A Season of Transition
Mount Notre Dame entered the 2025 campaign as the dominant force in the Southwest regional, capping the year with a 6‑0 victory over Ursuline Academy and finishing with a 13‑8 record. The Cougars fell in the state semifinal to Thomas Worthington, the four‑time defending champions, marking the first time a Cincinnati‑area team had reached that stage since 2004. The loss underscored both the program’s resilience and the gaps left by graduation.
Key departures include starting goalie Josie Broener, the Enquirer player of the year, and Aubrey Ludwig, who topped the GGCL in goals. In their stead, the team will lean on returning standouts such as Andie McCullough, who led the squad in assists, Natalie Klaber, second in scoring, and defender Elizabeth Herzner, a MAX All‑Ohio second‑team selection. These players form the core that will attempt to bridge the transition from a championship‑laden past to a rebuilding phase.
Outside the traditional power structure, Indian Hill finished 2025 with a 16‑3 record but saw its season end in the regional semifinals against Ursuline. This year brings a notable shift as Emily Betz, the 2025 SWOFHL Coach of the Year, moves from Summit Country Day to lead Indian Hill, replacing Tara Rose. Betz will inherit a roster featuring Polly Holmes and Kate Lamphear, aiming to translate early‑season promise into deeper playoff runs.
Summit Country Day also undergoes a change, appointing Caroline Capellupo as head coach. Capellupo inherits a team anchored by captains Natalie Neyra and Poppy Hill, both of whom will look to sustain momentum after a promising 2025 campaign. The new leadership adds an element of unpredictability to the league race, especially as the squad integrates fresh talent while retaining experienced voices.
Walnut Hills, elevated to varsity status in 2023, will make its second appearance in the OHSAA state tournament this year. Defender Lily Pavelka, a second‑team all‑city selection, returns to bolster a defense that has steadily improved since the program’s inception. Their participation signals the growing depth of competition beyond the traditional powerhouses.
Ursuline enters the season with a modest 5‑11 regular‑season record but a strong postseason pedigree, having upset No. 2‑seeded Indian Hill in the regional semifinals a year ago. The team returns seven varsity players, including midfielder Andi Guy, the leading returning points scorer, and sophomore Lila Eichmann, who delivered clutch goals as a freshman. Their experience could translate into a deeper tournament run.
St. Ursula, the only Cincinnati school to have captured a state championship, has not posted a winning season since 2019. However, a 9‑8 finish in 2025 has reignited optimism. Midfielder Maggie Mussman and defender Josie Serger are expected to lead the offense and anchor the back line, respectively, as the team seeks to break its drought and return to the state final.