Regional Final Preview: Hillsboro one win away from State Final Four

For the second consecutive season, the Hillsboro Lady Indians are just one win away from qualifying for the Division II State Final Four.

One team is standing in their way from making school history, and that is the Granville Blue Aces (12-5-4), who defeated No. 1 seeded St. Francis DeSales (Columbus) in the regional semifinals by a 3-2 score.

Granville was the state runner-up last season, but they did lose some seniors who played big roles on that team in '13.

Hillsboro (15-6-0) has reached this game by defeating John Glenn High School by a 2-1 score, and this postseason, they've allowed just two goals, outscoring their postseason opponents, 20-2 in five games. On the other hand, Granville has outscored their opponents, 21-4 in four games.

This postseason for the Blue Aces, they've defeated Columbus International (10-0), Big Walnut-Sunbury (5-2), Bishop Hartley-Columbus (3-0) and St. Francis DeSales (3-2).

In their district final match, the Newark Advocate reported that Taylor Beitzel and Rose Sawyers (two) scored the three goals against Bishop Hartley. Sawyers is a freshman. 

In the regional semifinal match of Granville, the Newark Advocate said Beitzel scored two goals and Sawyers added another goal.

Another player HHS must keep an eye on is junior All-Ohio player Nikki Cox.

Hillsboro also has a 10-goal shutout this postseason, defeating Westfall in the sectional round, followed by shutting out the Circleville Tigers by a 3-2 score.

Those wins were followed by victories by Jackson by a 4-1 score, then a district championship win against Chillicothe at 1-0 in a game at Jackson High School. Then there is the aforementioned 2-1 victory over John Glenn.

Leading HHS in goals this postseason is senior Trista Rhodes with nine goals, including two hat tricks. Keeper Carly Meyer (a junior) has been a part of three shutouts this postseason.

HHS and Granville will play at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Bellbrook High School.