By Jarrod Ulrey for the Cincinnati Enquirer

COLUMBUS - Despite dominating play throughout regulation of the Division II state championship game Saturday at Columbus Crew Stadium, the Badin girls' soccer team was forced into overtime by Doylestown Chippewa.

That's when sophomore Abby Milillo suggested she get a shot at playing striker after spending the previous 80 minutes at midfielder. She quickly lived up to her belief that she could make something happen when she set up the winning goal of a 2-1 victory.

With 10:40 left in the first sudden-death overtime, Milillo passed to Emily Flum for the game-winner.

"I knew if they put me up there, I'd get something started, and I did," Milillo said.

Badin, No. 1 in the Division II state coaches' poll and No. 1 in the area coaches' poll, outshot the Chipps 16-4, including 6-1 in shots on goal. On the game-winner, Milillo drove toward the goal and sent a pass just out of the reach of Chippewa goalkeeper Samantha Hoffman and to Flum, who kicked it into the net.

It was the first state championship for the Rams, state runners-up in 1995, '96, '97 and 2000. Badin finished 18-3-2 and handed Chippewa its only loss of a 21-1-1 season.

With 33:29 remaining in regulation, the Chipps took advantage of their only opportunity when Natalie Villers scored off a cross by Ali Milford for a 1-0 lead.

Badin scored its first goal with 27:40 left. Kristina Anderson's shot was knocked away by Hoffman and to sophomore Megan Reimer, who scored off the rebound. The opportunity began following a free kick by Anderson.

"We dominated the play a lot of the game," Badin coach Keith Harring said. "Our key was just keeping it down at our end. They, I think, had only one shot in the entire first half."

Badin had its first scoring opportunity with 24:21 remaining in the first half when Hoffman bobbled a ball knocked into the box and senior Heather Rains nearly knocked it in.

The Rams also had a corner-kick opportunity by Anderson that was knocked away by Hoffman with 7:45 to go in the first half. A shot on goal by junior Lindsey Smith with 10 seconds left before halftime went just left of the goal. Chippewa's goal came on its second shot of the game.

"They just wanted to outrun you," said Harring, in his fourth season as coach. "They came out in a 4-2-2 defense because they knew they couldn't play three midfielders against us. That took their striker out of the game.

"I just told all of the girls before the game that they were born to win this game and it's time to fulfill your destiny."

Said Rains: "It was such a relief to finally (win). ... From the beginning of the season, we felt like we had a lot of talent and we weren't cocky about it."

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