Cincinnati Country Day girls soccer team wins OHSAA D3 championship
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Country Day School’s girls soccer team defeated Ottawa Glandorf 1-0 at Lower.com Field in Columbus to win the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division III state championship.
Junior Elizabeth Zimmerman scored the game-winning goal in the ninth minute of play.
“This team has continued a tradition of excellence on the field and in the classroom, and by creating a family atmosphere for all 33 players,” head coach Theresa 鈥淗irsch鈥� Hirschauer said. 鈥淚 could not be prouder of who they are as a team.鈥�
What was the secret to their success? Hirsch believes it was leadership.
“The senior captains 鈥� C.J. Debra, Sydney Bortz, Sami Hess and Alexia Lander-Vegas 鈥� have been tremendous,” Hirschauer said. “The team improved every game throughout the 17-game regular season with different players stepping up at different moments.”
“To me, leadership is the culmination of many things. It’s driving the younger girls to practices and games…including everyone in team traditions and superstitions … organizing events to ensure that we can have fun as a team,” senior goalkeeper C.J. Debra said. “I have learned that you must be patient and understanding to succeed. People make mistakes in life and in soccer; it’s all part of the process.”
This was CCDS’s fifth appearance in the state final; the school won the state championship in 2019 when the four seniors on the current team were freshmen.
“As a senior and a captain, my most important role is leading the younger girls and preparing them for next year when we won’t be there,” DeBra said. “If there is a sense of community throughout the entire team, the team works better on the field and gets along as a group of sisters. If the younger players are nervous about a big game, I have to act like I’m not nervous and provide a calm atmosphere for them.”
“Leadership is very important when it comes to being on the field and in the classroom, too,” senior Sydney Bortz said. “No matter where I am, I try to lead by example. When I’m at practice, I make sure I’m focused on the practice and show the younger teammates how to focus before a big game. I do the same thing in my classes. Setting the example to doing my work or listening to my teachers also impacts the classroom.”
Cincinnati Country Day Girls Soccer Roster
Seniors – Sydney Bortz, C.J. Debra, Sami Hess, Alexia Lander.
Juniors – Valentina Benitez, Sam Easter, Piper Faris, Syndney Hardesty, Fleur Helmantel, Emma Rainey, Isabel Ramirez, Emma Kate Schnieber, Anna Strauss, Melissa Teke, Kendall Weber, Megan Zimmerman, Elizabeth Zimmerman.
Sophomores – Abby Falkingham, Emma Faulhaber, Alessandra Garcia-Altuve, Kylee Hirschauer, Maggie Klekamp, Molly Klekamp, Marin Lange, Maria Steppe, Abby Sweeney, Kenzie Zimmers.
Freshmen – Leah Coyle, Alyssa Easter, Noor Elkasaby, Guiana Haury, Nia Irby, Alex Thompson.
Head coach – Theresa Hirschauer.
Assistant coaches: Brady Brandt, Olivia Robinson, Brittany Woods.
Athletic trainer: Paige McDowell.
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