Marcus Heath gives Badger a big boost

By BILL SULLIVAN

The Braves’ boys soccer team is top-seeded in the Div. III tournament that begins today. The girls’ Div. I tournament looks to be a slugfest.

Marcus Heath of the Badger High School boys soccer team has produced an outstanding offensive season and has made the Braves the team to beat in the Division III boys tournament that begins today.

Heath has scored 34 goals and added nine assists for the top-seeded Braves (13-2) who will meet the Bristol/Bloomfield winner on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Backing up Heath, who scored the third most goals in Ohio this season, is Jeff Ashcroft and Sam Miller with 10 goals apiece.

If Badger doesn’t emerge as the winner of that tournament, watch for Ursuline (7-4-4) or South Range (11-2-2).

Kevin Patrick scored eight goals and added six assists while Marshall Finelli collected seven goals. Golakeeper Andrew Rich collected 83 saves for the Irish.

The Cardinal Mooney boys and the West Branch boys were both ranked in the state’s top 10 last week and are the top two seeds in the Div. II tournament.

Tom Beck and Matt McWilson evenly split 22 goals for Mooney (13-3) and Jonathan Critell saved 53 shots.

Mooney’s Joe Merlo (eight goals) is a good one.

Giving West Branch (13-1) a 1-2 punch are Aaron Lamancusa (16 goals, nine assists) and Caleb Capron (13 goals, 12 assists).

Chance Young (55 saves) gets the call in goal for West Branch.

The lone setback by the Warriors was a 2-1 loss to Mooney in early September.

Third seeded Howland (11-1-4) features Eric Albani (17 goals, 13 assists) and Connor Gilmour (14 goals).

Champion (12-1-1) won’t go away quietly.

Canfield (6-4-4) is the highest local seed (#5) in the Div. I tournament.

The girls Div. I tournament looks to be a slugfest where Howland (13-0-3), Fitch (11-4-1) and Boardman (10-4-1) are seeded 1-2-3.

Gina Albani has 10 goals for Howland, Tori Koch has nine scores for Fitch and Jamie Avona has three for the Spartans.

Fifth seed Poland (10-5-1) and Canfield (8-5-3), the seventh seed, can make this tournament interesting.

In the girls Div. II tournament, Mooney (10-4-1) is the top seed.

After playing a quite demanding schedule, the Cardinals were top-ranked in Ohio to begin the season and have been in Ohio’s top 10 all year.

Champion (10-3-2), Lakeview (5-4-4), Springfield Local (13-2) and Warren JFK were seeded 2-3-4-5 in that tournament.

The winner of each district tournament will advance to regionals beginning the week of Oct. 26.

XIndividual statistics were obtained from the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association web site.

sullivan@vindy.com