Press

Division I state title

September 28, 2010

A year ago, Medina’s girls soccer team rallied a commu­nity in its run to the Division I state title. Now some of those community members are pay­ing them back.

After purchasing a pair of World Cup-style goals in the offseason, the Bees were look­ing for some help to install the new posts and net.

They didn’t have to look far as Brett Ruiz, owner of Medina Exteriors and Remodeling, helped mount the two new additions to Medina Memorial Stadium earlier this week. The goals are in place for the remaining home games on the boys and girls soccer sched­ules.

“We’re thankful to Brett and his guys for dedicating their time,” Medina coach Doug Coreno said of Ruiz, who is also the team’s public address announcer. “We got a second opinion (about installing them this season) and Brett said he could do it without damaging the field. We had these great goals and they were just sitting there.”

The goals were purchased jointly by the girls team and the Medina Classics — a 13- and 14-year-old youth soccer team — with the intentions of allow­ing both programs to utilize the state-of-the-art pipes.

“It works out well for both of us,” Coreno said. “It’s a thrill for the 13- and 14-year-olds to get a chance to play on the varsity field in the spring.

“We have one of the best of the atmospheres to watch a game, so we wanted to make it one of the best facilities. We were looking for an upgrade.”

According to Ruiz, whose daughters’ Felicia and Marissa played for Medina girls pro­gram, the goals are expected to ready for the upcoming boys game Thursday against North Royalton.

Home away from home
Over the past year, Highland’s boys have taken advantage of the new soccer facility at Pinnacle on state Route 18 for practices and other training sessions.

This Saturday, the Hornets will play their first game on the FieldTurf pitch as they take on fellow state­ranked squad Walsh Jesuit, who is currently rated second in the state.

“We’re looking forward to that,” said Highland coach Billy Zufall, whose team is currently ranked sixth in D-II. “It’s going to be a battle between two good, technical teams and we would love to have 1,000 fans there … it should be neat.”

According to Zufall, the school will charge normal admission prices for the contest and will have a concession stand. While no stands are available at the complex, fans will get a chance to stand almost directly behind the squads.

The non-league game is scheduled to kickoff at 11 a.m.

New goalie, same results
One of the key components to Cloverleaf’s girls team winning the last two Suburban League championships has been its defense. And after the graduation of All-Gazette goalkeeper Karly Beuck, many thought that the backline would lose a beat. Wrong.

Senior goalie Sarah Kalain has picked up where her predecessor left off. She has recorded seven shutouts and allowed just six goals in 11 matches.

“Wow, she has just been outstanding this year,” Colts coach Val Baughman said of her netminder. “I can’t say enough about her play in the goal.

“For me, losing Karly Beuck we took a big hit there, but my gosh … the worry about that has been long gone since Game 1.”

Speaking of defense …
It’s has been a quite a year for the county girls squads’ backlines as five of the area’s six teams have allowed eight or less goals this season. The reigning state champs, Medina, leads the way with just two goals surrendered — one to Pickerington North and the other to Westerville North.

Brunswick and Cloverleaf are a close second with just six scores allowed, while Wadsworth and Buckeye have given up eight goals.

Only one boys team in the county has allowed less than 10 goals. Medina has seen opponents find the back of the net just nine times.

Free kicks
After being sidelined this past week with an ankle injury, Medina senior forward/midfielder Sydney Thomas practiced Monday and should be a go for the Bees game at Holy Name. Teammate Jen Jankowski is officially done for the season after reinjuring her ACL.

• In more injury news, Wadsworth senior midfielder Natalie Davis is done for the season after breaking her fibula and ankle early in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Stow.

• Defender B.J. Frederick’s goal for Highland with 10 seconds remaining in the first of the team’s win against Revere marked the third time this season that the Hornets have scored in the last 20 seconds of a half.

source: The Medina-Gazette