Monday, October 28, 2002
DIVISION I
Who: Fitch (13-5-1) vs. Hudson (16-0-2).
Game time: 7 p.m. at Ravenna High School.
Other semifinal: Mentor (18-0-1) vs. Lakewood St. Edward (10-6-2).
Regional final: Saturday at 7 p.m. at Cleveland State University.
Notebook: Coach Rigo Castillo has 100-plus career victories, all at Fitch, in his 11th season heading the Falcons. Fitch is in the regional tournament for the second time, having made it to the regional final in 1995. The Falcons' top scorer is senior striker Sam Camens, who will likely continue his career at Division I Lafayette University. Fitch also has an outstanding goalie in junior Pat Passewitz, who had numerous saves in the Falcons' 5-4 shootout win over Green in the district final. Passewitz also is a strong kicker from goal with strong leadership abilities. Gus Martinez, a senior center forward, made the final shot of the shootout against Green to provide the margin of victory. Also connecting in the shootout were Camens, Jason Cicconi, Ryan Puskas and Evan Mikula. Fitch is a much-improved team from early in the season when it lost to Green, 3-0.
DIVISION II
Who: Cardinal Mooney (17-2) vs. Notre Dame Cathedral Latin (10-7-2).
Game time: 7 p.m. at Lyndhurst Brush High School.
Other semifinal: Bay Village Bay (10-8-2) vs. Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (11-2-5).
Regional final: Saturday at 7 p.m. at Ravenna High School.
Notebook: Mooney, the state's sixth-ranked team, is playing in the regional for the second straight season, but first in Div. II. The Cardinals lost in last year's Div. III regional semifinal to defending state champion Gates Mills Hawken. Sophomore forward Kiki Willis is the team's leading scorer with 34 goals. Senior Pat Walker has 23 and senior Mark Seddon 12. Senior Alex Simon and junior Christo Frangopoulos lead the team with 12 assists each. The Cardinals, coached by Lenny Krispinsky, advanced with a 4-0 victory over Lakeview for their 12th straight win. It was also their 11th shutout of the season and 21st over the past two years for senior goalkeeper Tim Reigrut. Notre Dame advanced with a 1-0 victory over West Geauga.
DIVISION III
Who: Warren JFK (5-13-1) vs. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (14-3-2).
Game time: 7 p.m. at West Branch High School.
Other semifinal: Lorain Catholic (16-2-1) vs. Gates Mills Hawken (11-3-4).
Regional final: Saturday at 7 p.m. at Canton Central Catholic High School.
Notebook: Warren JFK has made an improbable run to the regional, for the first time in school history. The unseeded Eagles won one regular-season game, but it came by forfeit over Badger. In the tournament, Kennedy, coached by Lou Cali, has reeled off four straight victories. It has beaten fourth-seeded Columbiana, Newton Falls, second-seeded Maplewood and Badger, the latter coming in a 4-3 shootout in the district final. Sophomore Kyle Schimley leads the team in scoring with seven goals. The Eagles' offense scored seven times in the regular season but has eight goals in the tournament. Kennedy has benefited from the return of junior midfielder Quinn Macali, who missed the regular season with a broken hip. Junior sweeper Russell Accordino and sophomore goalkeeper Brian Wolnik have made it tough for opposing offenses to score. CVCA advanced with a 5-0 victory over Rootstown.
-- Vindicator staff report