Girls soccer: Academy, Upper Arlington, Pickerington North believe
Friday, August 21, 2026
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
The Upper Arlington girls soccer team took a page out of Ted Lasso’s book and won last year’s state title with the help of a single word: “Believe”. File photo
To truly believe in something is a difficult state of mind to reach. To make a long run in the girls soccer tournament, a team must find that trust and confidence that good things will happen.
Columbus Academy’s faith in each other, for example, built throughout the season. The Vikings ran off a 14-match undefeated streak all the way to the Division IV state final.
Academy, which played for a state championship for the first time in program history, ultimately fell 4-0 to Cincinnati Country Day to finish 18-4-2.
But along the way, the Vikings defeated Central Buckeye Conference rival and top-seeded Worthington Christian 1-0 in the district final on their way to their third appearance in the state tournament. The other two came in 2019 and 2020.
“We definitely had a special run,” third-year Vikings coach Grant Stenger said. “We have a really strong team culture, and I think during the playoffs that kind. (We had) some really talented players and a pretty clear style of play.
“I think this season (there’s been) some carry over. I mainly see it in the belief that the girls have that they can win games.”
Upper Arlington, Pickerington North, Watterson and Fairbanks also represented the central Ohio-area in the state tournament.
Finding an extra something like belief is key to making a deep run in the playoffs, and UA truly exemplified that.
The Golden Bears used Ted Lasso’s “Believe” sign as a mantra. They held it on the field after capturing the program’s first state title when they defeated Cincinnati Seton 1-0 to finish 19-1-2.
Pickerington North sophomore Emily Morris returns this season as the Panthers’ leading scorer from last year’s team. Photo: Ralph Schudel
“It kind of came out of nowhere,” said UA coach Jared Dombrowski, who enters his second season. “I think it came from me showing a Ted Lasso clip in our pregame (earlier in the season) about everybody coming together. I think they bonded over that and it just kind of gradually and organically grew. Next you know, we have the flag. I wouldn’t say (we had a mantra) picked out.
“I’m kind of curious to see what is going to be the inspiration this year. Inspiration comes from a lot of different places and comes out of nowhere.”
The Bears open their season against Dombrowski’s former team, New Albany, on the road on Aug. 25.
Sophomore forward Taylor Wetzel (17 goals, 7 assists) is UA’s top returning scorer and is joined by senior goalie Makayla Poling and junior defender Paige McCandless (2 goals, 3 assists), who will anchor the defense.
The Bears know they’re going to get every opponent’s best shot.
“I think it’s more pressure, but we take it as a privilege,” said senior defender Abbie Kissinger (1 goal, 7 assists), who also returns from last year. “I think it’s so much fun. It’s an honor to have this pressure on us.
“We live by the (mottos), ‘All-in’ and ‘LEO’, which means love each other. We live by those every day. And working hard in practice really helps us handle the pressure.”
Belief was at the core when Pickerington North made a surprising run to the Division I state tournament last season before falling to Seton 4-0 in a semifinal to finish 13-4-4.
The Panthers came together at the end of the regular season and into the postseason where they ran off seven consecutive victories.
“The majority of kids that were there when I got here were sophomores,” fourth-year coach Jeff Sever said. “(Last year’s seniors were) a special group … and they did a really good job in (those) three years establishing a positive culture where all the girls got along. They had a lot of fun hanging out together, so they wanted to play together. So, anytime you get that and then the whole town (supporting you) on top of it – there’s always something special.”
Pickerington North head coach Jeff Sever talks to last year’s squad on their way to an appearance in the OHSAA state tournament. Photo: Ralph Schudel
North graduated seven players off last year’s roster, including Olivia McCuen (25 goals, 17 assists), who was state Player of the Year in Division I and now plays at Bowling Green.
Senior goalie Reagan Green (41 saves last year), senior defender Sophya Pruitt, junior midfielder Grace Logan anchor a strong defensive unit. Sophomore midfielder Emily Morris (10 goals, 1 assists) is the team’s top returning scorer.
The Panthers already off to a 3-0 start after wins over Pickerington Central (2-0 on Aug. 14), Hilliard Davidson (2-1 on Aug. 18) and Canal Winchester (4-1 on Aug. 20).
Senior forward Neveah Champion has a goal and two assists and Morris has two goals in the first two games for North, which travels to Dublin Coffman on Aug. 25.
“They know what they lost last year and they know they’re going to have to step up together,” Sever said. “I think (they’ve) taken it upon themselves to get together and lay the foundation. It really started happening really early – around January – when they did lifting sessions and one-on-one skill sessions.”
Academy opened the new season with a 10-0 win over Franklin Heights on Aug. 19 and a 2-2 draw against Worthington Kilbourne on Aug. 20.
Twin sisters Avery and Addison Medina and Lianna Lopez (1 goal, 7 assists), all juniors, return along with sophomore forwards Sydney Smoot (23 goals, 5 assists) and Lexi Forchione (15 goals, 10 assists).
There are no seniors on the roster, so leadership has been an adjustment for the Vikings, who host Columbus School for Girls on Aug. 26.
“I’m a shy, reserved person,” said Avery Medina, who had one goal and five assists while her sister Addison had 12 goals and four assists last season. “This season, I want to work on myself (become a better) advocate for the team. (I want to) help us all work cohesively together and keep spirits high through the ups and downs. (My teammates) are some of my best friends.
“With another crowd of people, I could definitely fall into the background. But with them, at this point, I’ve reached such a level of comfort that I’m O.K. speaking up and putting out there what I have to say.”
Smoot has four goals, Forchione has two goals and three assists and junior forward/midfielder Maryam Shahinfar has two goals through two games for Academy.
“There’s a place to reminisce on all the success that we had last season,” Avery Medina said. “But there’s also a point when you have to start looking forward and set your sights on new goals, like what we have for ourselves this year.”
Junior Avery Medina looks wants to assume a more vocal role for the Columbus Academy Vikings this season as they look to make another tournament run. Photo: John Hulkenberg