Harper B-M. (Courtesy/@harry.photoz Instagram)
The girls soccer team stood arm-in-arm at the center of the Historic Columbus Crew Stadium on Friday, November 7, to accept their silver medals as their fans roared in appreciation. Though the scoreboard read 4–0 in favor of Cincinnati Summit Country Day, the three-time defending champions, the Vikings knew they had already made history. For the first time, Academy’s girls soccer had reached the Division IV State Championship game, capping off a remarkable 18–4–2 season filled with grit and unity.
Their road to the final began with a commanding performance in the state semifinal just three days earlier, on Tuesday, November 4. Facing Beaver Local, the Vikings took a few minutes to find their rhythm as the Beavers applied intense early pressure. That didn’t last long, as Harper B-M. broke through the defense to score the opening goal, setting the tone for what became a 4–0 sweep. “They got scared and we pushed through,” Harper said. “We knew we were dominating them throughout the game and just had to finish off.” Sydney S. followed with the second goal, and Harper and Addison M. added two more before the final whistle, sending Academy to its first-ever state title match.
The next two days were filled with nerves and preparation. Seniors reflected on the journey while putting in hours after school to train. On Thursday, the entire CA community dressed in spirit wear to support the girls, and by Friday morning, championship day, the energy was palpable.
The Vikes approached their warm-up with the same focus and routine they had carried all season, treating the championship like any other match. Once playing began, their discipline showed. The first half remained scoreless, with Academy’s defense holding strong against multiple Silver Knight attacks. But in the opening minutes of the second half, Summit Country Day struck twice, seizing momentum. Two more goals followed, and the Vikings failed to find their footing on offense before the final whistle.
When the game ended, the team gathered, soaking in applause from the crowd of fans who had traveled to cheer them on. Tears and smiles were mixed as they accepted the runner-up trophy—a symbol not of loss, but of how far they’d come.
Harper said, “It wasn’t the result we wanted, but we’re happy that we made history.” She added that the support from the Academy community meant everything: “I know we didn’t win the gold medals or the gold trophy, but our community didn’t care. They showed up for us. The impact we had on our school is what this team will remember for a lifetime.”
Allison echoed that sentiment, saying how proud she was to close her senior year with this team. “We have such a tight bond, and I think that’s part of what made us so good this year,” she said. “I can’t thank our fans enough for all of the support this season, and I’m so proud to be part of this CA girls soccer program.”
In only his second year as head coach, Grant Stegner led the Vikings to district and regional titles and ultimately to their first-ever appearance in the state championship game.
Though the season ended one win short of the ultimate goal, the girls walked off the field with their heads held high, knowing they had already left their legacy to the Academy girls soccer program.
