COLUMBUS, Ohio – Lucy Lysaght scored 20 goals for the Mariemont girls lacrosse team this season with none more important than her last.
Faced with sudden-death overtime in the Division II title game with Chagrin Falls, senior Delaine Oliveira won the all-important draw for the Warriors. A little over a minute later the ball went from junior Lysaght's stick into the net nearest the Mariemont student section giving the school their third girls championship and second in a row.
The final score was 14-13 with the Warriors outscoring Chagrin Falls 9-4 in the second half.
Lysaght was quickly covered by Mariemont teammates in a pile, while Chagrin Falls ran immediately to senior goalie Ellie Moran whose prep career ended on the same shot.
More:OHSAA boys lacrosse: Mariemont falls in DII state semi to Columbus St. Francis DeSales
"It's the biggest goal I've scored!" Lysaght said. "It doesn't feel real yet, but it's good. That's our team. That's what we do. We knew the situation. This is what we practice for."
It was the most improbable of wins as Mariemont was down as many as eight goals in the first half. Mariemont athletic director Tom Nerl assured his fans the Warriors would come back and they did in most dramatic fashion.
"One for the ages!" Nerl proclaimed coming onto the field to present medals to the triumphant blue and gold.
"Credit to the kids," Mariemont coach Kevin Ferry said. "We talked about one goal at a time and fighting our way back up the mountain. You know, here we are. It was a shock that's for sure."
Junior Piper George led the Warriors with five goals with junior Caroline Soller adding four and Lysaght two. Seniors Oliveira and Jessica Beeler added single goals along with junior Sarah Comer.
All celebrated with a medal, a trophy hoist and free chocolate milk, the official drink of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
"We just got together and realized we needed to play as a team," George said. "We typically don't play against their defense. We really came together and did as we always do. We got back on our feet and came back."
In defense of last year's title, the Warriors dug a mighty hole early trailing 6-0 until George scored nearly 11 minutes into the contest. Chagrin Falls would then go up 9-1 before Mariemont scored three consecutive times.
"There was a little bit of, 'What in the heck just hit me?' " Ferry said. "Their coaching staff obviously did a great job of having them set up for this game and they took it to us."
The University of Cincinnati commit Soller's score put Mariemont down 9-4 at halftime despite the Tigers winning many draws and the Warriors turning the ball over eight times.
Mariemont kept the Tigers scoreless for about 12 minutes between late in the first half and early in the second. Peyton Gillin gave Chagrin Falls a 10-6 lead at 20:15, but Mariemont stayed on the attack.
Soller would tie the game at 11 and Beeler would tie it at 12. George gave Mariemont its first lead of the game with 7:06 remaining, but Chagrin Falls matched the score. Sophomore goaltender Brynna O'Brien had a big save in regulation helping force the overtime.
After a five-minute rest, Mariemont was leaping to the heavens 1:03 into the overtime with Lysaght's historic shot at Historic Crew Stadium. Oliveira's draw was crucial.
"Before the overtime started we talked and said, 'We only have to win (the draw) once,'" Ferry said. "This is a golden goal. It's about getting possession of the ball, taking care of it, not forcing anything. We caught Lucy (Lysaght) there in the middle and she made a great shot!"
Added Ge, "It's the best feeling ever! Last year we won by 10 and it was a really sweet moment. This year just having that one goal made it so much sweeter. It just didn't feel real!"
Mariemont had previously won in 2018 in addition to last year and was state runner-up in 2019. They would have had a perfect season if not for a 14-13 loss to Division I Olentangy Liberty on May 7.
The Warriors finish 20-1 with Chagrin Falls ending the season 16-5.
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