By Yaneek Smith
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
TIFFIN — Two years ago, Eastwood fell in a Division III regional final to Ottawa-Glandorf, and the prevailing wisdom was that it would be tough for the Eagles to get back there in the near future.
The doubters were silenced as coach Julie Cross’ club, ranked 14th in the state coaches’ poll, got to within one game of the state final four before falling to the Titans, 3-0, in a regional final at Frost-Kalnow Stadium.
No. 2 ranked O-G (21-1) took control from the outset, scoring just over two minutes into the match when Delaney Duling came through with a goal.
About 30 minutes later, at the 9:02 mark, Myka Alrdrich scored a goal, and the Lady Titans started to distance themselves from Eastwood, which finished the season 16-4-1.
The final goal came from Makenna Siefker connected on a head off a pass from Bri Douglas at the 9:02 mark of the second half.
Throughout the first half, O-G controlled the tempo and the ball, moving it into the Eagles’ zone and getting shots and corner kicks while Eastwood struggled to possess the ball consistently.
But in the second half, the Eagles came out and controlled the ball and the tempo a little bit more and got some shots on goal.
“We told them at halftime that, ‘it’s 2-0 right now, but I don’t know what it’s going to be,’” said Cross. “I told them to play together, for each other and for your pride. O-G is a great team, and credit to our girls for not giving up.”
The Lady Titans finished with 24 shots, 14 of them on goal. For the season, O-G has pitched 19 shutouts and allowed just six goals. Eastwood goalie Jordan Jensen did her part, finishing with 17 saves.
“It’s tough to plan for a team like that,” said Cross, now in her second year leading the team. “(O-G coach) Melanie (Maag) has done a special job, I think it’s going to be their third straight state title appearance.
“They’re much bigger than us, they shoot for distance. They’re pretty good for high school girls, have very good foot skills and are pretty dynamic. They’re one of the best teams in Ohio.”
“We played schools like Maumee and Oak Harbor in the conference, and we scheduled teams like Notre Dame Academy, and our schedule toughened us up,” said Cross. “I think O-G is the best team we’ve seen.”
Two years ago, when Cross was an assistant to Megan Rutherford, Eastwood lost to the Lady Titans, 4-2, at Bowling Green High School.
That team, led by the likes of Aubrey Haas, Kenna Souder and Sydney Ameling, among others, won a Northern Buckeye Conference title and a district championship, just like this team did. Some of the girls from the Class of 2022 reached out to the team during its run.
This group, led by eight special seniors — Reese Stewart, Abby Rothenbuhler, Reilly Might, Saylor King, Kayla Gedert, Delanie Aura, Amelia Ward and Kayla Buehler, the latter three of which are the captains — got back to the Elite Eight.
Buehler, a three-year starter who earned four letters, talked about her team and its camaraderie.
“This has probably been my favorite season. The seniors and freshmen are so close. We can all go to each other,” she said. “Our new class worked hard and stepped up.
“After those seniors graduated two years ago, people didn’t think we’d get back.”
As you might expect, the team got great support from the community and inspired plenty of little girls.
“We have so many kids that want to be like the soccer players. (A tournament run) does things like that,” said Cross. “For the program, this is awesome.
“This team was a phenomenal group, I can’t say enough about them, but they’re better people,” Cross said. “We had three captains, and all eight of our seniors led in different ways. They care about the other girls on the team.”
