Girls soccer: Khelashvili’s penalty kick sends Upper Arlington to first state title
Saturday, November 8, 2025
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
The Upper Arlington girls soccer team celebrates its first OHSAA state championship at Historic Crew Stadium Saturday. Photo: John Hulkenburg
A familiar ‘Believe’ flag draped across Taylor Whetzel’s back Nov. 8 at Historic Crew Stadium. It was a mantra that worked well for Ted Lasso and now the Upper Arlington girls soccer team.
Sophie Khelashvili scored on a penalty kick in the 52nd minute and that’s all the Golden Bears needed to win their first Division I state championship, beating Cincinnati Seton 1-0.
“We’ve always wanted to believe in ourselves,” senior defender Anya Jones said. “That’s been our thing from the beginning – just believing in ourselves and knowing that we can dream and get to this point.”
The flag stems from short motivational videos coach Jared Dombrowski sends to the team before games. Ted Lasso was one of the first ones he sent out.
So, winning the title was a fitting end that brought Dombrowski’s first year at the helm of the Bears (19-1-2) full circle.
UA, which was the state’s top-ranked team according to MaxPreps, made their second appearance in the state tournament and first since 2008. UA also won their 12th district and 11th league titles this season.
Upper Arlington senior Sophie Khelashvili scored the only goal of the game, on a penalty kick, against Cincinnati Seton in the Golden Bears’ state championship victory Saturday at Historic Crew Stadium. File photo
“I may have watched (Ted Lasso) this weekend to get motivated,” Dombroski said with a grin on his face.
Khelashvili’s goal came on a penalty kick with 28:10 remaining, coming after she was fouled in the box by Seton’s Jenna Kahny.
“I’ve been practicing PKs since I was really little, so I didn’t really get nervous before,” said Kehlashvili, a senior midfielder. “I knew that my practice would give me the result that I needed. I just trusted myself and I knew my teammates were behind me. It was just an amazing feeling.”
The Saints (13-3-6) had eight of the first nine fouls of the match and 13 of 20 overall.
“It was definitely a physical game,” Jones said. “I think both teams were just trying their hardest to get everything out of it, which meant some physicality. As a center back, you take a lot of the brunt of hits. All you’re trying to do is stop the ball from getting in the back of your net, so that means putting your body on the line sometimes.”
Upper Arlington’s Ola Brown (6) and Cincinnati Seton’s Jenna Kahny compete at Historic Crew Stadium Saturday during the Golden Bears’ 1-0 win in the Division I state championship game. Photo John Hulkenberg
The Bears fended off Seton from there but didn’t necessarily go into defensive mode. UA goalie Alina Montero made three of her four saves after Khelashvili’s goal. Seton finished with a 9-6 advantage in shots.
“We kind of bent a little bit, but we stuck to it,” Dombroski said. “The back line did a great job of keeping them at bay most of the game.
“It wasn’t until the last 8 minutes when they shifted their shape, and we went five in the back. Typically, I don’t want to go too defensive and allow them to attack. We still want to attack because the best defense is an attack and keeping it in their half.”
Seton, which was third in the MaxPreps rankings, was in the state tournament for the fourth consecutive year, winning it all in 2022. The Saints had never made state previously.
“We knew they were physical and that they were offensive-minded like we are,” Seton first-year coach Jay Kiley said. “So, we knew that it would be a hard-fought match. But as far as scouting that out – we usually just bring our game and let them adjust.”
Kara Buck had two saves in goal for the Saints.
Upper Arlington players race toward Golden Bears’ students after their first state championship game against Cincinnati Seton at Historic Crew Stadium Saturday. Photo: John Hulkenberg