Photo by Jeff Harwell

The Medina Lady Bees pose for their state championship team photo at Crew Stadium, Nov. 14, 2009, following a 4-0 win over Dublin Coffman.

COLUMBUS -- The Medina Bees are OHSAA Division I girls soccer state champions.

Medina dominated Dublin Coffman 4-0 on Saturday afternoon at Crew Stadium to win the program's second state title (1997).

"We wanted it so badly, you could just tell after all of our goals. We played so well," said senior Sarah Flanders, who had one goal and two assists. "I'm just so excited."

But for as well as their offense played, the Bees (21-1-2) saluted their defensive unit for completely shutting down the Shamrocks.

"I can't say enough about our defense," Bees coach Doug Coreno said. "That was the area we were worried about coming into the season, having graduated three very significant defenders from last year, and those girls, man, they just came together. We had some young kids step up and fill those roles. Our defense has been the backbone of our team all season."

The numbers are staggering.

Dublin Coffman (14-6-3) had no shots on goal. Junior goalkeeper Taylor Burke did not have to make a save. The Bees posted 12 straight shutouts to end the season (including all eight playoff games) and logged 18 shutouts in 24 total matches. Medina yielded six goals all season.

Burke made 14 saves and was sensational in the 1-0 state semifinal win over Walsh Jesuit. However, on Saturday the accolades were aimed at the defensive back line: senior captain Melissa Hill, junior Nicolle Varney, sophomore Anna Boyert, and sophomore Jen Jankowski. Reserve Ali Kovarik also contributed.

"They really have a feel for each other," Coreno said. "We play a flat back four and it relies on team play and being in the right spot. Those girls have jelled and they are very difficult to get past."

Hill, Varney, Boyert, and Jankowski controlled the championship match from start to finish. Flanders broke the ice with a goal just before halftime on an assist from Becca Candler. In the second half, the floodgates opened.

Junior Maura Gorman would score two goals. Candler, realizing she was double and triple teamed, again became a distributor and had another assist. Junior Jillian Graff also popped in a goal.

"The defense doesn't get as much ink as the offense, which I guess is the the way it is in sports," Gorman said. "But without those girls back there this year we would not have been in this game.

"Having players like Sarah Flanders, Becca Candler and Jillian Graff playing alongside you, it really makes my job easy. Both of my goals were beautiful passes that I was able to finish."

To make it to Crew Stadium, Medina, ranked fourth in the final state poll, had to defeat seventh-ranked Cloverleaf (1-0), second-ranked Strongsville (4-0), and third-ranked Walsh Jesuit (1-0).

Dublin Coffman was playing in its fifth state championship match this decade.