Postseason path for area teams laid out

By Chris Miles

Sports Editor

The path to a district championship has been mapped out for soccer and volleyball teams in the Central District.

Coaches from all across the central Ohio, including those from Madison County now know at least who may be on their way to winning a district crown.

Girls soccer

The highest-seeded girls soccer team from the county is Dan Brady’s Jonathan Alder squad which is seeded No. 7 in Division II.

The Lady Pioneers (8-4-1) will open the postseason at home against No. 14 Beechcroft on Wednesday, Oct. 17.

The winner will advance to likely play at No. 2 seed DeSales, Oct. 20.

“I thought the seventh seed was a little low, but I’m not upset,” Pioneers coach Dan Brady said. “I really feel the D-II tournament is wide open and I’m pretty happy with the draw.”

DeSales, the reigning D-II state champion, topped Alder 6-2 earlier this season.

London (6-7) was selected the D-II tournament’s No. 9 seed and will play at No. 6 Big Walnut Oct. 17. A win would mean a date with either No. 4 Bishop Hartley or No. 13 Licking Valley.

In Division III, No. 9 West Jefferson (6-8) will square off with No. 7 Tree of Life at Tree of Life Monday at 5 p.m.

The winner will advance to the second round to meet either No. 2 Grandview or No. 16 Heath.

Madison-Plains (2-9), the 14th seed, will open the tournament at No. 3 Columbus Academy Monday at 7 p.m.

Boys soccer

The Alder boys are seeded 12th (out of the 23) and will play at No. 10 Licking Heights Tuesday, Oct. 16. If they can pull off the victory, they will advance to play at No. 8 Beechcroft Oct. 18.

London (1-9-3), the 21st-seeded team, will face an equal when it runs into No. 23 Marion-Franklin. The victor gets the unenviable task of playing at No. 1-seed Bexley Oct. 18.

In the D-III boys tournament, West Jefferson was tabbed the No. 8 seed and will play at No. 15 Liberty Union Wednesday, Oct. 17.

The Roughriders (9-2-1) could possibly see fellow Mid-State League foe and No. 3-seed Grandview in a district semifinal.

The Madison-Plains boys received the 18th seed and will host No. 22 East Knox Oct. 17. If the Golden Eagles (4-8-2) get a win in the opener, they will earn a date with No. 2 Columbus Academy, Oct. 20.

Volleyball

Expectations are high for a couple area volleyball squads.

Shekinah Christian, the Central District’s No. 2 seeded squad in Division IV, will play No. 21 Columbus International at home Oct. 18. A win will advance it to a district semifinal Oct. 24, which will be played at Hilliard Darby.

The Golden Eagles of Madison-Plains earned the No. 3 seed in D-III and have a first-round bye.

They will play either No. 14 North Union or No. 16 Grandview at home Oct. 20.

West Jefferson is the 12th seed and will entertain No. 13 East Knox in first round action Oct. 17.

In Division II, Jonathan Alder is the 16th seed and will play at No. 14 Granville Oct. 17, while 19th-seeded London will travel to No. 8 Licking Heights on Oct. 16.