The Hudson Explorers are going to the state championship game still unbeaten. Hudson beat Cincinnati St. Ursula Academy 3-2 on Tuesday night, November 10, in an Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II state semifinal at Big Walnut High School, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.
Hudson (21-0) took control early, building a 2-0 halftime lead on two goals by Maniar, the Beacon Journal reported. Elliana Durachinsky added the third Hudson goal, and Cameron Murdoch, Hannah Meese and Maniar added assists, according to the Beacon Journal’s recap.
St. Ursula refused to fold. The Bulldogs, who reached their first state semifinal since 2008 and their 10th overall, rallied late to make it a one-goal game before Hudson closed it out, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. St. Ursula finished its season 13-6-3 after playing much of the year without six projected starters who were lost to injury early, the Enquirer reported.
The semifinal was Hudson’s 10th state semifinal appearance and its second straight trip to the final four, according to the Beacon Journal. The Explorers reached the game by beating Highland 4-0 in the regional final, and they entered Tuesday having not conceded a goal in seven straight games dating to October 5.
Hudson’s scoring leaders carried the night, as they have all season. Maniar entered the semifinal with 30 goals and five assists on the season, and Meese with 22 goals and 19 assists, according to the Beacon Journal’s pregame breakdown. Maniar’s two first-half goals gave her three points on the night with her assist.
For St. Ursula, the loss ended a five-game winning streak and a run of seven wins in eight games, according to the Beacon Journal. The Bulldogs won their regional by beating Cincinnati Anderson 2-1 after district wins over Riverside Stebbins and Loveland.
What happens next is the title game. Hudson plays Bishop Watterson (18-1-2) for the Division II state championship on Saturday, November 14, at 7 p.m. at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, according to the OHSAA pairings and the Beacon Journal. Watterson beat Avon 4-0 in the other semifinal, and the final is a rematch of last year’s state semifinal, which Hudson won 2-0, the Beacon Journal reported.
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