Dublin Coffman embraces task of defending lacrosse state title
The Dublin Coffman girls lacrosse team would like nothing more than to follow a 2021 season that included numerous firsts by accomplishing many of the same goals this spring.
What the Shamrocks won’t have is the element of surprise, but that’s been more like an adjustment as opposed to creating a new mentality.
After beating Upper Arlington 11-9 in the Division I, Region 3 championship game for its first win over the Golden Bears and its first regional title, Coffman defeated New Albany 13-12 to avenge a regular-season loss and capture its first state championship.
“There’s definitely a lot of pressure,” junior attacker/midfielder Kate Tyack said. “Last season, personally, I knew we were going to be a lot better than everyone thought we were going to be. But now everyone realizes that we’re a good team, and I think that’s a lot more pressure than last season . ... With the pressure, there’s a lot more motivation.”
Coffman has a new coach in Adam Beasley, a 1997 Hilliard Davidson graduate who previously coached the boys teams at Bexley (2006-07), Westerville North (2015) and Davidson (201720) and also assisted with the Coffman boys from 2011-14 and last season.
Michael Murphy led the Coffman girls to a 123-59-1 mark in 10 seasons, including an 18-5 record last spring before stepping down.
“I’m bringing a lot of stuff over from my boys system,” said Beasley, who is coaching a girls program for the first time. “I’m bringing in a box mentality from the boys game, so you’re going to see a lot more picks, a lot more off-ball movement, and you’ll see seven girls touching the ball on offense every possession.
“The ball’s going to move really quickly. It’s something I’ve done for a long time, and I’ve met with a lot of college coaches to make sure I knew what I was doing.”
Beasley knows the Shamrocks had one of the state’s best groups of young talent a year ago.
Coffman lost midfielder Amanda Bailey to graduation after she had 69 goals and 20 assists, but Tyack (68 goals) and junior midfielder Bailey Morris (61 goals) are back.
Sophomore attacker Ava Westmeyer scored the winning goal in the state final and finished with 18, while senior attacker Elliot Chinnock had 31 goals.
Tyack is an Ohio State commit who has two older brothers — Coffman graduates Peter Tyack and Ethan Tyack — playing at Denison.
“They’re all good kids,” Beasley said. “(Murphy) left the cupboard very, very full. They work really hard and they’re a special group.”