As competition and pressure mounts during the OHSAA playoffs, the Chagrin Falls Tigers girls lacrosse team has been preparing to perform at their peak in May.
As competition and pressure mounts during the OHSAA playoffs, the Chagrin Falls Tigers girls lacrosse team has been preparing to perform at their peak in May.
To achieve an optimal level of play, Tigers Head Coach KC White, one of the most successful girls lacrosse coaches in the state of Ohio and also a mental toughness coach, has been developing her team’s grit throughout the year.
After an excellent regular season that saw Coach White’s team finish at 10-3, the Tigers have won their first two playoffs games by a combined score of 35-9.
Most recently, the Tigers defeated the Kenston Bombers, 17-5, in a playoff edition of the “Battle of 422” at Chagrin Falls High School on May 23.
Most impressive in the Tigers Regional Quarterfinal victory was their demonstration of dominance over their rival.
Indeed, the last time they played the Bombers, the Tigers overcame adversity to claim an overtime comeback victory on April 16.
After defeating the Bombers by only one in their first matchup, the Tigers outscored their opponent by 12 goals on May 23.
Clearly, in this rematch, the Tigers owned the moment from the start as they outscored the Bombers 10-3 in the first half.
After going up 4-2 in the first quarter, the Tigers outscored the Bombers 6-1 in the second quarter.
Leading the way for the Tigers in the second quarter were seniors Brix Niethammer, who scored three goals, and Avery Kohanski and Emma Thatcher, who both also found the back of the net.
Continuing their dominance in the second half, the Tigers outscored the Bombers 7-1 to claim a 17-5 victory.
Afterwards, Coach White discussed the Tigers Regional Quarterfinal victory over the Bombers.
“Just so proud of how the team came together,” Coach White said. “It really was a full-team victory. So many different people scored on offense. Our defense just worked together as just one solid unit.
“It just shows how much growth we have had over the season.”
Coach White explained that the first contest against Kenston was important in helping the Tigers develop their grit, mental toughness and team chemistry.
In that contest, Coach White said that the Tigers were down by two goals three times and were able to come back each time they faced a deficit.
“We just kept battling back and battling back to be able to win that game,” Coach White said. “When we watched that film, our conclusion was that if we work together, we can do anything. And we took that with us.”
After the overtime victory, Coach White said the Tigers continued to work very hard to learn the important offensive and defensive systems necessary for success in the postseason.
Senior Brix Niethammer also mentioned how many improvements the Tigers had made since the last time they faced the Bombers.
“A month (ago), we were not at the spot that we are today,” Niethammer said. “We’re just so happy that we’re here and we’re peaking at the right time.”
“We came here, we wanted to dominate, and that’s what we did.”
For the game, the Tigers offense was led by Thatcher (5 goals), Avery Kohanski (4), Jenna Louden (3), Niethammer (3), Ella Catney (1) and Claire Hoelzel (1).
The Bombers goals were scored by Charlotte Cowan, Cora Dunnam, Ashlyn Hunter, Mariela Macias and Carmella Nilsson.
Next up for the Tigers are the Chardon Hilltoppers.
Just like in their first matchup with the Bombers, the Tigers also defeated the Hilltoppers by just one goal, 9-8, on April 10.
The Hilltoppers, in order to get to the Regional Semifinals, defeated the Orange Lions 17-8 on May 19 in the first round of the playoffs.
Then, in the Regional Quarterfinals, the Hilltoppers defeated the Lake Blue Streaks, 9-8, to set up the OHSAA Sweet 16 Regional Semifinal rematch with the Tigers.
This will be the fourth straight year that the Tigers and Hilltoppers will meet in the Regional Semifinals of the OHSAA Playoffs.
In the 2022 Regional Semifinal, the Tigers defeated the Hilltoppers, 18-5.
The following year, in the 2023 Regional Semifinal, the Hilltoppers defeated the Tigers, 13-5.
A year later, in 2024, the Tigers defeated the Hilltoppers, 8-5.
The 2025 Regional Semifinal rematch between the Tigers and Hilltoppers is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 28 at Chagrin Falls High School.
