Girls lacrosse: Liberty holds off UA to win third consecutive DI title
Sunday, June 7, 2026
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
Olentangy Liberty goalie Evie Howenstine leaves the ball for a teammate after making a save in the last minute to keep the score at 9-8 Patriots. That was the final tally as Liberty beat Upper Arlington to capture the OHSAA title at Historic Crew Stadium Sunday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Evie Howenstein was thinking about her feet when she faced the final shot of the game. The Olentangy Liberty senior goalie made a save on Claire Iams’ shot with 58 seconds remaining to keep her team in the lead.
Then, the Patriots’ girls lacrosse team ran the clock out on their third consecutive Division I state championship with a 9-8 victory over league rival Upper Arlington on June 7 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus.
“I was just like, ‘Step, step, step.’ If it goes in, we’re in overtime, but just step,” said Howenstein, who had five saves. “My goalie coach (Kevin McDermott) was telling me to bait a little. So, I was baiting her to my stick side because (the right) is a more confident side for me. I just stepped into it, and it landed right in my stick. I was just so calm.”
The ensuing timeout was a little more chaotic for Howenstein.
“After we huddled, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m hot. I need a water,’” she said.
It’s the fourth consecutive season these two teams matched up in the final with UA winning in 2023 for its 11th state championship. Liberty had never been to the state tournament before this stretch.
Liberty’s Eloise Pohmer (10) scores against the Upper Arlington defense during the Patriots’ 9-8 state championship win Sunday at Historic Crew Stadium. Photo: Kevin Rouch
It sounds counterintuitive that the reigning two-time state championship team entering the matchup may have been an underdog. But the Golden Bears (21-2) beat Liberty 14-5 on April 14 on their way to winning the OCC-Central Division title.
There were two things that Liberty did well this time around that flipped the script. The Patriots (20-3) won 14 of 21 draw controls, led by Mary Tate’s 10 and the second was pace of play. The Patriots employed a more deliberate style this season than in years past.
With Liberty trailing 5-4 in the final seconds, Eloise Pohmer won a draw control, got fouled and then scored a free-position goal 2 seconds left. She was still using her draw stick to tie the game with.
“We used that draw stick for the first time ever – it had never been touched,” Pohmer said. “I knew it had to be done. I knew I wasn’t going to let them go into halftime winning.”
Pohmer added two more goals in the second half, including at the 5:04 mark of the third quarter to give Liberty a 9-6 lead. The Patriots held on from there.
The Olentangy Liberty girls’ lacrosse team poses with the OHSAA trophy after beating Upper Arlington in the title game at Historic Crew Stadium Sunday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
“I just think we weren’t really prepared for what they’re capable of when we played them the first (time) – their speed of the game,” Pohmer said. “We worked hard, we trained, we conditioned so we would be ready to keep up with their speed.”
Evie Ruma scored four goals, Iams and Ellie King had two assists apiece and Ella Smith and Rylan Clark each had three ground balls for the Bears, who entered with 21 consecutive victories after a 16-2 loss to Milton (GA) in the season-opener.
“I’m honestly a little shocked right now … and mad,” UA coach Megan Sengelmann Strapp said. “I’m probably all of the emotions, but more sad than anything because we do love each other. That’s what got us here.”
Liberty finished the season with wins in their last 14 games. Aubrey Bartosik and Morgan Benton had two goals apiece and Abbie Craig had two assists for the Patriots.
“Slowing the game down (was) probably to our favor,” Liberty coach Tim Bosco said. “(We’re) a different team than last year. So, I think we needed to adjust. We’re not a 17-, 18-goal team, which we’ve had the luxury of being the last couple of years. We have an all-state type goalie and a really good defense. I think we settled into who we are and it worked (today).”