Bexley — The saying “iron sharpens iron” holds true for the Bexley girls soccer team. By embracing challenges both within the program and on the field, the Lady Lions have positioned themselves as strong contenders for the Central Buckeye League (CBL) title this season. With just three games left in the regular season, the final two matchups will reveal whether their tough schedule has truly prepared them for the championship gauntlet ahead.
As the season enters its final two weeks, Bexley holds a perfect 5-0 record in CBL play, tied with Worthington Christian. Two of their remaining three games will see them face Worthington Christian and Grandview Heights (3-1 in CBL play), setting the stage for a decisive finish. Head Coach Scott James acknowledges the challenge ahead: “The league schedule makers made it tougher on us this season, with matchups against the other teams fighting for the CBL crown. This is why we play a very competitive non-league schedule — to prepare for the league title race and the postseason.”
This challenging schedule aligns perfectly with Bexley’s goals for the season: competing for the CBL and a district championship. According to Coach James, the structure of the CBL forces the team to adapt their approach to each game. “Our league can be very tough because it presents a variety of challenges in different forms. We want our players to learn more about themselves through competition and push themselves to become better,” he explains.
The senior core, who were part of the 2021 state semifinal team, have been instrumental in guiding the Lady Lions through their demanding schedule this season. Coach James credits captains Caroline Baldwin, Mia Elliott, and Carly Hanin for their leadership and for helping develop the next generation of players. “They’ve done a great job assisting the freshmen with their transition to high school and preparing the new varsity players for the challenges of the season,” says James.
In their flawless start to the CBL season, the Lady Lions have yet to concede a goal, outscoring opponents 25-0 in league play and 36-16 overall with three games remaining. Coach James credits the defensive unit—GK Evie Messmer, Mabyn Evans, Amelia Talbott, Lucy Ciminero, Carly Hanin, Evie Lippman, and Clara Verhoff—for Bexley’s strong performance in challenging matches this fall. “Our defense has been outstanding this season. They’ve really elevated our team, keeping us in tough games and leading us to six shutouts,” says James.
In September, the Lady Lions faced an early conference test against Bishop Ready, which Coach James identified as a turning point in their season. Ten days later, this momentum was solidified in a game against St. Francis DeSales. “We won the game but didn’t meet our standards of play and competition,” James recalls. “The captains called a team meeting to address this and focus on improving. Ever since that meeting, we’ve been on the same page and playing better. The DeSales game was when everything clicked, and we played amazingly as a unit.”
Offensively, the Lady Lions are still seeking consistency and a scoring groove, as scoring more than one goal has been a challenge. While defensive standouts Mabyn Evans and Amelia Talbott have kept the team steady, Coach James believes a breakthrough is near offensively. “I keep telling the girls we’re so close and just need to keep grinding,” James says. “We have some explosive attacking players who are very dangerous, but we’re still finding our scoring rhythm. We’ve made steady progress, but we need to finish our chances better.”
On Wednesday, the Lady Lions remained unbeaten in CBL play with a 1-0 victory over Columbus Academy, effectively eliminating the Vikings from title contention. Coach James called the win a season highlight, especially against such a dangerous opponent. “We played a very strong game as a team and shut down a potent offense,” James said. “We’re excited to see how the rest of the season unfolds. Our focus every day is to be better than we were yesterday and to always strive to be the best version of ourselves.”
Bexley will return to action against the Columbus School for Girls on Tuesday, followed by a Saturday showdown against Grandview Heights under the lights. Coach James emphasizes the importance of respecting every opponent, regardless of how lopsided matchups may appear on paper. “We can’t afford to think about future games, as that would disrespect our next opponent and could lead to problems for us.”
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