'I couldn't be more proud of our effort': Summit wins DII state soccer title with 1-0 win

COLUMBUS – Maggie McDowell was hobbling as she accepted the state championship trophy for her Summit Country Day teammates.

The senior missed the last five games of the postseason after being injured against Indian Hill on Oct. 23. As the team’s leading scorer this year (15 goals, five assists), she was an integral part of the celebration Friday at Historic Crew Stadium.

McDowell’s teammates beat Rocky River 1-0 in the Division II girls soccer title game Friday. Summit won its fourth state championship, first since 2017 and first as a member of Division II.

“Maggie was a real role model for me as an underclassman,” sophomore Zoe Jackson said. “Seeing her intensity motivated me to try harder and push myself. Once we lost her, it was so upsetting but we did have other girls step up. We wanted to play for her and get the state title.”

Summit finished 20-1-3 and handed Rocky River its first loss of the season. The Pirates finished 23-1.

McDowell was one of three double-digit scorers for the Silver Knights this season. Sophomore Mia Stevens had 15 goals and seven assists, and sophomore Carolyn Federle, 11 goals and six assists. Freshman Abigayle Penote had nine goals and 10 assists, three of the goals coming in the regional final over Waynesville. Freshman Cam Lorentz had six goals and seven assists.

Virtually the entire student body came to Columbus to cheer on their classmates and join in the title celebration.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our effort tonight in beating a really talented team,” said head coach Michael Fee, who has coached all four state championship teams at SCD. “I’m happy to celebrate together and celebrate in front of our community. It means so much. This is a special, special school.”

Summit defense comes to play

Rocky River came into the game averaging 6.6 goals per game and allowing only 13 total for the season. They had one player with 59 goals and another with 39.

The Pirates had scored less than five goals in a game only six times all season.

All that stopped against the Silver Knights, who allowed only 10 goals all season.

Senior Lilly Martin and sophomore Bree Reder were the center backs, with junior Lilly Sievering and freshman Linde Harris as the outside backs. Junior Maddie Mescher posted her 11th shutout of the season in net. She made three saves.

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“I felt all season that we had the best defense in the state regardless of division,” Fee said. “Our two center backs are the best two center-back pairings I’ve had in 25 years.”

Rocky River’s best chances came via the corner kick, and the Pirates never got a quality chance out of one.

“We knew it was going to be an incredible game,” Martin said. “We were ready for it and we were confident in ourselves that we know we can handle it. We got so much credit that defense doesn’t usually get in soccer because it’s not like we have stats or anything, just shutouts. All the credit and appreciation from the team has really motivated us to be as good as we have been.”

Ava Patti, a senior captain who had 39 goals, said the Silver Knights earned their win.

“They were the fastest team that we played,” she said. “They were able to get a foot on the ball without touching us then kick it out of bounds. They did a great job of slowing us down.”

Fee was confident his team could slow down the Pirates.

“Tactically, we’re smart in the back but what really makes us special is our speed," Fee said. "They’re able to close down quickly and I don’t think teams prepare for how little time they have to make decisions. Our back four are phenomenal.”  

Zoe Jackson was the unlikely hero

The teams combined for 11 corner kicks, which provided the best scoring chances for either team.

Summit took advantage of one with 1:16 to go in the first half. Senior Avery Smythe delivered from the right side. Jackson found the ball in traffic and poked it in from close range for her fifth goal of the season.

“(Abigayle Penote) was making a really amazing run,” Jackson said. “It happened to get deflected off the defender and it was a corner. I noticed that not a lot of people were marking me so when I went up, it was kind of a scrum. Cammy Lorentz was just putting pressure and the defender went to clear it, and it went right to me.”

Moving up to DII didn’t hurt the Silver Knights

Summit came into the game with a listed enrollment of 133 to 328 for Rocky River.

Summit was moved up to DII this season because of the OHSAA’s competitive balance rules. Judging by the scores, the Silver Knights adjusted well. They won their eight postseason games by a total score of 37-4.

Fee knew playing in DII would be a bigger challenge, so he gave his team a tough schedule, including two 2022 state champions in Seton and Cincinnati Country Day.

“They’re all special,” said Fee, who won his fourth championship. “It doesn’t matter what division, they’re all special.”

Senior salute

SCD has eight seniors: Maggie McDowell, Avery Smythe, Bella Desmond, Sammy Vibberts, Lily Martin, Meg Witzeman, Iris Katz and Elizabeth Fager.

Desmond had five goals. Smythe had seven assists including one Friday.