Hudson (5-0) dominated the second half, getting two goals from captain Sam Robledo to score a 2-0 win over the Bees (1-3) at Medina Memorial Stadium.
Both Robledo and Hudson coach Steve Knapp said beating Medina was a huge psychological lift.
"They're just an unbelievably good, well-coached program," Knapp said. "They've been at the top of Northeast Ohio for the last decade or more. Anytime you can play them and win, especially at their place on a surface we may not be accustomed to, is a really good week."
"It feels so good," Robledo said. "It's, one, hard to even play Medina, but, two, to play them at their place. It obviously is a huge win. It's one that we circle in preseason and hope we just win. I'm proud of the team and how we fought."
After a scoreless first half, Hudson took over in the second by switching to a more direct style, adjusting to the grass field at Medina. The Explorers were camped in Medina's end in the second half, finishing with an 8-1 edge in shots on goal after halftime.
"Hudson's a fantastic team," said Medina coach Doug Coreno. "We turned into a kickball team in the second half, and that's not our style. We kept banging the ball long and banging it long into numbers-down situations. We were chasing most of the second half. We just panicked, fell apart and fell out of our game."
After a couple of close chances, Robledo opened the scoring with some individual brilliance in the 56th minute when he seized the ball on the far sideline, juked a defender, ran along the end line and beat Medina goalie Bennett Werthmuller with a tight angle shot.
"First, I was looking for a cross," Robledo said. "I just saw a bunch of open green space, so I took it down the line. Knowing the keeper would think I was crossing, I just put it in the goal."
In the 74th minute, Robledo was fouled on the edge of the penalty box. He took the penalty kick himself and fired it into the upper left corner to make it 2-0.
Hudson finished with a 9-4 edge in shots on goal and 6-4 edge in corner kicks. Werthmuller finished with seven saves, while Hudson keeper Braeden Deutsch had four saves to earn Hudson's first shutout of the season.
Hudson boys soccer gets a measure of revenge for last year's regional semifinal, as the Explorers defeated Medina 2-0 Saturday at Medina Memorial Stadium.
Sam Robledo with a pair of second-half goals led Hudson to the win.
Medina's Cooper Korduba nearly ties it off a stolen ball in the 70th minute. His low shot is smothered Braden Deutsch, making his first save of the second half. Hudson still leads 1-0 with 10 minutes left.
Hudson makes it 1-0 in the 56th minute off a great individual effort from its captain.
Sam Robledo stole the ball along the far sideline, juked past his defender, ran down the end line and put it home from a sharp angle. Robledo scores with 24:35 left in the second half, as the Explorers' pressure pays off.
Hudson with a couple of shots early in the second half. Explorers with a long distance shot from Katz, but Werthmuller with the save. Still 0-0 in the 47th minute.
The Explorers and Bees played an even match in the first 40 minutes. Medina with a 3-1 edge in shots on goal with both teams having five shots. Hudson goalie Braeden Deutsch with three saves; Medina's Bennett Werthmuller with one. Medina with a 2-1 edge in corner kicks. Hudson has had a slight edge in possession.
Medina pounces on a turnover by Hudson in its own end. Medina's Cooper Korduba with a quick shot, but nice save by Hudson keeper Braeden Deutsch. Still at 0-0 in the 29th minute.
Hudson starting to find scoring chances. Will Hallis with nice header that goes just over the bar in the 17th minute. One minute late, Hallis pounces on a deflected ball on the right win, but his shot on goal goes right to Bennett Werthmuller in goal.
Game still tied 0-0 with 21:02 left in the first half.
Hudson gets the first corner kick of the game in the 10th minute, thanks to a nice run by Sam Robledo. Matt Caputo with a nice service, but it is punched out by Medina keeper Bennet Werthmuller punches it away. 0-0 in the 11th minute.
Hudson - Braeden Deutsch (GK), Alastair Leedhan (D), Ben Beucler (D), Will Hallis (M), Parker Maniar (M), Matt Caputo (M), Sam Robledo (F), Ian Mihalek (D), Christian Renna (D), Connor Lieser (D), Ian Kast (F). Head coach Steve Knapp.Hudson is without starting defenders Andrew Hensley and Sam Sockol due to injury.
Medina - Bennett Werthmuller (GK), Tyler Cobb (W), Michael Fischbach (F), Cooper Korduba (M), Brody Gannon (D), Evan Kotick (M), Gael Moreno (W), Jackson Harvey (D), Jack Piatek (M), Chase Wilbur (D), Roman Prusinski (M). Head coach is Doug. Coreno.
Tale of the tape between Hudson and Medina boys soccer
School
2023 record
2023 playoff result
Medina
20-1-1
Lost 3-0 to St. Ignatius in
Hudson
15-5
Lost 4-1 to Medina in Division I, Region 1 semifinal
Players to watch for Hudson
Hudson's Sam Robledo returns as the Explorers' top scorer and a Division I first team All-Ohioan. He scored 21 goals and 11 assists in 2023. Will Hallis continues a family tradition of great play for Hudson. He scored 11 goals last year from the midfield. Forward Ian Katz is another double-digit scorer for Hudson, having put home 11 goals last year.
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