Lakota West gets late goal against Dublin Coffman to make Division I girls soccer final - The Cincinnati Enquirer

Scott Springer Cincinnati Enquirer

Published 9:46 PM EST Nov 5, 2019

SPRINGFIELD -  Making just their third state appearance ever, the Lakota West High School girls soccer team sent chilly Firebird fans home happy from Springfield Tuesday with a 2-1 win over Dublin Coffman in a Division I girls soccer semifinal.

Kailyn Dudukovich's second goal of the night was a quick response to the opposing Rocks whose fans were still celebrating a game-tying goal just a few minutes earlier. It was her 48th goal of the season, more than three times as many as most of the Greater Miami Conference top scorers. 

"It was a great battle, exciting, and I'm just so proud of this team coming as far as we can," Dudukovich said. "We're just enjoying this win. State finals? It's the first time in 20 years."

Head coach Brigit Reder, a former Firebird soccer and basketball player, received a congratulatory hug from Lakota West principal Elgin Card and was all smiles. She said she had no doubt they would win.

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"I feel confident in the girls," Reder said. "We put them in high-intensity environments in training. They've seen games where they've either had to battle back or hold on to a win or gain a win back. They kept their composure, they took care of business and that's what I would expect."

Dublin Coffman came in not having lost since early in the season when they fell 1-0 to Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit. With just under 27 minutes left in the first half, Lakota West scored just the third goal on the Rocks in six postseason games when Ohio State commits Sydney Jones and Dudukovich teamed up on a corner kick the GMC scoring leader Dudukovich deposited into the net. 

That would be the only goal of the half. 

Coffman had not been shut out since their opening two games of the season. Even though keeper Maddie Prohaska was a thorn in their side most of the game, they finally connected with 14:17 remaining when captain Emma Bartrhel scored off a corner.

However, Lakota West has scored a minimum of two goals each game this fall.

A little more than three minutes later, Dudukovich struck again with a center ball that Claudia Gibson hit off the crossbar. Dudukovich was there for the follow and the 2-1 lead. A third goal was called back on an offsides call, but it didn't matter. At triple zeroes, the Firebirds were state championship-bound.

"We knew we had to get another one and losing just wasn't an option for us," Dudukovich said of the game-winning goal. "Claudia had a great shot and I just followed it up."

Like their neighbors at Lakota East, whose boys team plays Wednesday in the state semifinals, a certain Prince song will likely play among Lakota West fans as they haven't made it to the state finals since 1999 when they won it all. Prior to that, they appeared in 1994.

"It's cool," Reder said. "We get a chance to do this again 20 years later."

This season under Reder, the Firebirds have been infused with a trio of Division I commits who missed their sophomore seasons playing for the Cincinnati Development Academy. They will return to their club team when this season is finished.

Ohio State recruits Dudukovich and Jones and Auburn commit Prohaska have led Lakota West to an undefeated year with just two ties (New Albany and Fairfield). 

Prohaska nearly had her ninth shutout of the season and had several saves that sent Dublin Coffman's fans into convulsions. 

"That just shows what kind of team we are when we come back and we score again," Prohaska said. "That just shows the grit, the grind, just kind of how the season's gone altogether. I'm just really proud of how everyone worked from the backline to the forwards, even the bench. Everyone that didn't get to play tonight, they were there 100%."

The 21-0-2 Firebirds advance to Saturday's state final at MAPFRE Stadium against Anthony Wayne at 7 p.m. Anthony Wayne is also undefeated and beat Medina in Sandusky 1-0.

"At this point, only one team comes out of the state undefeated," Dudukovich said. "We're excited about this win and ready to get going on Saturday."

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