Girls district soccer: Buckeye blanks CVCA

YORK TWP. — The talented and close-knit members of the 2025 Buckeye girls soccer team will have a chance to accomplish something Saturday afternoon that no other team in program history has done.By virtue of their impressive 3-0 Division III, Northeast 2 District semifinal victory over 17th-seeded Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy on Tuesday, the sixth-seeded Bucks will have a chance to earn their first regional berth Saturday at 2 p.m. when they play 12th-seeded Canfield, which upset No. 8 Aurora 2-1, in the district final at Nordonia's Boliantz Stadium.Due to thunderstorms, the game Tuesday didn't start until 8 p.m., an hour later than scheduled, but nothing more than a very light rain fell once it did.The Bucks, meanwhile, reigned supreme."Today was a great atmosphere," midfielder Katie Rupanovic said. "This was an absolutely sensational experience." Though a banner on the wall in the Buckeye gymnasium has the Bucks winning district titles in 1999 and 2005, that is incorrect. A win over Canfield would be the program's first district championship."That would be absolutely amazing," Rupanovic said. "It felt like this was our year coming into it. It feels amazing to be doing as well as we are. I know we can go further."The Bucks (12-2-3), who beat the Royals (7-9-3) 1-0 on a goal in the 78th minute early in the regular season, were locked in a scoreless battle until Brooklyn DiEgidio popped a short shot over the head of goalie Elyse Mitchell and into the right corner of the net with exactly 2:00 left in the first half. It came off a great short pass from Isabelle Krakowski.The goal that turned the tide completely in Buckeye's favor came when Rupanovic got control off a CVCA corner kick just outside the box, dribbled almost 30 yards and dropped a perfect pass left to Avery Deringer, who beat a helpless Mitchell to the lower left corner with 10:51 to go in the game.Charlotte DiEgidio then made it 3-0 with an incredible 55-yard free kick that somehow skidded through everyone and into the left corner with 3:23 remaining."It was so important," Rupanovic said of Deringer's goal. "That second goal really lifted our heads up and put their heads down."The first 38 minutes were fairly evenly contested, with the Royals having an edge early and Buckeye taking control as the game progressed. The Bucks had a 5-2 edge in shots on goal in the first half and an 8-4 advantage for the game. Buckeye also led 3-0 in corner kicks in the first half and 5-4 for the game.Kylee Kash blasted two hard shots in the first 40 minutes and another after intermission that were stopped by Mitchell, while Buckeye keeper Carlie Gunkelman made four saves to post the clean sheet.The Royals, who started four freshmen and did not substitute until a player was shaken up with 32:15 to play in the game, appeared to wear down, with Buckeye's second goal totally taking the wind out of their sails.Very wet field conditions prevented the ball from rolling much, but Rupanovic was a standout in the midfield and Aubrey Keenan, Julie King, Kaylee Limbert and Morgan Penny were just as good on the back line.Due to a lightning delay that caused the start to be pushed back, no lineups were announced and the national anthem was not played, but virtually all the fans hung around for a game that didn't end until approximately 9:40 p.m.Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4046 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @RickNoland on X.Buckeye 3, CVCA 0CVCA 0 0 — 0BUCKEYE 1 2 — 3FirstB — Brooklyn DiEgidio (Isabelle Krakowski), 2:00.SecondB — Avery Deringer (Katie Rupanovic), 10:51.B —Charlotte DiEgidio, 3:23.Shots on goal — CVCA 4, Buckeye 8. Corner kicks — CVCA 4, Buckeye 5. Saves — Elyse Mitchell (C) 5, Carlie Gunkelman (B) 4. Records — CVCA (7-9-3), Buckeye (12-2-3).