![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/984343.webp\" "\\"Chippewa")
<\/p>\nFor many people across the area who are tuned into girls soccer, they probably envision Chippewa girls soccer coach Ruth Coney as much like coach Gary Gaines in Friday Night Lights. At the end of the movie, he takes the names off his blackboard of his starters from that year and simply replaces them. The result is much the same, success, success and more success, and for Coney, it’s been rolling that way since about 2001.<\/p>\n
For her, it\u2019s much more as she remembers each and every one of her players dating back to her start in 1997. This year, though, she has a group in the offensive third that could rival the groups of the past, but as Coney would always say, each one is very special and dear to her.<\/p>\n
This year, there is the headliner in junior Delaney Marshall. Make no mistake, the area\u2019s unanimously best player is well known statewide. She will probably become the program\u2019s third-ever three-time All-Ohioan, first-ever offensive player to achieve such a feat and join legends Kay Young (midfielder, 2007, 2006, 2005) and Sara Boyan (defender, 2006, 2005, 2004) as three-timers. Earning All-Ohioan this year, she will join a list of Elena Moyer, Bailey Clark, Sydnee Barnett, Nadya Boualany and Emily Badock as two-time All-Ohioans.<\/p>\n
She isn\u2019t alone, and that\u2019s the bad news for opponents this year and next year. Flanking her are sophomores Emme Donnelly and Alaina Henthorn and senior Cally West, with the addition of a few others.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting further into the playoffs, we know teams will hone in on me and Emme,\u201d said Marshall. \u201cIt\u2019s just a matter of finding the open person. In practice, we find each other, and we have a full team that can make shots, and they do each day in practice. It\u2019s just a matter of trusting each other, and I think we all trust each other. We are all like a family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donnelly is a dynamo in her own right, strong with both feet, good vision and a penchant for finding the net. On any other team in the area and the majority of the teams in Division V, she is their top offensive option.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand each other,” said Donnelly. “We have a great connection. We pick each other up, and there is no selfishness. If someone else scores, I\u2019m just as happy as if it was me scoring, and I feel that excitement is what connects us together. We all wish the best for each other, and that\u2019s what makes our bond so special.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henthorn continues to blossom and works to attack with both feet as she possesses a booming left foot and will be a force next year. This year, for the second year in a row, she had her season cut short early due to an injury. West is the senior leader, has great vision, can set up anyone and is simply tough as nails. Stepping up in Henthorn\u2019s absence and quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with is junior Lily Davis.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmme and Alaina were freshmen last year, and we\u2019ve been playing together ever since,\u201d said Marshall. \u201cWe\u2019ve really bonded and connected well. We read each other. We know where each of us wants the ball, know each other\u2019s speed, and we just play really well together.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n Chippewa junior Lily Davis fires this throw in against Kirtland.
\n Joshua McWilliams\n <\/p>\n
\u201cLily (Davis) has really stepped into her role since the injuries, and ever since she has started, she has really stepped it up so much. She is stepping to balls. She is staying with her defender. She has put in a lot of work, and she deserves it.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Nov. 1, it was Donnelly\u2019s turn to deliver the game\u2019s only score with 22:52 left in the first half to beat Kirtland 1-0 in a Div. V regional final. Splitting a pair of defenders, she kicked the ball just inside the near post, and with it, the Chipps advanced to their seventh state appearance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a crazy moment; I wasn\u2019t expecting it,\u201d said Donnelly. \u201cThere was a girl on me. I just tried to tap it, and when I saw it went to the corner, I was so surprised, overjoyed and excited.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for making it back to state?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels awesome,” said Donnelly. “As a sophomore, back-to-back to state is insane, and I am so excited that I get to keep playing with all my teammates. I just love them so much. I just want to continue this journey with them, and I am so excited.\u201d<\/p>\n
Talking about that bond that both Marshall and Donnelly gush about.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means literally the world to me,”\u00a0said Donnelly. “I keep imagining before games, \u2018How would it feel if we lose and I can\u2019t play with them,\u2019 and I don\u2019t even know what to think. They mean everything to me, and if I couldn\u2019t play with them anymore, I\u2019d be so upset.\u201d<\/p>\n
That bond that this group has is clear and evident by their play, celebrations and elation for whenever anyone scores. It shows in the way they conduct themselves in practice, pushing each other to be better, teaching each other and above all, fighting for each other. At this time of year, that drive and that want to can add just enough motivation to carry teams, along with their talent.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur bond is 110% motivating,\u201d said Donnelly. \u201cI don\u2019t want to leave them. They don\u2019t want to leave me, especially our seniors. I love our seniors so much. They are awesome and just continuing to play for them and with them is everything.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For many people across the area who are tuned into girls soccer, they probably envision Chippewa girls soccer…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":261173,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[440],"tags":[49,48,561,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-261172","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-soccer","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-soccer","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261172","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=261172"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261172\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/261173"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=261172"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=261172"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=261172"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}