Upper Arlington field hockey is one win from its first state title.

The Golden Bears blanked Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame 3-0 on Thursday, Nov. 5, in the OHSAA state semifinal at Thomas Worthington High School, advancing to its second consecutive state championship game, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

UA (16-5-1) will face Columbus Academy (18-2-1) for the state championship at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Thomas Worthington. OHSAA Sports confirmed the matchup on X.

It will be an all-central-Ohio final for the fifth time in six seasons, the Dispatch reported. A central Ohio program will win for the 12th consecutive year

Golden Bears smother Mount Notre Dame

UA's defense dominated from the opening whistle. The Golden Bears held Mount Notre Dame (15-7) without a shot in three of the four quarters and allowed just three for the entire game, all in the second period. None were on goal.

The shutout was UA's fifth in a row and 11th of the season.

Senior midfielder Vivian Swary scored off a penalty corner halfway through the second quarter, taking an assist from senior forward Caroline Overmyer for her third goal of the season, the Dispatch reported.

"Caroline had a great pass and I just saw the open area on the far post," Swary said, according to the Dispatch. She also assisted sophomore forward Anya Haney's goal with 1:13 left in the third quarter off another corner.

Sophomore midfielder Sawyer Lee punched in the final goal with 5:26 to play. UA finished with 15 shots and scored once in each of the final three periods.

Overmyer said the team focused on a forward mentality and pushing the ball through, then shifted its defense to cover the areas Mount Notre Dame liked to attack, according to the Dispatch.

Bears coach Homero Pardi said the game plan centered on team defense and neutralizing Mount Notre Dame's top players, according to the Dispatch.

Championship matchup

The Golden Bears are 0-2 all-time in state finals, including a 3-1 loss to Thomas Worthington last year, the Dispatch reported. UA beat Columbus Academy 3-1 on Sept. 16 in the teams' only regular-season meeting this year.

Academy reached the final by upsetting previously undefeated Shaker Heights 2-1 in overtime in the second semifinal Nov. 5. Katie Neviaser scored off a penalty corner 3:27 into overtime to send the Vikings to their first championship game appearance since their most recent title in 2019, according to the Dispatch. Academy is seeking its 13th state championship and is at state for a record 25th time.

Road to the final

UA won its third straight regional title Oct. 31 at Olentangy Liberty, beating four-time defending champion Thomas Worthington 1-0 on a second-quarter goal from sophomore Charlie Rogers, the Dispatch reported. Junior Sloane Bunker helped limit Thomas to four shots on goal in that regional final.

Academy has won 12 consecutive games dating to Sept. 23.