Lady Warriors Slay the Devil: A Historic Regional Championship Victory

Zanesville — In a match that seemed divinely orchestrated, Worthington Christian took on the St. Clairsville Red Devils, with everything on the line. The stakes were high: a win would not only secure the regional championship but also a spot in the state semifinals. For Worthington Christian, this game was about more than just victory; it was a chance to “slay the devil” and emerge triumphant, echoing the spirit of 1 John 5:4-5, both the opposing team on the field and the long-standing challenge of never making it to the state tournament.

In the first minute of play, the Lady Warriors took the lead. After a corner kick, the ball landed near the St. Clairsville net, and Katie Mast tapped it in for a quick 1-0 advantage, shaking the confidence of the Red Devils. From that point on, Worthington Christian dominated the first half, controlling possession nearly 90% of the time and keeping the ball away from their end. Although they couldn’t add to their score, they maintained a 1-0 lead at halftime.

Just minutes into the second half, the Lady Warriors quickly negated any adjustments made by the Red Devils with two swift goals. Anna Meadows delivered a precise pass to Rylan Roads, who tapped it in past the keeper for a 2-0 lead. Moments later, Meadows scored in the box, extending the advantage to 3-0. This rapid surge transformed a close game into what could quickly become a blowout.

Freshman Faith Ashu nearly increased the lead with a beautiful header into the net from a pass by Meadows, but her goal was called back due to a late offsides decision, keeping the score at 3-0. At times, St. Clairsville showed signs of wanting to make it competitive, but they lacked the energy and communication needed to mount a comeback. The Lady Warriors wielded the sword of the spirit, ultimately slaying the devil and securing their first regional championship in program history. Worthington Christian dominated from start to finish, delivering an early blow to start and finishing them off before anything could turn against them.

The Lady Warriors cruised through the district round and triumphed in an overtime thriller against Wheelersburg to reach Saturday’s regional championship. Their program had long awaited a chance to advance to the state tournament, and they seized the moment. Worthington Christian’s historic run continues on Tuesday in Springfield, where a potential state championship berth awaits.