Liberty and Upper Arlington Set for Fourth Consecutive Girls Lacrosse State Final

The familiar rivalry between Olentangy Liberty and Upper Arlington will be reignited in the Division I girls lacrosse state championship, marking their fourth consecutive matchup for the title. This season's final will also feature Watterson's boys team, aiming for their second straight Division II state championship.

The state semifinals, held on June 2, saw both Liberty and Upper Arlington emerge victorious to set up their highly anticipated rematch. Watterson's boys also secured their place in the final with a decisive win.

Liberty's Path to the Final

Olentangy Liberty (19-3) battled back from a significant deficit to defeat Hudson 9-8 in overtime at Ashland. The Patriots trailed by as many as four goals in the fourth quarter but rallied to score the final five goals of the game, including the overtime winner.

Senior midfielder Megan Benton, an Ohio State signee, scored the decisive goal with 2:13 left in overtime, assisted by Aubrey Bartosik, who had tied the game with 18 seconds remaining in regulation. Liberty faced an 18:52 scoring drought from the second quarter into the fourth but demonstrated resilience.

"We never gave up," said Patriots coach Tim Bosco. "We lost the third quarter 6-0 and we very easily could have said this game was over, but we crawled back. That is kind of what this program has been built on, that grittiness and that toughness."

Benton, who finished with five goals, acknowledged the team's fight. "Grittiness. The last couple minutes of this game, I have never seen us fight like that before." Bartosik contributed two goals and three assists in the thrilling victory.

Liberty's previous encounter with Upper Arlington this season resulted in a 14-5 loss on April 14. Benton expressed confidence in her team's ability to succeed in the championship. "We just have to go back to the basics, play simple and get all the ground balls," Benton said. "[UA] is a good team but I think we can beat them if we just do everything we have to.”

Upper Arlington's Dominance

Upper Arlington (22-1) continued their strong performance, routing Springboro 18-5 in their semifinal matchup at Mason. This marks the Golden Bears' fifth consecutive appearance in the state final.

"We really play on playing for each other and believing in each other," said Bears coach Megan Sengelmann Strapp. "It shows in our offense with having seven different goal scorers per game this season. Our defense [is] averaging under five goals a game this season. We’ve really played with that team mentality and it really shined today.”

The Bears offense found its rhythm early, with senior midfielder Evie Ruma scoring three goals in the first quarter. Ruma finished the game with five goals, while Claire Aimes and Rylan Clark each added four. Junior goalie Tori Maurer was instrumental in holding Springboro scoreless for extended periods in the first half.

"She played like it tonight," Sengelmann Strapp said of Maurer. "[Maurer] has been starting with us since she was a freshman. She’s looked at me like, ‘This is everything to me.’ ”

The Bears' offense extended their lead throughout the game, triggering a running clock in the second half after Ella Smith scored her second goal of the night. Springboro's Ashley Filburn, who had scored five goals in a regional final, added her team-high 76th goal of the season.

The upcoming championship game against Liberty represents a chance for Upper Arlington to claim their first title since 2023. "It’s always great to be at the top of the mountain, but we always say to look around and enjoy it," Sengelmann Strapp commented. "You just have to lean into this season because we’re one of the two best teams in the state. Why not have fun and play our best game?”

Watterson Boys Secure Return to Final

On the boys' side, Watterson (18-2) advanced to the Division II state championship game with a 12-5 victory over Cincinnati Mariemont at Centerville. The Eagles will face Rocky River (19-0) on June 6.

Despite a closer 10-4 win over Mariemont earlier in the season, Watterson coach Chris Sauter anticipated a tougher contest. The first half remained tight, with both teams exchanging goals. Watterson's goals came from senior Ryan Grimm and sophomore Dash Hoy, while Mariemont's Vince Fiorina and Ethan Hern also found the net.

Watterson's junior midfielder Joe Hayes, an Ohio State commit and All-American, noted that the team started the game tentatively. "In the first half, the boys were playing a little scared, the moment was getting to us a bit," Hayes said.

The Eagles broke the game open in the third quarter, scoring six unanswered goals. Dash Hoy scored just 33 seconds into the second half, and Watterson dominated faceoffs to control possession.

"You get to this point of the season and you want to take advantage of every opportunity," Sauter said. "It’s stressful, but we know how blessed we are.”

State Finals Information

All state finals are scheduled to be played at Historic Crew Stadium. The Division I boys and Division II girls semifinals are set to take place on June 3.

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Event | Teams | Date | Location
Girls Lacrosse State Final | Olentangy Liberty vs. Upper Arlington | June 7 | Historic Crew Stadium
Boys Lacrosse State Final | Watterson vs. Rocky River | June 6 | Historic Crew Stadium

This development is significant for NationalSportsWeb readers as it highlights top-tier high school athletic competition in lacrosse, focusing on continued success and rivalries in Ohio. The matchups showcase student-athletes who may go on to play at the collegiate level, providing insights into emerging talent.

Fuente: Yahoo Sports, https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/liberty-upper-arlington-meet-fourth-040259916.html

Datos clave