Medina earns return trip to state semifinals with win over Walsh Jesuit in soccer regional final
MACEDONIA, Ohio - Medina took a lead halfway through the second half and held on for a 2-1 win over Walsh Jesuit Saturday afternoon in a Division I boys soccer regional final.
In the 56th minute, Medina was awarded a penalty kick and up stepped senior Ian Kaczmarek.
He fired the ball low and to his left and Walsh goalkeeper Quinn Anderson made the right read. But Kaczmarek had just enough on the ball for it to slip past the keeper and into the net to give the Bees their second lead of the game.
"I don't really like to look because I feel like then that just puts me off," Kaczmarek said. "I have my spot and I have confidence in my spot. The goalkeeper got a hand to it and kudos to him. To see that thing rolling to the back of the net, it was beautiful. It was a sudden joy for me."
On the other side, Walsh didn't have the joy of seeing the ball find the net after that because Medina goalkeeper Donny Taylor was all over the place making stops in his net, including with 10:30 left in the game on a free kick.
"I was a little bit concerned to be honest," Taylor said of the free kick. "I came across and I see number six (Ryan Robusto), their right back who is usually very good heading and it just landed in a lucky spot for me, it came right to my feet. I was able to get my hands on it and just make the save."
It was just the latest in great saves made by the senior in the game, as he made three saves in the first half while the game was still scoreless, including a pair on one-on-one chances for Walsh.
"Oh my gosh, I love Donny Taylor, man," Kaczmarek said. "I've been playing with him since I was in fifth grade. And I just remember the first game, I'm like this guy put on his cape or something the way he was getting all the saves. I would not want anyone else behind me other than Donny Taylor."
The only goal Taylor allowed came in the 45th minute on a header by Carter Madden that tied the game at 1-1.
Medina scored first in the game on a goal by Kyler O'Reilly in the 25th minute.
O'Reilly caught a pass on his right foot 40 yards away from the goal, crossed over a defender 25 yards out, crossed back and went around a defender at 19 yards and then fired across his body with his right foot about five yards out and completely outside of the goal frame but got the ball past the outstretched arm of Walsh goalkeeper Quinn Anderson and into the net.
"I just picked up the ball and saw a gap of space and I was like 'let's give it a run,'" O'Reilly said. "I took a touch right to space, got a lucky bounce off a defender, and it fell right to me. So I hit as hard as I could and thankfully, he's a tall keeper and it went right under his arms into the net."
Medina will now face a familiar foe in the state semifinals - a rematch of last year's 1-0 loss to St. Ignatius.
"We saw them last year and had a great battle in the in the final four," Medina head coach Doug Coreno said. "And really over the last 10 years, it's come down to Medina and St. Ignatius quite a few times. We know they are the team everybody's chasing and we're gonna have to get prepared over the next three days and be ready to roll on Wednesday."
The players know what needs to happen in order to defeat the 4-time defending state champions.
"A lot of determination and a lot of confidence has to go into that game," O'Reilly said. "We lost to them last year and we do not want to lose to them this year. It's been a rivalry from so long ago and it continues to be a rivalry. Our next game is going to have to be our best game of the season. And hopefully we come up with with the win."
Medina soccer players pose with 2023 regional championship trophy. Photo credit: Ryan Isley
Ryan Isley, SBLive Sports
