St. Ursula field hockey team enjoys state title

November 9 2010 by Taylah Cosgrove in Education Sport Tips |No Comments

St. Ursula senior goalkeeper Ellen Ryan won’t soon forget the exhilaration she felt as the Bulldogs won the school’s first field hockey state title on Nov. 6.

“It was a lot of fun,” Ryan said. It was a great experience. I had the time of my life. (That) weekend was awesome.”

Ryan, an all-state selection, was an integral part of the memorable run toward the state title. Ryan had 12 ½ shutouts for the Bulldogs this season. She had 10 saves in the 1-0 win over Thomas Worthington in the state final at Upper Arlington.

“There’s a confidence that translates to the rest of the team when you know somebody has your back,” St. Ursula coach Sarah Catlin said. “When your goalkeeper is that player, everyone knows she has their back.”

St. Ursula’s first state field hockey title represented not only a significant moment for the school community, but also for the Cincinnati area.

The Bulldogs were the first area team to bring home the state title in field hockey, according to the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

“One of the things we talked about as a team was just how competitive Cincinnati was this year,” Catlin said. “There were several teams that could’ve represented the area and gone on (to the state final four).”

Catlin, who completed her second season as head coach, said she received congratulatory e-mails from coaches at Mount Notre Dame and Ursuline after the state final.

St. Ursula, Mount Notre Dame and Ursuline made state final four appearances during the past decade, but Cleveland and Columbus area teams had won 11 consecutive state titles up until this year. St. Ursula was a state semifinalist in 2009.

St. Ursula (14-6-1) earned 14 shutouts and allowed just one combined goal in its 14 wins this season.

“Cincinnati has a little bit of a chip on its shoulder,” Catlin said. “We know we have gotten better in recent years.”

Catlin, who has been the director of admissions and student life at St. Ursula for the past two years, said there was a great deal of enthusiasm as the Bulldogs returned to Cincinnati after the state final.

“It was really exciting,” said Catlin, who said eight or nine players volunteered for the school’s open house the day after the state final.

St. Ursula graduated 12 players from a squad of 20 from the ’09 state semifinalist team, yet going into next season the Bulldogs return 14 of its 18 players.

St. Ursula athletic director Mike Sipes said the field hockey program started in 1996 or ’97 and has been building toward a state title for the past six or eight years.

“I think the theme for this group has been everybody’s been together,” Sipes said. “This group is just truly a team of individuals that have come together and figured out very well how to support each other and be a part of something bigger than themselves.”

Area teams in the state field hockey final four since the 2000 season:

2000 – Indian Hill (state runner-up)

2001 – Ursuline (state semifinalist)

2002 – none

2003 – none

2004 – Mount Notre Dame (state runner-up)

2005 – none

2006 – Mount Notre Dame (state semifinalist)

2007 – none

2008 – Mount Notre Dame (state semifinalist)

2009 – St. Ursula (state semifinalist)

2010 – St. Ursula (state champion)

Nice birthday gift: A strong supporter of the team this season was St. Ursula president Judy Wimberg, who is stepping down the end of the school year after spending several years at the school either as a student, principal or president.

Ironically, tbe Bulldogs won the state final on Wimberg’s birthday, Catlin said.

“She has been an ardent supporter all season long,” Catlin said. “She left her surprise birthday party to make it to the semifinal game.”

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