What's happening in central Ohio girls lacrosse? Here are 5 midseason storylines
For whatever else changes from year to year in high school sports, the Columbus area remains the epicenter of girls lacrosse in Ohio.
The top four teams in LaxNumbers.com’s rankings – New Albany, Upper Arlington, Olentangy Liberty and DeSales – hail from central Ohio. UA, the defending Division I state champions, edged Liberty 9-8 on Tuesday in a rematch of last year’s final and will host New Albany on Thursday.
All four play each other at some point this season, and a meeting between two of them for the big-school championship June 7 at Historic Crew Stadium remains a possibility.
Here are five storylines at the midpoint of the regular season:
1. New Albany off to another fast start
Even with a handful of underclassmen in prominent roles and a new head coach, the Eagles (8-0) find themselves top-ranked statewide and are outscoring their opponents by an average of 12.3 goals per game.
Sophomore Addison Rush has become a dependable scorer in an offense led by Ohio State signee Maddy Paz and Notre Dame-bound Ellie McClelland, and Paz has split time on the draw with freshman Logan Snyder.
“We have a really, really balanced attack,” coach Kaela Springhetti said. “We have four or five seniors down there regularly who can handle the ball and finish those opportunities.”
Springhetti is a former Hartley and Mount Union player who was an assistant coach at Capital the past three seasons.
“This team is capable of more than even we know right now,” she said. “They know to set the tone. Every challenge is what will set us up for success.”
Seniors Megan Finn, Ady Lyday and Jill Sena and senior goalie Ryan Franklin anchor the defense.
2. Offense, defense jelling for DeSales
The Stallions (7-2) find themselves not only top-ranked statewide in Division II by LaxNumbers, but the only non-Division I team in the top 20 regardless of classification.
Sophomores Anna Bogan (20 goals), Campbell Heald (19) and Lexie Whorton (11) lead an offense averaging 16.8 goals. Juniors Clara Callahan and Marcella Valentine pace a revamped defense that allows nine goals on average, and they have been joined by senior Maggie Godfrey and junior and converted attacker Audrey Riddle.
DeSales’ losses came in its opener, 16-5 to New Albany on March 15, and 13-10 at defending Division II state champion Watterson on Tuesday.
“We’re still tweaking things, but things are falling in our direction,” coach Joe Finotti said. “When you have multiple good players, it’s making them play as a team and not individuals. It’s a challenge for anybody and definitely it was for us.”
3. Defense pacing Pickerington Central
Defense was coach Brian Walton’s biggest concern entering the season, both because three of four defensive starters graduated and the returnee, senior Brooke Burgess, has yet to return from knee surgery this winter.
So far, that unit has been up to the challenge, allowing more than six goals only once during a 9-1 start.
Juniors Kate Burre, Lindsay Davis and Molly Rowles and sophomore Audrey Shafer have anchored the back line in front of senior goalie Landyn Dayton. Junior Cora Russell sees considerable time off the bench.
“They’ve jelled; they’ve been phenomenal,” Walton said. “Landyn is the backbone, not just in making saves but causing turnovers and intercepting passes, and she leads that group with her talking and effort.
“We’ve made an emphasis on being tougher, mentally and physically.”
4. Worthington Kilbourne starts strong
With three Division I signees leading the way and eight starters back overall, a veteran Wolves team (8-2) has leaned on defense.
Seniors Marissa Dolciato (goalie), Elyse Faler (defender) and Ava Todd (attacker) pace an experienced roster for which every starter was on varsity a season ago, coach Doug Troutner said. The Wolves allow 6.0 goals per game, and their only losses have come against Division II powers Columbus Academy and DeSales.
A visit to Watterson looms Thursday night.
“Our defense has been really solid, especially with Marissa Dolciato in there,” Troutner said. “She is a difference-maker. She not only makes the saves, but once she makes them, she helps in clearing it to get to the other end.”
Dolciato, Faler and Todd have signed with Cincinnati, Central Michigan and Kent State, respectively. Junior midfielders Rylee Steinbeck and Bella White have committed to St. Leo’s and Kent State.
5. Columbus School for Girls meeting expectations
Returning all but one player from last year’s Division II regional semifinalist team, the Unicorns (4-1) are getting several contributions from underclassmen during another strong start.
Freshmen Sage Fullen (goalie) and Ellen Hines (attacker) have broken into a veteran lineup paced by midfielders Elizabeth Burgess and Bridget Donnelly. That duo combined for 140 goals a season ago and 43 so far this year.
Burgess and Donnelly have committed to Vassar and Oregon, respectively.
CSG won its first four games before a 12-11 loss to Division II power Cincinnati Mariemont on Saturday.
“(Saturday) was a crucial learning experience,” coach Kim Rocheleau said. “In order to compete and play with the best, our team needs to put together four collective quarters. We made some mistakes, but they will help us learn.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 5 midseason storylines in central Ohio high school girls lacrosse
