Division II Boys Soccer Scouting Report: Richland County well represented
SHELBY — Richland County boys soccer will be on full display Monday evening.
Three of the four teams remaining in the Division II boys soccer district tournament call Richland County home as Lexington, Ontario and Mansfield Senior will be hunting for a championship at Shelby High School for tonight's semifinals and the championship game slated for 6 p.m. Thursday.
Let's break it down.
High School Sports: News Journal Fall Sports Tournament Tracker: Warriors cruise to sectional title
No. 1 Lexington (13-3-1) vs. No. 6 Ontario (9-5-2)
When: 5:30 p.m., Monday
These two teams met in Game 1 of the season, a 4-1 Lex victory, but both teams are completely different than they were on Aug. 19. Lexington rolled to an Ohio Cardinal Conference championship with a 6-0-1 league record besting Wooster in the final conference game of the year to clinch the title. Ontario won its seventh straight Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference championship with a 5-0-1 league record.
Lexington scored 30 goals during the regular season and allowed just 13, including five shutouts. The Minutemen have been absolutely dominant winning two postseason games over Galion and Tiffin Columbian by a combined 24-0, both 12-0 wins in one half of play, so they are playing their best soccer right now.
Ontario scored 52 goals during the regular season and allowed 20. The Warriors used a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over Upper Sandusky to win the sectional championship. They only have one player with 10-plus goals but 10 players with at least two. With four players handing out at least six assists, the Warriors can keep teams guessing when on the attack.
Keys to victory: The Minutemen and Warriors have met in the district final in five of the last six years. Ontario's last tournament win over Lex came in 2017 in the district title match, while Lexington has five straight postseason victories over Ontario and is 8-0-1 against the Warriors since 2018. For Lexington, it's all about continuing that dominance. For Ontario, it is getting over that mental hurdle of playing Lexington. Belief can go a long way, especially in postseason soccer.
No. 5 Mansfield Senior (9-9) vs. No. 4 Norwalk (11-7)
When: 7:30 p.m., Monday
For the first time since 2013, the Mansfield Senior Tygers find themselves in the district tournament after a convincing 4-1 sectional win over Clear Fork. Before that, it was 2009 when they won just one game in the regular season before ripping off two in the tourney. They also won a sectional championship in 2005. The Tygers scored 70 goals during the regular season and allowed 45. They have to be sound defensively in quite possibly the biggest game in program history.
Norwalk returns to the district tournament after beating No. 2 Vermilion 3-1 in the sectional championship. The Truckers scored 71 goals during the regular season and allowed 21 with eight shutouts. On paper, the Truckers play the most complementary soccer of any team in the district.
Keys to Victory: For both teams, this might be the biggest game in their programs for at least 10 years. Mansfield Senior hasn't played in a district championship game since 2003, when it knocked off No. 2 Ashland and No. 3 Madison in a magical run before falling to Findlay in the final. Norwalk last played in a district title match in 2013, when the Truckers took a 2-1 shootout win over Clear Fork. Whoever can block out the noise will win this one.
Key Players to Watch
Zachary Turlo, Lexington: In two postseason games, Turlo has three goals and three assists including a hat trick against Tiffin Columbian. When the Minutemen need a big goal, Turlo is usually the one who either scores it or creates it. His ability to make things happen with the ball at his feet is next-level. He will be key for the Minutemen on the offensive side.
Dante McGinty, Ontario: McGinty is a rare breed. He is second on the team in goals with seven and also has three assists. Ho-hum numbers, right? Oh yeah, he is the starting goalkeeper and has 59 saves on the season. McGinty gives the Warriors their best chance to win by manning the goal and keeping teams from scoring, but in a tie ballgame late, don't be surprised if he swaps his keeper kit for a striker one and knocks in a massive goal or two to give the Warriors an offensive spark. He is unique.
Justin Crall, Mansfield Senior: There may not be anyone more responsible for the Tygers' turnaround than Crall. On the year, he has 18 goals and 14 assists against very tough Ohio Cardinal Conference opponents as well as nonconference foes like Cardinal Mooney and Toledo St. Francis De Sales. Crall is a catalyst on both ends of the pitch for the Tygers. He can create and score goals offensively and, if needed, can provide big-time support on defense. He is a fun player to watch.
Erik Rangel-Negrete, Norwalk: Maybe the most dangerous goal-scorer in the district, with 32 goals on the season. He is a finisher and is special with the ball at his feet. He will take up a lot of defensive attention but has a way of turning invisible before popping up and making a huge play for his team. Against a good defensive team like Mansfield Senior, the Truckers are going to need Rangel-Negrete in a big way.
jfurr@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: OHSAA Division II district boys soccer preview for Richland County
