Copyright cleveland.com
WORTHINGTON, Ohio — Hudson saw its OHSAA field hockey playoff run come to an end Thursday against Upper Arlington. The Explorers fell one game shy of the state championship with a 3-0 loss. “I am very proud of the fight and the grit the girls showed this season,” head coach Louise Knox said. “Getting here took hard work and determination, and they earned every win. It was exciting to watch the connection they had and their desire to play for each other throughout the season. I have been a head coach for eight years, and every few seasons, you get a group that truly gels, cares for one another, and wants to win as a team. That is exactly what this group did. “This season and this team meant everything to them. They have been working hard, some since middle school and some since second grade. Getting the opportunity to play in this game today was a celebration of all that hard work. This season will always be part of their legacy in this program.” Hudson struggled to push the ball into Upper Arlington territory, but when it broke through the midfield, it created solid scoring chances inside the circle. The Explorers were unable to convert, with several shots deflected or saved. The Explorers controlled the back half of the first quarter and earned two penalty corner attempts. On the first, they showcased strong ball movement. Senior midfielder Maddie Mormino inserted the ball to junior defender Sophie Martinez, who passed to senior forward Evie Martinez. Her shot was saved. They earned another corner with no time left in the first quarter and took two more shots on goal. Senior defender Vivi Baylor’s attempt was deflected, and freshman forward Indira Nair’s follow-up shot was also saved. Upper Arlington dominated much of the first quarter. The Golden Bears scored on a penalty corner with 7:26 left when a deflected ball dropped into the circle and was swept into the cage, giving them a 1-0 lead. In the second quarter, the Golden Bears continued to control possession, earning four free hits in Hudson’s defensive half and two more corners. Junior goalie Casey Curry made a strong stick save on the first corner with 5:50 remaining, but the Golden Bears scored again on their second attempt, extending their lead to 2-0. The second half played out in a similar way. The Explorers continued to display crisp passing and movement on their corner plays, earning open looks that just missed the mark. Their best chances came from junior forward Anna Charriere on back-to-back corners. With 10:40 left in the third, Charriere fired a clean shot that struck the post and went out of bounds. She had another look earlier in the quarter, but her shot rolled just wide to the right. “They are always looking for ways to win,” Knox said. “We had multiple opportunities on offense but could not finish, and some days that happens. We executed a few corners well but not all of them. They left everything out on the field, and that is all I can ask.” Defensively, Hudson worked hard to break up counterattacks and clear the ball from the shooting circle. Curry made two more key saves in the second half to keep the Explorers in it. “Defensively, they have always worked together and been tenacious,” Knox said. “Tough defense and strength of will are what define this group.” Upper Arlington sealed the win with a third goal in the final 40 seconds. This marked Hudson’s fifth appearance in the state semifinals since 2000. The Explorers capped off a strong season that included a big playoff win over previously undefeated Shaker Heights. They finished with two playoff victories and an overall record of 16-5. “I have seen an immense amount of growth from them since the beginning of the season,” Knox said. “We graduated 10 seniors (last year), so we had a young core coming in. They worked hard, learned from every practice and every game, and embraced the competition so they could grow as a team. “The Hudson field hockey community has built a culture of support for decades. I was lucky enough to win two state championships here back in the 80s, and to this day, I still get messages from friends in Florida. We even had a pump-up video from alumni in Italy, from players who competed in the 90s to graduates from 2023. We have parents of alumni who still come to games and support us. Our school, administration, and the Hudson community have been incredible. You cannot ask for anything more. That support is what makes Hudson field hockey special. It is about the entire community, not just the players.”
