Girls district soccer: Avon delivers big win, knocking off reigning regional champ Medina in title game

MEDINA — As an eighth-grader, Mara Jaracz remembers sitting in the stands at Independence High School watching her sister Kaleigh reach the regional semifinals. On Thursday, the Avon defender joined her former teammate and big sis in the exclusive club after sixth-seeded Avon upset second-seeded Medina 1-0 in a Division I, Northeast District 6 final. "It's an incredible feeling to win this game," Jaracz said. "To be in the stands watching my sister, it was always in the back of my head to be in that position. Now, that we're here and I'm with all my best friends and we're onto the regional semifinals, it's just an amazing feeling. It's something that has always pushed me. "I'm definitely going to call my sister and be like, 'We won. We won.' I got to play with her for two years. Coming into this season, I wanted to play for her and get that district title like she did two years in a row. The last time the Eagles (10-4-4) reached the round of 16, coach Attila Csiszar was in his first year with Avon and beat Westlake 1-0 in overtime to reach the regional level. Fast forward to present time, and Avon will play District 5 winner Brunswick (13-3-3) in a Region 2 semifinal Tuesday. Believe it when those who saw the game tell you that Jarcacz, Mackenzie Muir, Lauren Bernath and Caite Geiger were a big reason for the Eagles knocking off reigning regional champion Medina. The one chance Medina had came with 2:34 left when Chloe Tesny had an open net. Jaracz came from the left side, however, and stuffed Tesny's attempt to keep Avon up a goal. "Medina is a very, very good program," Jaracz said. "I have a few club players over there that I've known since I was 10. I know how they play. I had an upperhand because I knew how to shut them down. It wasn't easy, but we definitely made a stand and in the end it paid off with a 1-0 win." All night long, the back four kept Ariana Vakos upright all night and didn't allow a single shot on frame. It's the 12th shutout for the Eagles and fourth straight time they have blanked their opponent. "They were fantastic," Csiszar said. "I've been coaching for a long time and this is everything. These girls have worked so hard. With COVID and everything that's going on, for them to be focused and come out and play, it's big time." While Avon only managed three shots on goal, the only shot that mattered came off the foot of Muir. The goal came 10:22 into things when Muir sent a shot from 35 yards out toward Belle Wagner. The shot tucked under the crossbar and over the outstretched arms of Wagner. "We set the tone," Muir said. "That was our goal. It was to go into the game and score within the first 10 or 20 minutes. I think we accomplished that very well." Up next is a home game against a Blue Devils squad the Eagles are very familiar with. The two played each other on Aug. 24 with Brunswick coming out on top 3-0. That game was deadlocked at zero for 62:15 before a penalty kick gave Brunswick the lead. The Blue Devils tacked on two more goals over the next 13 minutes. "I think we can definitely compete with Medina being ranked No. 4 (in the state)," Csiszar said. "They have a quality program. I think if we keep the ball on the ground and keep it moving, we'll be successful. That's the most important thing. It's the team that can connect the passes. I think we did that to a point, but that's the biggest thing for us." Contact Brad Bournival at bournival929@gmail.com. Avon 1, Medina 0 AVON 1 0 — 0 MEDINA 0 0 — 0 First A — McKenzie Muir, 29:38. Shots on goal — Avon 3, Medina 0. Corner kicks — Avon 3, Medina 3. Saves — Ariana Vakos (A) 0, Belle Wagner (M) 2. Records — Medina (14-3-2) Avon (11-3-4).