Loveland's football team hosts undefeated-in-conference Winton Woods on Friday, Oct. 2, the first of four October games that will shape the Tigers' postseason path across a packed fall schedule.
The Tigers are 2-4 overall after a 49-42 win over Walnut Hills on Sept. 25, according to a Loveland Daily season preview. Winton Woods enters at 5-1 and undefeated in Eastern Cincinnati Conference (ECC) play, per the Cincinnati Enquirer's Week 7 power rankings. After that, Loveland travels to Little Miami on Oct. 9 and West Clermont on Oct. 16 before closing the regular season at home against Anderson on Oct. 23. Anderson is 5-0 in ECC play through six weeks, winning by an average of 37.4 points.
Senior running back Sid Harbin has given the offense its biggest individual performance this season. In a Sept. 11 comeback against Milford, Harbin rushed for 174 yards and a touchdown. He converted two two-point runs in the second half as Loveland erased a 21-point deficit to win 36-35, according to the Enquirer's athlete-of-the-week ballot.
Volleyball
The volleyball team sits at 9-7 overall and 7-4 in the ECC after a four-set loss to Anderson on Sept. 29, per Cincinnati-area scores. Kings leads the conference at 10-0. Loveland hosts Little Miami on Thursday, Oct. 1, then visits Lakota East, West Clermont and Walnut Hills before closing with Lebanon and Kings.
Soccer
The girls soccer team is 3-8-1 overall and 2-4 in ECC play after a 2-1 loss to Kings on Sept. 29.
Ava Wise scored Loveland's lone goal. The team still has matchups against Turpin, Mt. Notre Dame, Winton Woods, Ursuline Academy and Milford through Oct. 20, per Loveland Daily News.
The boys soccer team has a busy stretch ahead with home dates against Kings on Oct. 1, Miamisburg on Oct. 3, Fairfield on Oct. 5 and Winton Woods on Oct. 15, plus road games at Turpin, Springboro and Milford later in the month.
Cross country
Cross country may carry the Tigers' best postseason case. Senior Ian Trombley placed third at the Little Miami meet with a time of 16:31.7, earning a nomination for the Enquirer's runner-of-the-week honor the week of Sept. 14. At the Loveland Invitational on Sept. 5 at Home of the Brave Park, the boys team finished fourth of 13 squads and the girls varsity placed second of 12.
The schedule ramps up quickly: meets at Ross on Oct. 3 and Eaton on Oct. 10 lead into the ECC Championship on Saturday, Oct. 17. OHSAA district meets follow Oct. 22 and Oct. 24. Runners who advance compete at the regional meet at Troy High School on Oct. 31, with the OHSAA State Meet set for Saturday, Nov. 7, at Fortress Obetz.
