Fall Sports Preview: Boys and Girls Soccer
No Regrets: After placing second in the state last year, the boys’ soccer team is out to reestablish themselves among the state’s elite.
After the Warriors lost to Willoughby Andrews Osborne Academy 2-1 in the Division III state title game on Nov. 11 at Crew Stadium, Worthington Christian boys’ soccer coach Dan Roads felt a blanket of serenity over the Warriors’ performance.
“I’ve lost two other state finals, but this one was the loss I had the most peace about,” said Roads, whose team fell to Ottawa Hills 1-0 in 2008 and to Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 3-2 in 2013 and captured state championships in 2009 and 2011. “In the years past, we had teams that I felt could have gotten to that point. I just felt blessed to get the chance to have a team get back to where I think our program should reside.”
Worthington Christian, 18-3-3 overall and tied Columbus Academy for second in the Central Buckeye League with identical 4-1-1 records, endured a decade-long wait to return to the state championship game. Since 2013, the Warriors lost in a regional final once (2021), a regional semifinal three times (2014, 2017, and 2022), and a district final five times (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020). Seven of those nine season-ending losses were by a single goal or in a shootout.
Often, a coach can have an endless film loop of what-ifs after a one-goal loss. the things that didn’t go his team’s way. Last year’s finale had a fair share of near misses. Worthington Christian missed a penalty kick, surrendered an own goal, and ricocheted a potentially tying goal off the crossbar late in the second half.
“After the other two (losses in the final) I felt like we left something on the field,” Roads said. “But the players did everything they possibly could have. There weren’t a lot of regrets for our players, and I felt OK about that as a coach.”
Roads, however, hopes he won’t have to endure another 10-year wait to play again for a state title.
While the team has significant holes to fill, Worthington Christian does have a talented roster returning. Senior Baden Wood will anchor the defense, junior Ethan Carrel, a first-team all-CBL selection last year, will shore up the midfield, and junior Max Glick will be one of the forwards Roads will rely on.
Senior Ethan Blank, who dislocated a knee on the first day of practice last year, looks to contribute to the team this season. The Warriors also added junior Ian St. John, who previously played football for Worthington Christian, and sophomore Luke Myers, a transfer from Genoa Christian to its defense. Freshmen Nolan Schoonover and Luke Stone could also play big roles this season.
“We don’t have that one star, but we’re pretty deep,” Roads said. “We’ll have 15 or 16 guys rotating in for significant minutes. We will rely on our work rate and building our team mentality.”
The returnees and newcomers have some size 18 cleats to fill. Worthington Christian graduated senior Sammy Owusu-Sarfu, the Division III Central District and state Player of the Year and an All-American.
“Sammy believed in himself and his teammates,” Roads said. “He was so tough-minded. He never played scared, no matter who the opponent was.”
The team also graduated Ben Jende, who was named first-team all-CBL, Ryan Miller and Caleb Van Dop, who were named second-team all-league, and Sam Blank and Brady Graham, who were all-CBL honorable mentions. Owusu-Sarfu (Ohio Wesleyan), Jende (Walsh), Miller (Heidelberg), and Van Dop (Taylor) will all play collegiately this fall.
“Losing the player of the year is a huge thing, but there were a lot of good players around him,” Roads said. “We lost our most significant senior class in terms of college commitments.
“However, we have a lot of guys who have seen first-hand what it takes, and they are willing to do that. We have a group of players ready to walk worthy and participate in this program.”
Girls Soccer
Coach Luke Fields put together a brutal schedule last year to prepare the girls’ soccer team for the postseason. The Warriors played four teams that would eventually reach the 2023 district semifinals (Columbus School for Girls, Bexley, Westerville North, and Hartley) and two regional semifinalists (Bloom-Carroll and Grandview). Fields thought the Warriors may not have the prettiest record, but they would be battle-tested by the end of the season.
Instead, the Warriors went 16-2-3 overall, the best record they’ve had in Field’s tenure as coach. They returned to a Division III district championship game but lost to rival Grandview 2-1 in a shootout.
“We went into last year expecting we’d lose more games than we did,” said Fields, whose team tied Bexley for the Central Buckeye League crown with identical 6-0-1 records. “We want our girls to face these teams that will have deeper benches and play high-quality soccer.
“We want to play more intense games. That usually pays dividends when you get into a tight game later in the season.”
The Warriors sputtered to a 2-1-1 start, but after losing to DeSales 1-0, Worthington Christian went 13-0-2 over the next 15 games before facing the Bobcats in a district final.
“The girls played well as a group,” Fields said. “They had a strong team unity, a good team atmosphere, and a lot of fun being together. That bond helped carry us to a lot of W’s.”
This season, after Worthington Christian divided into their varsity and junior varsity squads, coaches asked players to list four goals, two for themselves and two for the team.
According to Fields, most set their sights on winning a district title, something the Warriors haven’t done since 2014.
For the last three years, Worthington Christian has lost by a shootout in a district championship. According to Fields, familiarity with the situation doesn’t make it any easier.
“That’s never fun,” Fields said. “(Losing in a shootout) creates the idea that we were a good team, but we underperformed.
“Our perspective at Worthington Christian and our faith helps us understand things happen for a reason, and we do our best to glorify God with our attitudes.”
Worthington Christian must regroup a talented squad to overcome the district’s doubts. Sofia Divine and Annie Rettstatt were among the players Worthington Christian lost to graduation.
A three-time all-district and two-time all-state selection, Divine was named the CBL’s co-player of the year with Grandview’s Maci Tew, as well as the Division III district and state player of the year. The Ashland University freshman scored 22 goals and had 12 assists for Worthington Christian last season. Rettstatt was first-team all-league and second-team all-district.
Fields hopes his returnees learned a lot from being around those athletes.
“Good players play well, but great players will improve the others around them,” Fields said. “We had several players who did that last year.
“What I hope they got from being around (those two) was the drive to get better, compete, and help the others around you play better. Even if you are not the best player on the team, you can help your teammates achieve a higher level.”
Senior captains Madeleine Hulme, Katie Mast, and Brooke Bambey head up a strong cast of returnees for the Warriors. Hulme, who had 16 goals and 13 assists last year, was a first-team selection for the all CBL and district teams, while Mast was second-team all-league.
Senior Mclaine Oosterbaan and juniors Elle Skidmore, Anna Meadows, Lily Thompson, Britton Kibbey, and goalkeeper Jadyn Stults will join those three. Skidmore was a second-team all-CBL selection, while Meadows and Thompson were honorable mentions.
“We don’t have a super deep roster,” Fields said. “The key for us is going to be consistent in our play, having team unity, and staying healthy.”