270-315 Sports

From Ground Up to Glory: Bishop Watterson Wins Girls Soccer State Title

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by

Eric Michael
in

Columbus — In a media room, flanked by three of his players at the podium, Bishop Watterson Head Coach Scott Dempsey summed it up: “We tore it all down and built it from the ground up.” After last season’s disappointment, the Lady Eagles adopted this mindset with determination. On Saturday at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, their rebuild was complete as they reached the pinnacle: a state championship victory.

Bishop Watterson struck first in the 15th minute when Sophia Scott curled a precise shot into the right corner of the net, giving the Lady Eagles a 1-0 lead over North Royalton. This goal was part of a dominant offensive stretch in the first half, where Bishop Watterson controlled possession and applied consistent pressure. North Royalton managed to hold them off and went into halftime trailing just 1-0.

Entering the day, Bishop Watterson goalkeeper Suzie Roginski had yet to concede a goal in the postseason, with the Lady Eagles recording three straight 1-0 wins to reach Saturday’s state championship. Expecting another tightly contested match, the Lady Eagles faced a surge in offensive pressure from North Royalton in the second half, testing both Roginski and the defense as they battled to hold onto their lead.

The Lady Bears’ persistence finally paid off in the 73rd minute when Sophia Antonio skillfully wove through Bishop Watterson’s defense and sent a shot into the net, tying the game at 1-1. This breakthrough ended North Royalton’s offensive frustrations and reset the game, eventually pushing it into overtime.

After two scoreless overtime periods, the Division II state championship came down to a penalty shootout. Bishop Watterson goalkeeper Suzie Roginski was ready for exactly what unfolded on Saturday. Her meticulous preparation paid off. “I studied all last week,” Roginski said. “We reviewed their penalty shootout from earlier in the tournament, and I really focused on that.” Analyzing opponents’ tactics, she explained, helped her anticipate where they might aim. “You start to see their patterns—whether they’re aiming one way or the other—so I watch and hope for the best. It was a hail Mary, but it worked out.”

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Roginski stepped up as the hero Bishop Watterson needed, delivering two crucial saves against North Royalton’s Kaitlyn Hajek and Meredith Werner to keep them scoreless in the penalty shootout. Meanwhile, Sasha Smith and Emma Miller converted their kicks, putting Bishop Watterson ahead 2-0. Then, the spotlight shifted to a second hero: Megan Goehring.

When North Royalton’s Sophia Antonio sent her attempt over the crossbar, Megan Goehring needed only to score to secure Bishop Watterson’s first title in program history. And she delivered. After her winning shot, Goehring ran straight to Roginski, embracing her teammate before the rest of the team piled on in celebration. The Lady Eagles savored the historic moment, sharing hugs with friends, family, and the Bishop Watterson community that had come out in full force to support them.

For Bishop Watterson, this was a full-circle moment. From the heartbreak of 2023 to reaching the summit in 2024, the Lady Eagles achieved what had eluded them for so long. The ceiling is shattered, expectations met, and their place in school and state history secured. With their wings spread wide, they now sit proudly atop the Division II Championship mountain for the first time.

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