Three area teams win regional lacrosse titles
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Upper Arlington’s Audrey Schoemer (#11) battles with Dublin Coffman’s Bailey Morris (#4) after a face-off in the Golden Bears’ regional final game with the Shamrocks May 24 at Marv Moorehead Memorial Stadium. Photo: Kevin Rouch
The respect between the top-seeded Upper Arlington girls lacrosse team and second-seeded Dublin Coffman ran deep throughout their matchup with the Division I, Region 3 championship on the line May 24.
The host Golden Bears struggled to contain the faceoff abilities of Shamrocks senior midfielder and Ohio State recruit Kate Tyack, which helped turn the matchup into one that Coffman coach Adam Beasley believes would rival the quality of the state championship game which will take place June 3.
Success controlling the ball, combined with a strong performance from a junior goalie in Abby Black who started fewer than half of UA’s games helped guide the Bears to a 9-8 victory.
The win improved UA’s record to 19-3 and sends it into a state semifinal at 6 p.m. May 30 at Wittenberg against Cincinnati Sycamore.
“Staying disciplined really helped us, as did adjusting to Coffman because Coffman is a really good team and they dominated the draw,” said UA senior Kampbell Stone, who also is an Ohio State-signee. “We had to adjust and figure out how to win that draw, and if we didn’t win that draw, the defense really stepped up.”
UA built a 4-1 lead with 13 minutes, 8 seconds left in the first half on a goal by Stone, who went on to finish with four goals. Goals by Tyack and Bailey Morris over the next three minutes cut UA’s lead to 4-3, but Stone again scored and Liz Schumacher gave the Bears a 6-4 lead.
UA remained at least one goal ahead throughout the game’s remainder, with Coffman cutting it to 8-7 on a goal by Tyack with 9:21 left.
Stone added a clinching goal with 26 seconds to go.
Upper Arlington’s Lilly Stelzer (#7) attacks the Dublin Coffman goal during the Golden Bears’ regional final game with the Shamrocks May 24. Photo: Kevin Rouch
“One (important aspect of our play) was definitely our composure on attack,” said Lilly Stelzer, who had two goals for the Bears. “We’ve been looking into statistical possessions and shooting placements, so I think being calm and composed is a big aspect of our attack. When you have that lead, you want to stay smart and disciplined to give our middies a break. We like to stay calm and possess and just work on the small things.
“It’s really exciting (to win the regional), especially since there’s not been a class that has not won a state championship, so all of us want that feeling and want that goal. We’re really excited and motivated to move on to the next round.”
Coffman won the 2021 state championship but lost to UA 17-7 in a regional final last year and 15-6 on April 11.
The Shamrocks, who are losing 10 players to graduation, finished 18-3.
“It’s disappointing, because it felt like a state championship atmosphere,” Beasley said. “It’s no disrespect to the rest of the regions, but I’d be very surprised if they’re not playing (for the state title). We’ve been playing better and better each week and our girls peaked at the end of the year, which is all you can ask, that they’re playing their best lacrosse at the end of May and June.”
Olentangy Liberty 13, New Albany 8
In the Division I, Region 1 girls championship game at Liberty, the top-seeded Patriots beat the third-seeded Eagles to capture their first regional title and 16th consecutive win.
Liberty is 20-2 and will play Hudson or Cleveland St. Joseph on May 30 at Ashland University in a state semifinal.
Makena Harrington finished with four goals and Corinna Hilmas scored three for the Patriots, who also defeated the Eagles 16-12 on May 4.
New Albany, which defeated UA 13-12 in overtime to win last year’s state title, finished 16-6. The Eagles had won six consecutive regional titles.
The Upper Arlington Golden Bears celebrate their regional final victory over Dublin Coffman May 24 at Marv Moorehead Memorial Stadium. Photo: Kevin Rouch
DIVISION II BOYS LACROSSE
DeSales 17, Watterson 6
The top-seeded Stallions cruise into a state semifinal May 30 at Dayton Chaminade Julienne against Cincinnati Mariemont.
After beating Watterson 12-5 on April 4, the teams met again with the regional title on the line at DeSales and Ty Hampton finished with six goals while Blake Carawan and Jack Jordan both scored four for the Stallions.
DeSales is 18-1 overall after winning last year’s state championship while Watterson finished 17-4.
“We’re definitely excited,” coach Matt Triplet said. “With us returning so many core players from last year’s team, making it to the final four gives us a shot at winning the state championship.”
Goalie Gavin Grimmett finished with 21 saves for the Stallions, whose only loss this season has come against Division I regional finalist Hilliard Davidson.
“Certainly our goalie, who had 21 saves tonight after only having two (in a 14-7 regional semifinal win over St. Charles on May 22), was our biggest X-factor,” Triplet said. “The attack unit was strong.”