Mount Notre Dame's 13th shutout of the season was its most important as the Cougars edged Ursuline Academy 1-0 on Saturday to win the regional title and advance to the Ohio High School Athletic Association's state tournament.
Here are four storylines to watch as the Cougars make another trip to try and bring a state championship to Mount Notre Dame and southwest Ohio.
Can't win if you can't score
Mount Notre Dame goalkeeper Ainsley Kemp was the Girls Greater Catholic League player of the year, a pick that looks even better as the Cougars haven't allowed a single postseason goal.
With a player of the year in goal, Mount Notre Dame notched 13 shutouts in 19 games played. Only eight goals have gotten through the Cougar defense with five shutouts coming since a 3-1 win against Summit Country Day on Oct. 6.
Going back-to-back
Mount Notre Dame's regional title was its second-consecutive and the Cougars have won the regional tournament in three of the last four seasons and nine times overall since 2004 when the Cougars were state runner-up.
About 2004 (and 2010)
Mount Notre Dame's first trip to the state tournament was its most successful. Despite making eight previous trips before this season, the 2004 Cougars squad finished as state runner-up with a 1-0 loss to undefeated Columbus Academy in the state title match, making it the only Mount Notre Dame team to reach the state final.
The Cougars aren't alone in an early state tournament exit. The entire southwest region has a history of falling out in the state semifinals.
The OHSAA state tournament has run since 1979, but only once has a Cincinnati team won the state championship. St. Ursula won the tournament in 2010, beating Oakwood in the regional final before topping Hathaway Brown and Thomas Worthington in the state rounds.
That St. Ursula team was the first Cincinnati squad to reach the finals since the Cougars in 2004 and none have reached since the Bulldogs won the title.
The road in 2022
After outscoring its three opponents in the regional tourney 13-0, the Cougars will be tested in the state semifinals.
Mount Notre Dame drew the winner of the Central 1 region and will play that region's No. 2 seed Bishop Watterson. Watterson beat top-seeded Upper Arlington to claim the regional.
Mount Notre Dame and Bishop Watterson met in last season's regional semifinals and the Cougars fell 3-0 to the eventual state champions.
On the other side of the bracket will be northeast representative Shaker Heights and Central 2 winner Thomas Worthington.
The Cougars and Bishop Watterson will meet at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 3. The state finals will be at 1 p.m. on Nov. 5, both rounds at Thomas Worthington.
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