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South Range, Beachwood in another regional final
By BRIAN DZENIS
The South Range boys soccer team is hoping Saturday’s regional final is like instant replay.
The Raiders return to Ravenna’s blue turf field to face Beachwood in the final. It’s the same venue and opponent as last year’s final. It would be nice to repeat the result as well, which was 1-0 victory. The only things the team would like to be different this time around are the weather and the manner in which it won. Sleet and heavy winds led to a makeshift fort being built on the sideline and while a win is a win, some would call the Raiders’ 2014 regional title fluky.
“It was the coldest game I’ve ever played in,” Raiders goaltender Brandt Rothbauer said. “They outplayed us and we got lucky with that last goal in those last few minutes.”
The Bison held a 7-2 advantage in shots in a scoreless game through regulation, but couldn’t find a way to finish off the Raiders. It came down to a South Range free kick that deflected off a Bison defender for an own goal.
“We just bunkered in and played defense and it was just one kick and the kid heads it in, and that’s all it takes,” Raiders forward Brandon Youngs said. “It’ll probably be that way Saturday.”
The Raiders (16-3) would like to end the game more decisively this time around and will look to its swift counterattack led by Youngs.
Youngs, along with fellow forward Cole Franks and midfielder Brooks Thomas were all named to the Division III all-distict first team. Even as a sophomore, Youngs commands double teams and has to rely on his speed to spring the attack. Rothbauer made the second team.
“Pretty much that’s what’s going to happen, with all those balls, I’m just up there by myself,” Youngs said of the defensive attention. “People will just converge on me and I have to play through it.”
Beachwood (13-2-5) is dealing with some injuries, but the patchwork squad played well enough to cruise past Maplewood, 4-0, in a region semifinal, scoring two goals in each half. Just as Youngs will likely be the focus for the Bison, the Raiders will look to key in on Beachwood forward Shai Yulish, who has 33 goals and seven assists on the season.
“I think they’ll be just as good as last year, if not better,” Youngs said. “Overall, we’re a better team defensively and hopefully we can get some counterattacks.”