Dublin Jerome's boys soccer team is one win from a second consecutive state championship game.
The Celtics (18-2-1) play Columbus St. Charles (17-3-1) in an OHSAA Division I state semifinal at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Olentangy, according to state tournament pairings released by the OHSAA. The winner advances to the Division I state final at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus.
Jerome earned the trip by beating Cincinnati Sycamore 3-2 in the Division I, Region 4 final Sunday, Nov. 8, as we reported that day. It is the program's second straight regional title.
The regional final was a back-and-forth game. Jerome scored first in the opening half before Sycamore equalized to make it 1-1, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. The same pattern repeated in the second half: Jerome went up 2-1 with 11:14 left, Sycamore tied it less than four minutes later, and Jerome answered on a corner kick with 5:35 remaining for the 3-2 lead. Sycamore never found the net again.
What's ahead
St. Charles is in its fourth consecutive state tournament, the Columbus Dispatch reported. The Cardinals won their own regional final Sunday, beating Lewis Center Olentangy Orange 3-2. Because both semifinalists come from central Ohio, the area is guaranteed a spot in the Division I final.
The other Division I semifinal pits Strongsville (17-1-2) against Kettering Fairmont (13-5-3) at Westerville Central, also at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Defending a title
Jerome won its first Division I championship last season, defeating six-time defending champion St. Ignatius in a 4–3 penalty shootout after a 2–2 tie, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Cleveland.com ranked the Celtics No. 2 in its statewide preseason poll entering this season, behind only St. Ignatius.
The soccer regional title is not the only hardware Jerome brought home this fall. Dublin Jerome High School celebrated both its boys cross country and boys soccer teams as OHSAA regional champions, according to a post on the school's X account.
Wednesday's semifinal at Olentangy kicks off at 7 p.m., with the state final set for Nov. 15 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
