The Crestwood Red Devils girls soccer team finished their Chagrin Valley Conference season with a perfect 6-0 record to win the program’s first league championship since the 2016 season.
Special to Portage Sports

By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

After being named the new girls soccer head coach at Crestwood High School last summer, Tait Taylor’s message has not changed much.

“I am the luckiest first-year coach.”

Taylor brought his knowledge of the game into his new role, but his statement is more of a compliment to the players, and their personalities, that he inherited.

The Red Devils have flourished from the start, culminating in an undefeated Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division league-championship season.

Overall, Crestwood’s record stands at 7-6-2, but the Devils were unblemished in division play at 6-0 and winning the school’s first championship since 2016.

“Winning the league championship has been amazing for our program,” Taylor said. “All of the hard work the girls have done to get better in the past year, they definitely deserve this. From the beginning of summer when I took over, I knew I had a special group and they proved it.

“I am so incredibly proud of each and every one of them,” Taylor added. “It feels pretty great to bring a league championship back home and the first team do ti it since coach Marc Streem, who was one of my favorite coaches ever growing up.”

Like all good teams, Crestwood’s celebrated success today began yesterday. Many yesterdays ago.

The Devils spent the off-seasn training with an unmatched work ethic that was combined with skill and team chemistry that set the foundation for the entire season.

“Since the beginning of July, the girls worked hard to prepare for the season,” Taylor said. “The work ethic and commitment has been really impressive. Since day one, I have been so impressed with their drive to work to get better every time they step on the field. Our preseason goals were to win our division championship, beat or compete with (annual league power) Kirtland and push deep into the playoffs.”

Of that list, the Devils check marked the first one by winning all of their division games.

The Devils can attest to the second item, losing to Kirtland by a narrow 3-2 margin on Aug. 31.

The third item on the list is still in the future, with Crestwood scheduled to open postseason play, as the No. 13 seed in the Division II, Akron 1 District, on Wednesday against No. 11 Marlington.

The 2022 season has been led by an entire group effort, which is one of the main ingredients, in Taylor’s eyes, to what has made the team so special.

“Everyone is so close,” he said. “The majority of them have played together since they were kids. It creates bonds you just can’t manufacture. It creates a very close-knit group.”

The group, which includes a roster with every girl posting a 3.5 grade-point average or higher, is led statistically by forward Reagan Mary (15 goals, 8 assists), midfielder Erin Hallis (15 goals, 3 assists), midfielder Ava Julian (8 goals, 5 assists) and goalkeeper Lilly Stoots (69 saves, 4 shutouts).

A talented group to highlight a championship season.