HS: Ohio event might prompt new league

by Sheldon Shealer

September 3, 2017

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio – On a grass pitch next to an industrial park outside of Cleveland, seeds were planted Sunday for a new approach to high school soccer.

A regional league.

Taking a page from the Development Academy and ECNL, coaches at the Rock and Roll Invitational discussed Sunday the benefits for elite teams gathering for weekend competition while doing away with some of its traditional, and growing more irrelevant, non-league games.

Over the next few weeks, this concept might take form, and if so, TopDrawerSoccer will report any advances.

The idea came to the front this weekend as Strongsville (Ohio) played host to the four-team Rock and Roll Invitational. Upper St. Clair (Pa.) and perennial Baltimore private school power McDonogh School (Md.) visited Ohio to face Strongsville and Medina (Ohio). The Ohio teams came out of top as Medina and Strongsville both went 1-0-1 while McDonogh and Upper St. Clair went 0-1-1.

All-Tournament Team

Haley Anspach, Medina (Ohio), So., MF

MB Blakemore, Medina (Ohio), So., MF

Vanessa Dinardo, Strongsville, Sr., F, Cincinnati

Julia Dorsey, McDonogh School (Md.), Jr., F, North Carolina

Veronica Gibbons, Upper St. Clair, Jr., F

Janiece Joyne, Medina (Ohio), Sr., D/F, Michigan

Landy Mertz, Upper St. Clair, Jr., MF

Sabrina Ortenzi, Strongsville (Ohio), Sr., D, Kent State

Mia Snyder, Upper St. Clair, Jr., D

Lily Stavisky, McDonogh School (Md.), Sr., D, Hofstra

Abby Van Metre, McDonogh School (Md.), Jr., GK