On Friday, Chagrin Falls outlasted Wyoming in a penalty kick shootout to win the OHSAA Division II state championship at Lower.com Field in Columbus.
The Tigers and Cowboys were scoreless through regulation and two overtime periods. Chagrin Falls clinched the title with a 4-2 advantage in the shootout.
“Our word for this season was relentless,” said Chagrin Falls co-head coach Pamela Malone. “To battle to a shootout in the state championship just shows that quality in our players.”
Senior goalkeeper Peyton Gellin entered the game with 52 saves this season. She recorded nine against the Cowboys, none bigger than two she saved in overtime and the two PK saves in the shootout.
“I am so proud of this team,” Gellin said. “I am beyond excited to have this opportunity and couldn’t have asked for a better way to leave this program.”
Gellin faced three shots in the first half and nine in the second. She turned away every ball that came her way.
The Cowboys, who hit the crossbar with a shot in the 78th minute, fired off three shots in the first and second overtime.
Chagrin Falls had its chances as well. The Tigers finished the match with 17 shots on goal.
Gellin saved her best for the shootout.
“I love PKs as a goalie,” she said. “I am not involved in a lot of regulation play so when I get the chance to make saves in big moments, I can’t let the nerves take over. I do the best I can to keep my composure and make the saves. I have to go into it with confidence. My team and community were counting on me so I had to let that energy transfer over to the PKs.”
She blocked Wyoming’s first attempt and then Kate Bartlett converted her PK try to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
On its second attempt, Wyoming evened up the score, but the Tigers took a 2-1 lead on Elana McGinnis’ PK. Gellin recorded another save and then helped her own cause with a PK of her own for a 3-1 lead.
The Cowboys converted their next PK try to pull to within 3-2, but Sarah Burgess ended the game with her successful PK attempt.
With the win, the Tigers won their second state championship in school history. The first came in 1996, a 1-0 win over Hamilton Badin.
The win also was the last for Malone, who closes out her 30-year career at Chagrin Falls with a 398-141-59 record and two state championships.
