‘A level of uncertainty’: Dublin Coffman girls soccer adjusts after key injuries
Monday, September 21, 2026
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
Dublin Coffman goalkeeper Grace Berman, an Ashland commit, sends a kick out of the Shamrocks’ end of the pitch at Olentangy Orange last Tuesday. Photo: John Hulkenberg
There’s a level of uncertainty at the beginning of every season. Teams need to fill the void left by those that graduated off last year’s team.
The unknown was a little more pronounced with the Dublin Coffman girls soccer team after a rash of injuries forced some players to take on different roles.
Rather than wilting under the pressure, the Shamrocks have adjusted and thrived, winning their first three games.
Coffman was undefeated through their first seven before finally dropping a game to rival Dublin Jerome 4-1 in non-league play on Sept. 17 to fall to 6-1-1.
“At the beginning of the season, there’s always a level of uncertainty after losing (last year’s) seniors,” senior goalie Grace Berman said. “On top of that, we had all these injuries at really impactful positions and that’s really caused even more uncertainty.
“I feel like we’ve been able to adapt and work really hard to fill those positions with different people. (We’ve grown) closer as a program because we had to work together to fill those (needs).”
Senior Leah Brenner, junior Reese Boxrucker and sophomores Avery Finley and Chloe Gauntt all suffered torn ACLs over the summer or in the lead up to the regular season forcing 11th-year coach Costa Kalorides to scramble to put together a back line.
Dublin Coffman’s Shiya Tu (left), the Shamrocks’ leading goal-scorer, is introduced to the crowd at Olentangy Orange prior to their match last Tuesday. Photo: John Hulkenberg
“It’s been a juggling act,” Kalorides said. “We’re not making excuses. We’re making it work. We deal with adversity and they’re doing fantastic.”
Junior Hadley Armstrong and sophomores Mia Best, Blake Leyda and Sydney Mast have settled down a defense that’s allowed seven goals this season while helping Berman and fellow goalie Ava Clay, a junior, combine for four shutouts.
“I think they’ve really stepped up and been able to help each other out and the rest of the team,” senior forward Shiya Tu said. “(They) talk and clear the ball out when it gets behind. (They’re) stepping up and being good leaders in the back and playing together.”
Mast and Armstrong both played midfield and forward in the past before moving to defense and Best is in her first year on varsity.
“I feel like, on my end, the biggest thing is communicating thoroughly on what I want them to do,” said Berman, who is committed to Ashland University. “But (it’s) also to help teach them and guide them to make them better soccer players (by) increasing their knowledge on the field.
“I feel like it’s always hard to learn to trust new people in new positions. But after seeing the way they play (and they’re) confident in the new position they’re in … it made me feel better. They’re doing amazing.”
Dublin Coffman’s Hadley Armstrong (4), who has moved to defender, battles for the ball at Olentangy Orange last Tuesday. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Coffman was ranked third in the MaxPreps Division I state rankings, last updated Sept. 17, and the Celtics were fourth before the two played.
The Shamrocks, who are leading the OCC-Central Division at 2-0, play at Hilliard Davidson in league play on Sept. 22.
Tu has seven goals to lead the team, sophomore midfielder Bella Hoecheri has four goals and four assists, junior midfielder Carlie Dannhausen has three goals and senior forward Julia Haid has two goals. Armstrong and junior midfielder Camryn Struck each have two assists.
“I think just knowing that we can trust our defense has allowed us to be more offensive minded,” Tu said. “They’ll get up to me and Julia Haid up top. I think it’s just working together as two parts of one team when we can trust each other. It can help us be more impactful on both sides of the field.”
The Shamrocks hold wins over fifth-ranked Olentangy Berlin, ninth-ranked Olentangy Liberty and have tied seventh-ranked Grove City.
Coffman won state titles in 2001 and 2003 and last appeared in the state tournament in 2019. The Rocks reached the Division I regional semifinal last year, losing to eventual state champion Upper Arlington.
“I felt like we lost some key players on the team and was worried how it would impact us,” Tu said. “But seeing how well we’re competing and how well we’ve been performing, I’m very confident that this team could potentially go far in the tournament.”
Dublin Coffman’s Sydney Mast (10) is another Shamrock player to change positions after graduation and injuries have affected the team’s lineup. Photo: John Hulkenberg