By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The Aurora and Rootstown boys soccer teams will both play in OHSAA regional championships on Sunday.

Both games will begin at 2 p.m. and both teams earned their berth into the regional final by way of thrilling shootout victories.

Here is a preview look at each game.

DIVISION V REGIONAL FINAL

ROOTSTOWN VS. KIDRON CENTRAL CHRISTIAN

When: Sunday, Nov. 2, 1 p.m.

Where: North Royalton High School.

Records: Rootstown 15-4-1; Kidron Central Christian 15-2-3.

Rootstown Statistical Leaders: Zach Pastor, 31 goals, 13 assists; Dylan Boland, 12 goals; Bryson Scarlett, 17 assists.

History: The two teams played at Kidron Central Christian on Sept. 27 this season, with the Comets earning a 2-0 victory.

Rootstown’s Regional Semifinal: The Rovers defeated Champion in a shootout on Wednesday. The two teams battled to a 1-1 tie after regulation, then through two additional overtime periods. In the shootout, the Rovers edged the Flashes 3-2.

Melvin Acosta scored Rootstown’s goal in regulation, with only 38 seconds remaining before halftime on an assist from Bryson Scarlett.

Scarlett sent a pass into the box to Acosta, who took one touch and then sent a shot into the side net.

In the second half, Champion evened the score by capitalizing on a defensive miscommunication. Later in the second half, within the span of 10 seconds, the Rovers hit the post twice and had a shot blocked off the line.

In the penalty-kick shootout, the Rovers received goals from Ben Smith, Caleb Fillmore and Scarlett. Meanwhile, Rootstown goalkeeper Noah Zager, who finished with nine saves, blocked Champion’s first, fourth and fifth shots.

DIVISION III REGIONAL FINAL

AURORA VS. HOLLAND SPRINGFIELD

When: Sunday, Nov. 2, 2 p.m.

Where: Milan Edison High School.

Records: Aurora 17-1-3; Holland Springfield 18-1-1.

Aurora Statistical Leaders: Jordan West, 22 goals, 28 assists; Cam Gentille, 18 goals, 11 assists; Kam Warnke, 19 goals, 10 assists; Owen Peckinpaugh, 9 goals, 5 assists.

Holland Springfield Statistical Leaders: Kyle Mortus, 58 goals, 6 assists; Aiden Sloan, 35 assists; TJ Pappas, 13 goals, 7 assists; Will Browning, 8 goals, 11 assists.

Aurora’s Regional Semifinal: The Greenmen defeated Canfield in a shootout on Wednesday.

Aurora jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Canfield battled back to force extra time, with the game-tying goal scored with just 7 minutes to go.

Both teams failed to find the Golden Goal in either of the two overtime periods.

In the penalty-kick shootout, Aurora won 5-3.

Aurora’s goals were scored by Gentille, Griffin McMaster, Barry Wagner, Warnke and Owen Peckinpaugh.

Bryce Peckinpaugh, the Greenmen goalkeeper, made six saves during regulation then turned away two of Canfield’s penalty kicks.

In regulation, Aurora scored its first goal when Wagner redirected a header from a Warnke-delivered corner kick.

Warnke scored the team’s second goal, connecting on a direct kick from about 22 yards out.