It all came true Saturday night at MAPFRE Stadium when the Knights defeated Chagrin Falls 3-0 in the Division II state championship game — the school’s first girls soccer title in their seventh final four appearance.
“I’m speechless,” sixth-year coach Javier Iriart said. “It’s pretty crazy.”
The Knights’ last final four appearance was a loss in the final when this year’s seniors were freshmen.
“For our whole community and everyone who wore this jersey before us, we won this for them,” senior tri-captain Olivia Gillis said.
The Knights (18-2-2) took control in the first half on two goals by junior midfielder Lauren Dietz, who finished the season as the team’s top scorer with 14 goals. The first came with 11:43 left on a high-arcing ball from deep on the right wing that grazed the keeper’s fingertips.
“To be completely honest, it really wasn’t a shot,” Dietz said. “I was trying to cross it, but fortunately it went in. I’ll take it.”
After that goal, senior keeper and tri-captain Sarah Cady said she thought, “We’re not going to let them score. We’re going to win the state championship.”
With two minutes left, Ashley Maples was fouled just outside the box right in front of the goal. Dietz’s free direct kick sailed into the upper right corner. She said the Tigers (23-1) tried to force her left, but she saw an opening to the right.
“We identified a little bit of a weakness in their backs and we thought that had an opportunity to strike from distance,” Iriart said. “Lauren’s lethal from those areas.”
Dietz picked up an assist in the second half with a cross that sophomore Grace Haines put in the net with 7:01 left.
Cady, who had three saves, said the team thrived on great friendships and is the tightest team she has ever played for.
“I’m just overwhelmed,” Cady said. “We were saying from the beginning of the season that we were going to win state. We planted it in our heads and did it.”
As the Knights hugged and cried on the field, Iriart walked off by himself, looked up at the final score on the scoreboard and buried his face in his hands.
“You just don’t picture yourself in this position,” he said. “Even though we worked so hard, we prepared for this type of stuff, you just don’t expect ever to be in this kind of position.
“I’m just so proud of the girls. They did and an amazing job, not just today but this entire season.”
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