an X-factor on campus and statewide are long gone now, given how much this postseason run has put the program on the map in Ohio. There were times at which it was difficult to gauge AOA in the regular season, but the glimpses were there: A 6-2 win over Harvey, which made D-II regional competition for the first time this fall, on Sept. 7. A 5-1 win over longtime D-III power Kidron Central Christian on Sept. 14. Finishing the regular season with wins over capable sides in Villa Angela-St. Joseph, Open Door and West Geauga by a combined 22-1. In fact, the only match to date decided by fewer than two goals was the Phoenix's 1-1 draw with Gilmour on Sept. 21. Those glimpses, along with a charge dispatching three outstanding Northeast Ohio sides in Hanoverton United (3-1), Kirtland (3-1) and Beachwood (6-1) to get here means there's no need to guess anymore: This side is legit. AOA is paced in the attack by Ishmael Mensah (17 goals, 30 assists), along with Javier de Osma Jimenez (5-18), Lucas Alonso Garcia (21-16), Manu Nieto (18-20) and Diego Rivas Gonzalez (19 goals). Anyone who scouts the Phoenix knows what's coming: AOA will operate with ambition into the attack and width, far from shy on the counter. Its set-piece danger and volume in the D-III regional final win over Beachwood was also noteworthy. The next challenge for AOA comes in the form of unbeaten Ottoville, also a 1-1 draw (Oct. 6 vs. Kalida) away from a spotless record. The Big Green, in their first state final four in boys soccer as well, has striker Preston Mansfield (32-16) spearheading the attack, along with fellow senior Quinton Schnipke (11-22) in the middle of the park. Alex Leis (9-6) and Jayden Saxton (5-12) also provide offensive-third danger. If Mensah can dictate the match as effectively as he has all year, particularly against Beachwood, AOA can hit its skip-ball service and set pieces like it did against the Bison and limit that Schnipke-Mansfield partnership, the Phoenix will be on their way to one more match in 2023, their biggest one yet.
