Field Hockey: Cornelius leads New Albany to first regional title
Saturday, October 28, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
New Albany’s Olivia Boyles (2) and Sophia Mariotti (5) celebrate a goal by Paige Cornelius (1) during the Eagles’ 3-1 win over Upper Arlington on Oct. 28. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Any nerves that existed were quickly dispatched when Paige Cornelius scored early in the first quarter. Cornelius scored all three goals to lead the New Albany field hockey team to its first regional championship with a 3-1 win over Upper Arlington on Oct. 28 at Olentangy Liberty.
Nerves aren’t the problem for Cornelius, though.
“I think everyone was so excited to get here,” said Cornelius, who restarted play quickly and fired in the ball from about 10 yards out to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead with 11 minutes, 5 seconds remaining in the first quarter. “Of course, we had nerves. But that means we care. We got here and we settled immediately. Everyone knew what we had to do and we got it done.”
The Eagles, the top seed in the regional tournament, also defeated the fourth-seeded Golden Bears 2-0 on Sept. 13.
New Albany (19-2), which first fielded a team in 2012, will make its first appearance in the state tournament where it will play Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame in a semifinal on Nov. 2.
“We finally broke through,” New Albany coach Marissa Weldon said. “It’s surreal. It means so much to this team, it means so much to this program and it means so much to this community. I’m just so happy to get over that hurdle today.”
Upper Arlington’s Tori Larry goes after the ball during the Golden Bears’ 3-1 loss to New Albany on Oct. 28. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Thomas Worthington, which beat Watterson 2-1 in the other regional final, will play Shaker Heights in the other semifinal. The Cardinals, who won their seventh state title last season, are making their 18th appearance.
New Albany, which were regional runner-up in each of the last four seasons, finally got over the hump.
“I think it helps that we have a lot of players who have been here before,” Weldon said. “So, they’ve come in with experience in these games and that definitely helped us today.”
New Albany scored its other two goals off Lucy Pentzer penalty corners. Pentzer played it to Olivia Broyles at the top. Broyles fed to Cornelius, who fired in another 10-yard shot for a 2-0 lead with 7:11 remaining in the first half.
“Her inserts were fast and they were flat … they were everything we practiced,” Cornelius said. “We were able to execute based on them.”
Pentzer fed directly to Cornelius on the other corner, which was scored with 4:39 left in the third period.
“I think Paige read it every time,” Pentzer said. “We also had girls that were on the circle ready for a rebound or ready to keep it in (the zone).”
New Albany’s Olivia Boyles (left) and Upper Arlington’s Sammie Callaghan compete during the Eagles’ 3-1 win Oct. 28. Photo: John Hulkenberg
The Bears (17-3) finally got on the board after Grace Basil’s shot was rebounded by Lauren Wagner on the opposite side and she tapped it in with 3:07 left in the game.
The Eagles were 2-for-4 on penalty corners and UA went 0-for-4.
Marisa Blauser and Elise Schieber combined for four saves for the Bears and Caroline Spangenberg had three stops in goal for the Eagles.
“(New Albany has) some really strong players – a couple of girls that are at the state level of recognition,” UA coach Sara Greaves said. “But ultimately, we just didn’t convert on all of our chances. We still played high-intensity. I’m proud that we came out and got a couple of corners in that last quarter and a goal as well.”
The Bears tied their program record for wins, which was set last season when it also fell in a regional final. UA was trying to make state for the first time since 1990 and second time overall.
“Of course, the girls are disappointed,” Greaves said. “I’m just so proud of these girls. I think so many people have underestimated us throughout the year. For us to go out and be the undisputed Central Ohio Field Hockey League-West Division champions, to have 17 different goal scorers, to have 12 different girls score two or more goals (this season) – all of those things I’m just so proud of.
“This one game didn’t go our way, but that doesn’t take away from everything we’ve done throughout the season.”