Up and down Route 44, across Route 6 and through all parts encompassing, word travels fast in Chardon. No one knows that better at the moment than the Hilltoppers’ boys soccer side. On some of the best form in program history, the peripheral buzz has intensified, as well it should. Much like its defensive-third performance Oct. 3 at Madison, the hope in the heart of Geauga County is long may it continue. Anthony Catania delivered a brace as Chardon kept the good times and good form rolling with a 3-0 win over the Blue Streaks. The Hilltoppers are 12-1-1 and on a 12-match unbeaten run. Chardon junior striker Anthony Catania discusses his side's 3-0 win at Madison to get to 12-1-1 & push their unbeaten streak to 12 matches(match story will be shared shortly; sorry about the lights going out – obviously out of my control ) pic.twitter.com/0wmiKd7GOr — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 4, 2024 That’s pretty good all on its own merit, but even better when you consider this: Chardon went 6-6-5 last fall. The program is not that far removed from a 3-41-6 stretch from 2017-19. And, on top of that, the Hilltoppers hadn’t previously reached double-digit wins since 2008 and 12 wins since 2006. No wonder word has spread. “I know some of the the boys were talking about even some friends at school, getting more fans coming to matches,” Chardon coach Mike Smith said. “We’re starting to get a little bit more reach out in that capacity. Friends and family members, community members are starting to hear of our success. That’s really good to see that growth and that progression.” In this 80, Smith would have preferred to see a more complete performance in the attack, particularly in the second 40. But timely finishing and sturdy work in the back more than compensated for that. Chardon’s back four did well to limit the quality of a potent side in Madison (8-6-1), conceding just five shots on target, in truth much of which wasn’t of the overly threatening variety. The Hilltoppers have six clean sheets and 13 goals allowed in 14 matches. “We were communicating well, and we were shifting as a unit,” Chardon senior center back Luke Vucetic said. “We’re helping our guys in front of us mark up, see which guy was wide open to cover them and intercept the ball. “I feel like we’ve been shifting better (vs. 2023) and communicating better as a unit. And really, we’ve just been working way harder than we have been.” Catania netted the opener in the 13th minute, able to corral a first touch in space and slide a right-footed strike in for a 1-0 lead. Since I couldn't post it in real time, as promised here's Anthony Catania's strike for Chardon in the 13th minute to make it 1-0 pic.twitter.com/Ekh82lWHnR — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 4, 2024 Alex Monkiewicz pushed the advantage to 2-0 in the 35th, slotting an angled right-footed tapper following a slick weaving run through the right side of the box, his seventh goal of 2024. … & here's Alex Monkiewicz's strike in the 35th for Chardon to make it 2-0 pic.twitter.com/mkO9lkkti0 — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 4, 2024 Catania, who had earlier been denied a brace thanks to a poised goal-line clearance by the Blue Streaks’ Josh Pekar in the 70th, found it instead in the 78th for the final margin. It was his 12th goal of the fall. Madison goalkeeper Owen Hull had a pair of top-drawer saves to keep it 2-0 past the hour mark. Hull denied Evan Medved on an outswinger low-90 in the 56th, then did well on a point-blank near-post look by Will Monkiewicz off a corner in the 58th. On tip-top form, Smith knows better than anyone it’s about compartmentalizing to sustain it. Should it continue, word will assuredly keep spreading. “That’s kind of our mindset right now is take it one game at a time,” Smith said. “Don’t look too far ahead, and just focus on the next game. Our next game is Edgewood (on Oct. 5), and that’s our next focus. But overall, it’s been a great season.”