Oct. 17—TOP OF THE CROP
Girls soccer
1: (1) Mentor 11-5-1
2: (2) Mayfield 12-2-2
3: (3) Gilmour 12-2-2
4: (4) Berkshire 13-3-1
5: (5) Wickliffe 15-1
6: (6) Madison 10-5-2
7: (7) Perry 12-4-1
8: (NR) Chardon 11-6
9: (9) North 8-5-4
10: (NR) Beaumont 9-6-2
Dropped out: Kenston, Chagrin Falls
Watch list: Kenston (5-11-1), Chagrin Falls (5-11-1), West Geauga (6-9-2), Kirtland (6-6-4)
Crop comments: Typically, the final Crop of the year goes through the conclusion of the regular season only. However, Beaumont’s 1-0 Division II sectional semifinal win over Chagrin Falls on Oct. 14 and there being postseason matches on that final Saturday forces the unusual circumstance of a postseason match having to be considered. A head-to-head result can’t be ignored. … Chardon vaults to No. 8 to close for a 3-1 win over Kenston and due to the upheaval around it. The Hilltoppers also have a head-to-head win over North. … The decision to drop any side out of the top 10 for the final Crop, let alone two, is not taken lightly. It’s just simply Kenston and Chagrin Falls fell to watch list sides in the match window. … Perry is not dropping for a competitive 2-1 loss at Madison. Plus, there really is not a justfiable alternative for that No. 7 spot anyway. … The top six combined to go 8-0 in the window. So in what has been a bucking bronco of a Crop with unpredictable match results, at least there was one quiet aspect as we close this 2023 chapter.
Note: Matches considered through Oct. 14.
