Girls Soccer: Olentangy Berlin’s Fina Davy finds solace on the field
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Olentangy Berlin’s Fina Davy competes against visiting Grove City on Sept. 12. Photo: John Hulkenberg
When Fina Davy steps on the field for the Olentangy Berlin girls soccer team, her whole world becomes about playing the game. For 80 minutes, the senior forward is just focused on helping the Bears win.
And Davy is quite good at it. She has lettered on varsity every season since her freshman year, helping the sixth-year program reach new heights every step of the way.
Davy has seven goals and 12 assists this season for Berlin, which is 5-2 overall before opening OCC-Cardinal Division play at Olentangy on Sept. 14. The Bears are ranked sixth in the district coaches’ poll released Sept. 11.
“I can take a fresh breath,” Davy said. “If something is going on in my life, soccer is that outlet. Soccer is just that chance for me to get rid of everything, whether it’s school or drama – mostly school – I can just totally forget it. It’s just all about soccer in that moment. It’s something that I can channel all of my energy into and it’s such an amazing feeling. When you step on the field knowing you did everything you can – I just love that sort of feeling.”
Davy had 26 goals and seven assists last season on a team that featured 2023 graduates Cameryn Susey (forward; 29 goals, 15 assists), Roisin Kennedy (midfielder; 6 goals, 6 assists) and Reese Hinkle (forward; 7 goals, 4 assists) and won the program’s first district championship before finishing 18-2-1.
Susey now plays at Eastern Michigan, Kennedy is at Ohio Dominican and Hinkle plays at the College of Charleston.
“Last year, I did score a lot of goals, but this year my role has sort of changed,” Davy said. “I’m scoring goals, but I’m definitely working to distribute the ball. Our combination play is what makes us strong. With this team, I’m trying to help my teammates put the ball in the back of the net.”
Olentangy Berlin’s Fina Davy competes against visiting Grove City on Sept. 12. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Her distribution has worked out quite well so far. Susey has broken the single-game assist record twice this season, breaking Susey and fellow 2022 graduate Claire Walker’s record of three when Davy dished out four in a 9-0 win over Groveport on Aug. 29. She broke it again with five in Berlin’s 6-0 win over Grove City on Sept. 12.
“(Davy) is one of the most competitive and hard-working people I know,” senior defender Paige Aloi said. “She has this drive to get better and playing with her has made me better as a player. She wants to be the best and she’s always putting in extra work in practice to make herself better.”
Susey left with program records in each offensive category – single game (5), single season (29) and career goals (49); single season (15) and career assists (34) and most hat tricks in a season and career (5).
Davy, a Louisville commit, is well on her way to breaking some of Susey’s program marks. She’s already tied Susey’s mark of five career hat tricks and has 42 career goals and 25 assists.
“One thing I admire about her is her drive to always do more whether it’s for herself or for her teammates,” coach Tara Zimmer said. “In our program, she’s definitely proven that she’s willing to do everything it takes to be successful – not only in soccer but in the classroom as well. She’s a scholar athlete. She’s a great leader and a three-year leadership council member in our program. She’s been a big part of building our program’s culture.”
Berlin has nine different goal scorers this season, led by junior midfielder Josie Budic (6 goals, 2 assists), sophomore forward Gracie Dusenberry (3 goals, 3 assists), senior midfielder Addison Lambert (4 goals) and junior forward Addison Davis (2 goals, 3 assists).
“We’ve talked a lot about what our strengths are as a team and they’re not the same as last year,” Aloi said. “The things that worked last year are not necessarily going to work this year. Finding a way to play is what’s going to make us better.”
Berlin has outscored opponents 27-6 this season. Junior goalie Claire Walden, who holds the program record with 10 shutouts last season, has 31 saves and four shutouts this season.
“This year we have a talented group of (players) – it’s just a matter of figuring out what our strengths are this year,” Davy said. “Last year, we scored a lot of goals (101) and we gave up very few (16). That might look a little different this year, but it’s just that we’re growing. We’re just learning how to grow with each other and I think that’s something that’s going to come with time.”
Olentangy Berlin’s Fina Davy competes against visiting Grove City on Sept. 12. Photo: John Hulkenberg
It wasn’t always easy for Davy. Initially, she didn’t make the varsity team as a freshman, but was promoted after just two practices.
“I was frustrated with myself mostly – not that I was expecting to make varsity, that’s not a typical expectation as a freshman,” Davy said. “I took that as, ‘I need to get better now.’ When I did get called up to varsity, I could not even explain how nervous I was.”
Berlin went from 6-7-5 in 2020 to 10-7-2 in 2021, losing in the second round of the tournament both times.
“The chance to play with the upperclassmen was relieving and just an awesome experience,” Davy said. “Obviously, I was nervous, but I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to play up with them because it really did help me a lot.”
Davy’s love of the game comes from her family. Her mother, Susie, and father, Trevor, both played at Xavier. Her sister, Piper, is a sophomore midfielder with the Bears.
“We’re just a soccer family – we all love soccer,” Fina said. “We love watching soccer (and) we love playing soccer. My parents love coming out to kick with me. Everything ever has always been soccer and I just love it.
“I played volleyball, ran track and gymnastics and lots of other sports, but soccer was always my go-to. I love it. I love the feeling I get when I step on the field and push myself to the next level. It’s just a different kind of feeling for me.”
Both Susie and Trevor are doctors, which is something that Fina plans to pursue in the future.
“I’m really a science person – I want to go into the medical field,” Fina said. “Science has always been my thing. Both my parents are doctors, so originally it stemmed from that. Helping people is the reason anyone wants to become a doctor, right? But beyond that, I love pushing myself and I really love school and I love pushing myself in all aspects of life. That comes out in soccer and in my game, but it comes out in school too.”