ASHLAND — The kryptonite that takes out Superman isn’t as strong as it used to be.
Two-time reigning state champion Olentangy Liberty will play Upper Arlington on Sunday, June 7, in the Division I girls lacrosse final for the fourth consecutive season.
That said, Liberty’s stranglehold on Hudson seems to be slipping despite the Patriots beating the Explorers 9-8 in double overtime on June 2 and ending their season for the fourth consecutive time in the state semifinals.
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It took 51 minutes and 47 seconds for Liberty (19-3) to figure out Hudson (20-1), and even after that the Patriots walked out of Jack Miller Stadium knowing it took everything they had to beat the Explorers.
“For us, it’s a culture thing,” Hudson coach John Kroah said. “We haven’t pushed through the door just yet, but we’re going to get there. This is the closest we’ve come. It took two overtimes for them, but I couldn’t be more proud of this team. This team was living in the shadows of teams of the past and they stepped out.”
What it took for Olentangy Liberty to beat Hudson girls lacrosse
The Explorers exploded out of the gate in the second half by taking a two-goal deficit and turning it into a four-goal advantage heading to the fourth quarter behind Laine Lewis (three goals), Lauren Brownley (two goals, two assists), Claire Orazen (two goals, assist) and Ashlie Pearson (one goal).
The Patriots didn’t tie the score until there were 18 seconds left in regulation and then needed a second overtime to put Hudson away.
The Explorers didn’t hang their heads long. Instead, they immediately looked to 2027.
“This game is over,” Kroah said. “Next season has already started. I’ll give them today and then the sun will come up tomorrow and we’ll be right back at it.”
Those weren’t words of regret. Instead they were an idea to push through.
What 2027 looks like for the Hudson Explorers
Lewis, Brownley and Chloe Bigham are the only starters who will graduate off a team that lost just once this season.
Bigham pointed to the bond her fellow seniors had to bring along the underclassmen in what they hoped was a championship season.
Lewis knew the legacy of four consecutive final fours wouldn’t be lost next season.
“I think they’re going to come out guns blazing,” she said. “I think they won’t stop. I think they’ll miss us, but will fill those shoes quickly. I have no doubt that they’ll do the same thing we did and more.”
As for breaking that stranglehold the state capital has with both finals teams coming out of the Columbus area since 2017, it just might come to an end in 2027 — and the team that might do it might come out of Summit County.
“I think we’re going to go all the way next year,” Brownley said. “We’ve lost too many times in this game. Next year, this is our field. This is our game. I have full faith in them that they’re going to carry on the Hudson tradition and make it to the next game.”
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hudson girls lacrosse vows to return after fourth straight loss in state semifinals
Reporting by Brad Bournival, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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