ROSS TWP. — Ross High School girls soccer coach Patrick O’Leary saw something in last season’s final match that made the result easier to accept.
The Rams had been eliminated by Oakwood 1-0 in overtime in a Division III regional semifinal, ending a 17-3-1 season. Ross had played well enough to win, O’Leary believed, but the Lumberjacks survived regulation and eventually ended the Rams’ postseason run.
What O’Leary saw that night, however, was a style and mentality he believed could carry into 2026.
Six matches into the new season, it has.
Ross improved to 6-0 with a 4-0 victory over Lakota East on Tuesday night, continuing a start built around suffocating defense, balanced scoring and a group that appears determined to build on last season’s breakthrough.
“I knew that that type of mentality and that type of performance was going to transition over,” O’Leary said. “One of the things that we worked on was beefing up our schedule and playing tougher teams. … We defend really well. We attack really well, and I think the biggest thing that we’re doing is competing.”
Rams continue perfect start
Ross has done more than simply win its first six matches.
The Rams have controlled them.
Ross opened with a 4-0 victory over Mariemont, followed with a 3-0 win at Taylor and then edged Batavia 2-1. Since then, the Rams have blanked Eaton 6-0, Franklin 3-0 and Lakota East 4-0. Ross has outscored its opponents 22-1 through six matches and has recorded five shutouts.
Tuesday’s performance provided perhaps the clearest indication of Ross’ progress.
Four different players scored against Lakota East. Sophomore Ava Bush finished with a goal and an assist, junior Mady Koeninger scored, sophomore Maci Taylor contributed a goal and an assist, and sophomore Harper Trumbell added another goal. Senior McKenna Gildea and also recorded an assist.
Junior goalkeeper Mia Michel needed to make just one save for the shutout — an indication of how little Ross allowed Lakota East to generate offensively.
“I think we’ve communicated really well, especially with losing five seniors last year,” Koeninger said. “I think we’ve recovered from that very well.”
Ross has quickly established scoring options throughout its lineup. Bush is credited with three goals and eight assists, Koeninger with a team-high six goals, Taylor with five goals and senior Caroline Davis with three. Ross has 22 goals with 19 assists total.
O’Leary said the production is partly the result of an emphasis that began last season — winning small races.
“We work on getting the ball outside,” O’Leary said. “We work on trying to attack the near post and just make easy goals. If we can do that, we’ll be successful.
“The hardest players we should play against are each other, and then games hopefully will be easier.”
That approach showed against Lakota East, when Ross consistently put players in position to finish chances.
And the schedule gets no easier. Ross hosts Hamilton on Saturday before beginning a stretch of Southwestern Buckeye League matches that includes Edgewood, Talawanda, Franklin, Monroe and Bellbrook. Summit Country Day is also on the nonleague schedule later this month.
“We’re very happy with that,” O’Leary said of beating Lakota East. “We know as a coaching staff that they’re a perennial powerhouse. So we’re excited when we get to that point, but at the same time, we just want to take it one step at a time.”
Koeninger making the most of expanded role
Few players better illustrate Ross’ development than Koeninger.
A year ago, she was primarily a reserve.
Now, she is one of the Rams’ leading scorers.
“Last year, sophomore year, I was a swing and I only had a few minutes every game,” Koeninger said. “Going from being a sub last year to starting and playing a lot of minutes this year, it’s really helped me a lot.”
The results have followed with her team-leading six goals.
And her emergence has not surprised O’Leary.
He watched Koeninger during the club season and noticed an attribute that can be difficult to teach — she consistently finds herself where scoring opportunities develop.
“She just puts herself in the right position to get goals, and that’s why they’re just adding up,” O’Leary said.
That represents an improvement for Ross as a team.
O’Leary said there were moments last season when the Rams delivered balls into dangerous areas only to have their nearest attacking player well outside the box. Ross has emphasized closing that space and getting players into scoring positions.
Koeninger has become one of the primary beneficiaries.
“She’s there,” O’Leary said. “And it’s fun to watch.”
The transformation is even more significant considering what Ross accomplished last season without Koeninger occupying a starring offensive role.
The Rams went 17-3-1 and 9-1 in league play. O’Leary was named the 2025 SWBL Southwestern Division Coach of the Year, while Bush was named the division’s Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. Bush, Caroline Davis and Isabelle Davis were first-team all-league selections, while Michel and Ellie Fogt made the second team.
Ross ultimately reached the regional semifinals before its 1-0 overtime loss to Oakwood.
That defeat still remains as motivation.
Koeninger said another opportunity against Oakwood would be welcomed, but her aspirations extend beyond a rematch.
“I hope we win state,” Koeninger said. “It’s just a big goal. I think it’s approachable. I think at least higher up than we were last year.”
Michel, Bush anchor talented young core
Ross’ undefeated start has been fueled by its offense, but the foundation remains at the other end of the field.
Michel has developed into one of Ohio’s most accomplished goalkeepers.
As a sophomore in 2025, Michel recorded 18 shutouts, tied for the second-highest single-season total listed in the OHSAA record book.
She has picked up where she left off.
Michel has allowed just one goal through six matches this season while making 13 saves with a .929 save percentage.
Koeninger pointed to Michel immediately when asked why Ross has started 6-0.
“Mia Michel, our keeper, she’s such a stud,” Koeninger said. “She’s really good. And I think our defense — everybody has been such a key component.”
Then there is Bush.
The sophomore was already an established playmaker after earning SWBL Newcomer of the Year and first-team all-league honors as a freshman.
Her role has continued to expand.
Bush has three goals and eight assists through six games.
O’Leary said the production is only part of what separates her.
“You get lucky coaching special players,” O’Leary said. “The things that I would say about Ava — she’s humble. She’s so good, but is humble.”
“She’s putting in extra work. She’s coming up here hours training with mom, getting extra touches in, running. Talent is one thing, but talent and hard work is a completely different route.”
Bush’s mother, former Ross coach Kayla Bush, has joined O’Leary’s staff as a volunteer assistant this season. O’Leary credited her addition with strengthening a staff that has helped the Rams refine their attacking movement and technical work.
The combination of established players and emerging contributors has given Ross reason to believe last season was a starting point rather than a peak.
Michel is a junior. Koeninger is a junior. Bush and Taylor are sophomores. Trumbell is a sophomore. The roster also includes experienced seniors such as Gildea, Caroline Davis, Isabelle Davis, Emilee Willis, Sarah Johnston, Ellie Fogt and Aubrey Eads.
And after six matches, Ross has yet to trail in the loss column.
O’Leary isn’t interested in allowing the Rams to look too far ahead. But the numbers, however, are difficult to ignore.
Six matches. Six victories. Twenty-two goals scored. One allowed. Five shutouts.
And for a team that walked off the field last fall believing it had played well enough to continue its season, the objective now is making sure this one lasts even longer.
“We like to compete,” O’Leary said. “That’s the biggest thing for us.”
