Columbus area deep with lacrosse talent
Considering that central Ohio girls lacrosse teams have won the past seven Division I state championships and consistently challenged for Division II titles in that time, narrowing a list of talented area players to 12 is a challenging task.
College-bound talent can be found around every corner.
That being said, here are 12 central Ohio girls lacrosse players to watch this spring:
Lexi Bird, Olentangy Liberty
The senior attacker and Stetson signee was a driving force behind the Patriots’ run to the Division I, Region 1 final a year ago. Bird amassed 62 goals and 19 assists, and in a regional quarterfinal against Delaware had a program-record 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists). She was named first-team all-region and second-team all-state after Liberty finished 16-5, losing to eventual state champion New Albany in the regional final.
Abby Cole, New Albany
A Louisville signee, the senior helped key the Eagles’ run to their first Division I state championship and fifth overall. Cole recorded 72 goals, the last two of which forced overtime in the state final before New Albany edged Upper Arlington 13-12, and also had 10 assists. Cole was named Region 1 Attacker of the Year and first-team all-state and is one of several returning starters this season.
Abberly Dela Rosa, Hilliard Darby
The senior midfielder and Niagara signee helped power the Panthers to one of the best seasons in program history. Dela Rosa had 77 goals and 22 assists as a junior to lead Darby to a 15-5 mark, one win off the program record, and a Division I, Region 3 semifinal appearance. Dela Rosa was Occ-cardinal Division Player of the Year and first-team all-region. Darby also returns senior attacker Karissa Allbright (55 goals, 14 assists) and junior goalie Mya Duncan, among other key players, from 2022.
Marissa Dolciato, Worthington Kilbourne
In her third year as the Wolves’ starting goalie, this junior and Cincinnati commit racked up 254 saves in her first two seasons. Dolciato made 134 stops last season as Kilbourne used a lateseason surge to finish 12-9 and win its second consecutive Occ-capital championship. Dolciato was named league Player of the Year and second-team allregion.
Makena Harrington, Olentangy Liberty
Last year’s Division I state Midfielder of the Year and an All-american, the senior and Florida signee’s programrecord 82 goals led the Patriots to a regional runner-up finish. Harrington also led the team in ground balls (79) and caused turnovers (21) and made 25 assists. She earned first-team all-occcentral and all-region honors.
Cate Isaacson, Thomas Worthington
A well-rounded senior attacker and Florida signee, Isaacson amassed 68 goals and 19 assists a year ago, caused 13 turnovers and won 57.3% of her draws as the Cardinals (13-7) repeated as Occcardinal champions and lost in a Region 3 quarterfinal. Isaacson, who had 89 goals as a sophomore, was named firstteam all-league, second-team all-region and second-team all-state.
Bailey Morris, Dublin Coffman
The senior midfielder, who has signed with South Florida, appears poised to help the Shamrocks win their second Division I state championship in three seasons. Morris had 81 goals and 15 assists a year ago, following up on a 61-goal sophomore season, as well as 63 ground balls, 70 draw controls and 26 caused turnovers to earn first-team allregion 3 and second-team all-state honors.
Amelia Sarap, Granville
Coming off a junior season in which the midfielder racked up 83 goals and 17 assists, Sarap started this spring with consecutive seven-goal games against Gahanna and Desales. The Central Michigan signee also controlled 57 draws with 65 ground balls, 20 interceptions and 20 caused turnovers a year ago to earn first-team all-division II, Region 7. The Blue Aces (13-8) advanced to their first regional semifinal.
Kampbell Stone, Upper Arlington
The senior midfielder and Ohio State signee was a constant in the Golden Bears’ lineup the past two seasons, scoring 50 goals with 22 assists a year ago as UA started 22-0 but lost to New Albany in the Division I state final. Stone, who had 47 goals in 2021, was named Region 3 Midfielder of the Year and first-team all-occ-central and allstate. She is one of two Osu-bound players on UA’S roster, along with classmate and midfielder Audrey Schoemer.
Kate Tyack, Dublin Coffman
A senior midfielder and Ohio State recruit, Tyack’s 72 goals and 17 assists helped power the Shamrocks to a Region 3 final rematch against UA, a year after Coffman defeated its longtime rival on the way to the state championship. Tyack was named first-team allregion and second-team all-state. Tyack and Morris give Coffman a strong nucleus around which to build this spring.
Natalie Weaver, New Albany
One of the Eagles’ defensive anchors a season ago as they went 21-2 and won their first state championship since 2013 and first in Division I, the senior was named first-team all-occ-buckeye and honorable mention in Region 1. Weaver also started as a sophomore, when New Albany advanced to the state final and fell by a goal to Coffman.
Mikayla Williams, Bexley
The senior midfielder and Navy recruit finished with 58 goals, 17 assists and 43 ground balls last season despite missing six games with an ankle injury. Williams, who also had 96 goals and 28 assists as a sophomore, was named first-team all-msl-ohio and Region 7 as well as second-team all-central Independent League a year ago. She also helped Bexley’s girls basketball team to its first district championship in 19 years this winter. dpurpura@dispatch.com @dp_dispatch