2023 OHSAA Girls Soccer State Championship Recaps
Division I
Walsh Jesuit Brings Home 11th State Championship
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on unassisted goals by junior Hannah Pachan and held on for 2-1 win over Powell Olentangy Liberty Friday afternoon at Historic Crew Stadium in the OHSAA girls soccer Division I state championships match. The title is the 11th for the Warriors, which are more than double the number of girls soccer championships won by any other school in OHSAA history.
But it was the first time since 2016 that Walsh Jesuit (18-2-3) hoisted the gold trophy, when the Warriors had won their fifth title in a row. They were state runner-up in 2021 and their state titles have come in 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2012-16 and 2023.
It marked the seventh time that a player had scored two goals in the Division I state championship game. Pachan’s goals came at the 6:27 mark and the 17:51 mark. She ended the match with seven shots, including four shots on goal.
Senior goalkeeper Adri Lika had five saves for the 12th-rankd Warriors, who out-shot Olentangy Liberty 13-9 overall.
13th-ranked Olentangy Liberty (19-3-1) got back into the match at the 29:51 mark on a goal by senior Chloe Brecht, with an assist by sophomore Avery Hilvert. Senior Hailey Myers had five saves for Liberty, which led the match in corner kicks, 5-3.
It marked the third time that the Patriots had advanced to the Final Four and the first time that they played in the state championship match.
Division II
Summit Country Day Wins Fourth State Title in Shutout Fashion
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Junior goalkeeper Maddie Mescher and the second-ranked Cincinnati Summit Country Day defense kept third-ranked Rocky River out of the net on their way to a 1-0 win in the OHSAA girls soccer Division II state championship game Friday afternoon at Historic Crew Stadium.
Sophomore Zoe Jackson’s header at the 38:40 mark found the back of the net off a corner kick by senior Avery Smythe, which would stand as the game-winner for the Silver Knights (20-1-3). It marked the 16th shutout of the season for Summit Country Day.
Mescher had three saves for the Silver Knights, who have now won state championships in 2011, 2015, 2017 and 2023.
Rocky River (23-1-0) had allowed only two goals throughout the tournament entering the state final. The Pirates held an 11-9 advantage in shots and a 6-5 edge in corner kicks. Including their state title in 2013, they now have four trips to the Final Four and have played in the state championship match twice.
Junior Caitlin Rose had two saves in goal for Rocky River, while senior Mackenzie Russell had a match-high five shots.
Division III
Country Day Makes it Back-to-Back State Championships and Fourth Overall
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Top-ranked Cincinnati Country Day wrapped up a perfect tournament run, outscoring its opponents 37-0 in the postseason, with a 1-0 win over second-ranked Ottawa-Glandorf Friday night in the OHSAA girls soccer Division III state championship game at Historic Crew Stadium.
The win gives Country Day (21-2-0) back-to-back state titles for the second time, as the Nighthawks have won championships in 2018-19 and 2022-23.
Sisters Megan and Elizabeth Zimmerman teamed up for the game-winning goal at the 18:32 mark. Elizabeth sent a corner kick into the box hat Megan headed into the goal above the defense.
Sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Easter had two saves in the shutout.
Despite the 1-0 final score, it was a fast-paced game with 31 shots (Country Day 16, Ottawa-Glandorf 15) and 13 corner kicks (Country Day 7, Ottawa-Glandorf 6).
It marked the third-consecutive year (fourth overall) that Ottawa-Glandorf (22-2-0) has reached the state championship game. The Titans have been runner-up to Country Day the last two years, Waynesville (2021) and Hamilton Badin (2014).
Sophomore goalkeeper Karsyn Erford had seven saves for Ottawa-Glandorf. Senior Myka Aldrich had a match-high five shots.
Boys Division II
Tipp City Wins Second Boys State Title, Defeats Richfield Revere 2-0
COLUMBUS, OH – In its sixth appearance in the state tournament and third time in the state final, Tipp City Tippecanoe secured its second state title in school history in the 2023 OHSAA Division II Boys soccer state title game Saturday at Historic Crew Stadium. The Red Devils (22-1-1) defeated Richfield Revere (19-1-2) 2-0.
Tipp City scored early in the first half with a long range effort that found the top right corner from junior midfielder Landon Haas with 9:30 gone in the match. A strong defensive effort by the Red Devils kept the game 1-0 going into the half.
Tipp City scored the clinching goal midway through the second half via a shot from sophomore forward Colin Turner with 65:16 gone in the match. He was assisted by senior forward Caleb Ransom, who also set up the first goal of the match.
Tipp City senior goalkeeper Michael Jergens pitched a shutout, tallying five saves in the process.
This was Richfield Revere’s 10th time in the state tournament and their sixth time receiving the runner-up award.
Boys Division I
Cleveland St. Ignatius Wins Fifth Straight State Title, Defeats Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller 2-1 on penalty kicks
COLUMBUS, OH – In its 20th appearance in the state tournament and 14th appearance in the state final, Cleveland St. Ignatius secured its 13th state title in school history in the 2023 OHSAA Division I Boys soccer state title game Saturday at Historic Crew Stadium. The Wildcats (17-3-3) defeated Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller (24-1-0) 2-1 in penalty kicks.
The game stayed 1-1 after 80 minutes, taking the game into overtime. Two scoreless periods of extra time resulted in the game going to penalty kicks. Both teams missed a penalty through five kicks, taking the match into sudden death penalty kicks. After a make from Wildcats sophomore forward David Salukombo, senior goalkeeper Colin Monroe saved the Crusader’s penalty attempt, making it a 5-4 shootout victory for St. Ignatius and the score on the night 2-1.
Cincinnati Moeller scored less than 15 minutes into the match when a corner bounced around and was finally put away from short range by junior forward Paxton Hafner with 13:10 gone in the match.
In the second half, Cleveland St. Ignatius left it late by scoring an equalizer with less then six minutes left in regular time. The goal came on a free kick by senior midfielder Nicholas Mikulec and was headed home by sophomore forward Bryce Ince-Lovelace.
This was Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller’s third time in the state tournament and second time receiving the runner-up award.
Boys Division III
Willoughby Andrews Osborne Academy Wins First Ever State Title, Defeats Worthington Christian 2-1
COLUMBUS, OH - In its first-ever appearance in the state tournament, Willoughby Andrews Osborne Academy secured their first-ever state title in school history in the 2023 OHSAA Division III Boys soccer state title game Saturday at Historic Crew Stadium. The Phoenix (18-0-1) defeated Worthington Christian (18-3-3) 2-1.
Andrews Osborne controlled the game through most of first half, having 16 shots compared to Worthington Christian’s seven. The game stayed scoreless though through the first half.
The breakthrough for the Phoenix came early in the second half when senior forward Inaki Pinto finished off a pass from junior midfielder Javier de Osma Jimenez 2:42 into the second half.
The Phoenix’s second goal came just over ten minutes later when sophomore defender Enrique Benito Sierra finished off a corner from senior midfielder Manu Nieto Juarez with 54:27 gone in the match.
Worthington Christian got one back midway through the second half when senior forward Ben Jende finished off a cross from senior forward Sammy Owusu Sarfo with 14:16 remaining in the contest.
Multiple good chances from the Warriors in the final 10 minutes were defended well by the back line of Andrews Osborne, who held on for their first state title.
This was Worthington Christian’s 14th appearance in the state tournament and fourth time receiving the runner-up award.