Girls lacrosse: Heald, DeSales set records in 3rd straight championship
Sunday, June 7, 2026
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
Campbell Heald scores one of her seven goals against Bay Village Bay at Historic Crew Stadium Sunday in the DeSales Stallions’ 21-9 state title win, their third in a row. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Campbell Heald achieved the distinction of doing something special and not special at the same time.
The senior attacker scored seven goals to lead the DeSales girls lacrosse team to its third consecutive state championship with a 21-9 over Bay Village Bay on June 7 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus.
Heald also had two assists for the Stallions (22-1), who won their fifth title overall.
What makes it not that special is that she does this all the time. In her three performances in the final, Heald has scored 20 goals.
Her seven goals tied the state record she set last year. And that’s pretty special.
It was special for so many other reasons for Heald.
“It’s special because each year, it’s a new group of girls,” Heald said. “I get so excited for the freshmen who get to experience everything for the first time. It really doesn’t get old no matter how many times you’ve experienced it.”
DeSales’ Caroline Cross (6) attacks the Bay Village Bay defense during the Stallions’ state championship win at Historic Crew Stadium Sunday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
As much as Heald rose to the occasion, there were more important things.
“I just wanted to win,” Heald said. “I wanted a running clock because I thought that’d be really cool – like a statement. I knew what the team record was for a state championship and we really wanted to beat that.”
The Stallions blew that one away too, besting the previous mark of 16 set by Cincinnati Mariemont in 2021.
The Rockets (19-5), who also lost to DeSales in the 2024 state final, tried to take away Heald early in the game. That left other options open. Anna Bogan scored four goals, including two of the Stallions’ first three on their way to a 7-1 cushion late in the first period.
“We’ve said it all year – if they go and face guard Cami, then there’s about six other people that can do just as well on offense,” said Bogan, a senior midfielder. “If they face guard me, there’s still six others and the same with anyone else. So, being able to have such talented people on attack – and draw so much attention to one person – it really does allow everyone else to play calm.”
It’s a three-peat for the DeSales Stallions as they are state champions for the third straight season. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Caroline Cross had two goals and two assists and Mary Claire Willson scored three goals as nine different players found the back of the net for DeSales. Bogan and Cross had six draw controls apiece and Mackenzie Kitchen had four saves as well.
“The energy and the drive is always there,” Stallions coach Joe Finotti said. “It’s not an easy thing to come back every year with expectations and a bullseye on your back. It’s a lot of hard work that goes into it. But this team – the seniors especially – they make it look easy.”
Jill Tennant, Layla Meaux and Hayley Clark each had two goals for Bay. Gracie Fitchpatrick and Avery Shriner had a goal and two assists apiece. Meaux had seven draw controls and Sophia Crimaldi had seven saves for the Rockets, who have made the state tournament each of the last four years.
“We knew they were going to have a top offense,” Bay coach Victoria Budzyn said. “We definitely started slow in the first quarter and it kind of got into our heads. They are an amazing (and) talented team. This was a goal to get here – to compete – and the girls gave it their all. I’m very proud of them.”