The Independence Boys Soccer team had this one circled long before the season began.
The Blue Devils made sure it was worth the wait.
Finn McGovern, Jackson Scarcella and Aiden Kwiatkowski each scored as Independence shut out rival Cuyahoga Heights on Tuesday, 3-0, improving to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the Metro Division.
Patrick Boc added an assist for the Blue Devils, who stayed within striking distance of Chagrin Valley Conference Metro leaders Fairview and Beachwood.
For Independence coach Dominic Buttari, the victory meant more than another mark in the win column.
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“This was huge for the squad,” Buttari said. “It was something we had talked about in the offseason as a goal of ours. We’ve had the game circled for a while and it’s always exciting to get a win in such a good atmosphere.”
Balanced offense delivers again
The Blue Devils didn’t need one player to carry the attack.
They got goals from three different players, continuing a season-long trend in which production has been spread throughout the lineup.
“Three goals today by three different players,” Buttari said. “Two of those guys netted their first goals of the season. We work the ball around well up top, and we run relentlessly since we are so deep.”
The statistics reinforce that balance.
Rex Verlinger leads Independence with four points and two goals. McGovern, Scarcella, Boc and Evan McFeely each have three points, while Kwiatkowski and James Bridges have two apiece.
Seven different Blue Devils have scored at least once this season.
“Even though we don’t have one main guy, our scoring output is up since last year,” Buttari said.
Against Cuyahoga Heights, it was McGovern, Scarcella and Kwiatkowski taking their turns.
Boc, who entered the night tied among the team leaders in points, added his first assist of the season.
Defense takes control after halftime
Independence complemented its balanced attack with a clean sheet.
Buttari thought his defense was solid in the opening half, but the Blue Devils became even more effective after halftime when they began turning defensive stops into possession.
“The defense was solid in the first half but really came alive in the second,” Buttari said. “They started doing more than just playing good defense; they began to win balls, stay calm, and find teammates to pass to.”
That change helped Independence dictate the pace of the match.
“It allowed us to have a much easier time possessing and probably helped us really control the game flow in the second half,” Buttari said.
Luke Masek, who leads Independence with 13 saves this season, has helped anchor the Blue Devils defensively.
The combination of possession, defensive composure and three different goal scorers turned the rivalry matchup into one of Independence’s most complete performances of the young season.
Community turns out for rivalry win
The atmosphere surrounding the rivalry only added to the significance of the victory.
Buttari credited the Independence students, families and supporters who showed up for the Blue Devils.
“The community support tonight was fantastic,” he said. “As coaches and players, we really appreciate the students and families coming out and supporting the team. The energy was palpable.”
The win dropped Cuyahoga Heights to 1-5 overall and 1-2 in Metro play while moving Independence to 4-1 and 2-1.
It also kept the Blue Devils firmly involved in a developing division race.
Fairview and Beachwood both sit at 2-0-1 in Metro play, with Independence right behind them.
And one of those teams is coming up soon.
Independence travels to Fairview on Sept. 15 for another important Metro Division matchup.
For now, though, the Blue Devils can enjoy accomplishing something they talked about months ago — beating their rival with three different goal scorers, a clean sheet, and an energized home crowd behind them.
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26INDEPENDENCE BLUE DEVILS Boys Soccer
2026-2027 Independence Blue Devils Boys Soccer Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Result | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 18, 2026 Tuesday | W 3-0 | 5:30 PM | Medina Christian Academy | |
| Aug. 20, 2026 Thursday | W 2-1 | 7:00 PM | Euclid | |
| Aug. 25, 2026 Tuesday | L 1-5 | 7:00 PM | Independence | |
| Sep. 1, 2026 Tuesday | W 4-1 | 7:00 PM | Brooklyn | |
| Sep. 8, 2026 Tuesday | W 3-0 | 7:00 PM | Independence Watch | |
| Sep. 10, 2026 Thursday | W 2-0 | 5:00 PM | Independence Watch | |
| Sep. 12, 2026 Saturday | vs  Oberlin | W 1-0 | 1:00 PM | Oberlin |
| Sep. 15, 2026 Tuesday | L 0-5 | 6:30 PM | Fairview Watch | |
| Sep. 22, 2026 Tuesday | T 1-1 | 5:00 PM | Trinity | |
| Sep. 24, 2026 Thursday | L 0-1 | 7:00 PM | Independence | |
| Sep. 28, 2026 Monday | vs  Tuslaw | T 2-2 | 7:00 PM | Independence |
| Sep. 29, 2026 Tuesday | W 4-0 | 7:00 PM | Shaw | |
| Oct. 1, 2026 Thursday | L 0-6 | 7:00 PM | Stan Skoczen Stadium at Alumni Field Watch | |
| Oct. 5, 2026 Monday | @  Garfield | W 8-0 | 7:00 PM | Garrettsville Garfield |
| Oct. 7, 2026 Wednesday | W 4-1 | 5:00 PM | Independence | |
| Oct. 10, 2026 Saturday | W 4-0 | 7:00 PM | VASJ High School | |
| Oct. 15, 2026 Thursday | W 3-1 | 7:00 PM | Clearview | |
| Oct. 21, 2026 Wednesday | vs  South RangePOSTSEASON | L 0-2 | 7:00 PM | Independence Watch |
Medina Christian Knights
Euclid Panthers
Beachwood Bison
Brooklyn Hurricanes
Cuyahoga Heights Red Wolves
Horizon Science Academy
Fairview Warriors
Trinity Trojans
Crestwood Red Devils
Shaw Cardinals
Berkshire Badgers
VASJ Vikings
Clearview
