No one can remember when — if ever — two players on the same high school soccer team have led the state in goals and assists in all divisions.
Now, with the end of the regular season in sight, two senior forwards from Firelands — Rachael Melendez and Elizabeth Kozlowski — are on the verge of doing just that.
Melendez leads the state with 41 goals going into tonight’s second-to-last regular-season match at home against Vermilion. Kozlowski is tops in Ohio with 23 assists.
There’s more. In Division II, Melendez is tied for fifth in the state with 14 assists and Kozlowski is tied for 24th statewide with 18 goals.
No surprise, they have earned soccer scholarships to Division I universities.
“Rachael and I made a pact that our senior year we were going to do something big, and I guess we have,” Kozlowski said before Tuesday’s practice. “I mean, two kids from Firelands are the top two in the state of Ohio, which is pretty impressive.”
What’s also impressive is that Kozlowski began her high school career as a freshman sweeper and as a junior was an outside midfielder, feeding the ball to other players.
“This year, to be in the top 20 in the state in goals and assists is pretty exciting for me,” said Kozlowski, who’s headed to Western Carolina University on a soccer scholarship. “I don’t even score that many goals for my premier club (Excalibur).”
Melendez said that she, Kozlowski and the rest of the small Falcons squad — there are 13 on the roster — have earned double-digit wins and a third seed in the Rocky River Division  II sectional-district that starts next week.
“We’ve worked hard together and it’s an honor for Liz and me to be tops in the state,” said Melendez, who will attend Butler University on a soccer scholarship. “Nobody really knows where Firelands is or what it’s all about, and it’s just awesome. It’s pretty much all heart that we put into every game.
“I tell the girls that we need to go into every game thinking that we’re going to win,” she said. “Even against teams like River, Avon and Bay, we have to go in thinking, ‘Hey, if we lose, make them earn everything they get, every goal, every assist, every pass. That makes us better as a team.”
With their goals and assists, Melendez and Kozlowski have combined for 155 total points, 96 by Melendez. It’s been a turnaround season for the Falcons (10-3-1, 3-3 WSC), who finished 8-9 last year, 3-4 in the conference.
“We’re gonna dearly miss them next year,” said Falcons coach Andy Marsh. “These two just work so well together. They’re always feeding each other and working with each other. Usually you only get one player like them at a time. This time, we got really lucky with these kids.”

Big one tonight

The long-awaited Avon-Bay girls showdown kicks off at 7 tonight on the Rockets turf with the West Shore Conference title on the line.
The Eagles (12-2) are unbeaten through six WSC games and will run the table with a win. The Rockets (9-5-2) trail by a game and can tie for the championship with a victory. A tie gives Avon the crown.
Avon has lost only to Chagrin Falls and Division I Avon Lake. Bay’s lone conference loss was to Rocky River, 2-1.

Rivalry renewed

Elyria and Elyria Catholic renew their crosstown rivalry on Saturday. The varsity teams will play at EC’s Knights of Columbus Field, the girls going at 1 p.m. and the boys at 3. The JV teams will play at Pioneer Field, the girls at 9 a.m. and the boys at 11. It’s a fun rivalry, even if it is lopsided in the Panthers’ favor.
Don’t forget, there’s no charge for the JV games. You’ll be admitted with a donation of canned food or the monetary contribution of your choice. Everything goes to the Salvation Army.

Demons champs

Westlake’s boys wrapped up the Southwestern Conference crown when they routed Olmsted Falls
6-0 last Wednesday night. With that victory, the Demons (12-1-1) took a 1½-game lead over Brecksville with one game to play.
And the girls clinched at least a tie for the title when they nipped North Olmsted 2-1 on Saturday. They’re also 6-0 in the SWC going into tonight’s conference finale against Amherst.
Basic to the boys’ success has been an excellent defense, anchored by goalkeeper Tim Hipskind, The Chronicle’s player of the week. The team has allowed just seven goals in 14 games and shut out eight opponents, seven with Hipskind in goal. Their only loss was to North Royalton, 1-0. They tied Lakewood, 1-1.
Westlake is the No. 1 seed in the Rocky River sectional-district, which starts next week.

Writer carded

Yellow card to yours truly for blowing a goal in the Amherst-North Olmsted game last week. Gave one of the Comets’ three scores to Elizabeth Soto, who is not only the team’s top defender, but is among the very best in the area.
The goal was actually scored by Julia Porostosky, giving her two goals and an assist in the North Olmsted game. Both players wear a No. 3 on their back. Soto’s complete number also has a 1.
Contact Bob Daniels at 329-7135 or soccer@bobdaniels.info.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Tim Hipskind, Westlake

YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Goalkeeper
LAST WEEK: Hipskind starred in net as the Demons posted three straight shutouts — 2-0 over Midpark and Shaker Heights and 6-0 over Olmsted Falls — and wrapped up the Southwestern Conference championship.
BIO: He is considered by many to be the best keeper in the SWC and one of the best in Northeast Ohio. He posted 11 shutouts last season and has seven of the team’s eight this year. He and the Demons defense have allowed just seven goals in 14 games, a 0.5 goals-per-game average. Believes in constant communication among defenders and says he is Westlake’s most vocal. Soccer is his only sport, although he enjoys playing pick-up basketball. Calculus is his favorite class.
LOOKING AHEAD: When the Demons’ season ends, so will Hipskind’s soccer career. Plans to attend Ohio State and major in business. 

Megan Repas, Avon

YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Forward
LAST WEEK: A key player with Devon Saini in the Eagles’ victories over North Ridgeville and Lutheran West. Repas posted a goal and assist against the Longhorns and scored two goals with three assists against the Rangers as Avon improved to 12-2, 6-0 in the West Shore Conference.
BIO: She has 17 goals and 10 assists for 44 total points on the season, not unlike her junior year when she scored 17 goals with 11 assists. She now has 75 goals and 34 assists for her high school career. She is also a long- and high-jumper on the track team. Repas is a former member of the student council, Key Club, Varsity club and the Spirit Committee. She enjoys the school’s teacher education program. In the offseason, plays soccer for CASA.
LOOKING AHEAD: Repas will attend Kent on a soccer scholarship. She plans to be a teacher and perhaps a coach.

Devon Saini, Avon

YEAR: Sophomore
POSITION: Midfielder
LAST WEEK: Starred with Megan Repas in Avon’s two victories. She nailed two goals and added a pair of assists in the Eagles’ non-conference win over Lutheran West and came back with a goal and assist in a West Shore Conference match with North Ridgeville.
BIO: Saini has 10 goals, second on the team, and seven assists on the season. Her 27 total points tie her for second on the squad. As a freshman, she put up similar numbers, 10 goals and nine assists. Plays club soccer for the Internationals, where she’s a teammate of Firelands’ forward Elizabeth Kozlowski. Likes her science classes, especially biology. Would like to be a physical therapist some day.
LOOKING AHEAD: Hopes to play college soccer, but has two years of high school ahead of her.

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