The Rootstown High School girls soccer team has gone undefeated the last two seasons in Portage Trail Conference play, winning 15 consecutive games.
Special to Portage Sports

By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Winners of the Portage Trail Conference championship in 2021, the Rootstown High School girls soccer team entered the 2022 season with one goal on their mind.

Repeat.

As many challenges that a championship season can present, winning a second consecutive title is that much harder.

Rootstown fulfilled its crown chase on Tuesday with a convincing 8-0 shutout victory over visiting Lake Center Christian.

With the win, the Rovers completed PTC play undefeated at 6-0-0 and improved their overall record to 8-2-0.

“The girls had their focus on a repeat championship all season,” second-year head coach Jason Opritza said. “They know it is the first step in extending their season. None of the girls could remember back-to-back outright championships for our program and they are excited to have the opportunity to finish these last two seasons with a perfect 15-0 record in the conference.”

Scoring goals in the championship-clinching triumph were Carlee Clifford (2), Natalie Opritza, Rylee Durbak, Kelsie Hamrick, Taylor Monegan, Porter Smith and Grace Welch.

Assists were registered by Smith, Welch and Opritza.

The Southeast Pirates finished as runners-up in the league with a 5-2-0 record, while the rest of the league records included Lake Center Christian at 3-3, Warren John F. Kennedy at 2-4 and St. Thomas Aquinas at 0-7.