Girls Regional Soccer: Avon holds off North Royalton, reaches final

RAVENNA — Sydney Thomas worked her magic early and the defense took it from there. That was the recipe for success Tuesday night for Avon as it held on for a hard-fought 1-0 win over North Royalton in a Division II regional semifinal on the blue turf at Ravenna High School. Thomas streaked down the near sideline in the 10th minute to play a perfectly placed ball from junior defender Ashlyn Hider and strike it across the goal box and into the far corner of the net for her team-leading 20th goal of the year. "Ashlyn Hider great assist. I could see she was going to kick it over," said Thomas, an Ohio State commit. "The defense was flat-footed, the ball was curving and I timed it and hit it to the back post." Avon (14-3-2) advanced to Saturday's regional final at Hillsdale High School, where it will face Sylvania Northview, which defeated Brecksville-Broadview Heights in a 4-3 overtime thriller. "This game was hectic. I almost had five heart attacks," Eagles coach Attila Csiszar said. "The ball was bouncing everywhere and going back-and-forth. The nerves were there from the minute we started until the time we ended. It was anybody's game. It took us awhile to settle in." North Royalton (9-6-4) nearly had an opportunity to tie the game in the 21st minute when Draya Sanders won a 50-50 ball in the midfield, beat an Avon defender and was headed to the goal. However, before Sanders could get off a shot, Eagles goalkeeper Haylee Ostrander rushed out from in front of the net to steal the ball from her foot at the top of the box. Throughout the night the Bears won 50-50 balls in the midfield, but each time the Avon defense came through to rebuke their scoring chances. "We were very strong on the ball and everyone worked together," Avon senior defender Olivia Sabo-Alexander said. "Credit to (defenders) Campbell (O'Malley), Ashlyn, Eva (Cseh) and Kaitlyn (Buchino), they all did amazing, and to Haylee for saving our butts back there too." Since starting the year 0-2, Avon is 14-1-2 in its last 17 matches despite playing one of the toughest schedules in Northeast Ohio. "Our defense has really been tested all year," Sabo-Alexander said. "We really know when to pressure and cover and when to step up. The hard games really prepare us for the playoffs." Although North Royalton only had one shot on goal, compared to five for Avon, the Bears continued to draw free kicks and keep pressure on in their attack third the entire second half. "We've got a solid defensive line," Csiszar said. "Olivia and Campbell know each other well. They do a really nice job of having one marking while the other is tucked behind. Having a senior like Olivia back there who is technical and has a big foot is a benefit to us." It was the sixth shutout of the season for Avon, which hasn't conceded more than one goal in any of its last eight matches. Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.