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Bay's Tessa Knapp breaks OHSAA career goals record in 7-0 home win over Padua – Morning Journal

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Bay's Tessa Knapp breaks OHSAA career goals record in 7-0 home win over Padua – Morning Journal

In OHSAA girls soccer history, 2010 St. Clairsville graduate Jaclyn Dutton led the nation in career goals in the fall of 2009.

The number 192 seemed impossible to reach – a full dozen shy of second place on this fall's list.

Bay's two-time All-American Tessa Knapp, who averaged more than 49 goals in her first three seasons, entered the Oct. 5 home game against Padua with 190 career goals.

At the end of the night, Knapp stood alone on the mountaintop. She broke the school's career scoring record on the same goal in the north end zone against Kenston in September 2023. Knapp's third goal of the night – 30 seconds into the second period and her 193rd of her career – highlighted the 7-0 victory over the Bruins.

Tessa Knapp celebrates the record for most goals. (Aimee Bielozer – For The Morning Journal)
Tessa Knapp celebrates the record for most goals. (Aimee Bielozer – For The Morning Journal)

Additional goals for Bay were scored by Emery Aschenbrener, Maya Holmes with a goal and an assist, Bea Ullom and Lacey Gilmore. Eva Julien also contributed an assist.

The crowd roared with applause and Knapp was swarmed by her teammates – a long-term goal checked off and history made. To top it off, her brother Jace, parents, grandparents and other family members were present for the big moment.

“It's been a great experience all four years, from my freshman year to now,” Knapp smiled courtside as she was taken out of the game to speak with family, fans and media. “It’s nice to see my hard work pay off and score so many goals. To be honest, I couldn't have done it the whole four years without my teammates.

“For as long as I can remember, I grew up with these girls and always played with them. It's special to do this with them and for them and for the city of Bay Village. I couldn't have done it without them, without the support of my whole family – who are my biggest supporters – I love them so much. It means so much to me.”

Tessa Knapp receives congratulations, balloons and flowers from her team. (Aimee Bielozer – For The Morning Journal)
Tessa Knapp receives congratulations, balloons and flowers from her team. (Aimee Bielozer – For The Morning Journal)

Padua's defense immediately focused on Knapp, with at least two shots rattling off the outside post and Audrey Butler made a fantastic play to knock a near-certain shot up and out of play.

“I thought we would get there tonight. It was just going to take a while,” captain Lizzie Fetterman said after the Bruins fended off early pushes from Knapp and Bay.

“Knowing Tessa, she won’t allow that. You saw that in the second half – she came into the game with 30 seconds on the clock and scored. I had no doubt.”

The Bruins and Rockets were deadlocked for nearly 30 minutes when a penalty in the Padua box forced Tessa Knapp to take a penalty in the 29th minute, scoring her first goal of the night and the 191st of her career.

Then, with 35 seconds left in the first half, Knapp stormed down the court and tied Jaclyn Dutton's record of 192 with a powerful shot, giving the Rockets a 4-0 lead at halftime.

“It’s a very special moment,” said Emery Aschenbrener, who has more than a decade of playing experience with Knapp. “Having been on the same team as Tessa and in the classroom with her since she was six, it was a great moment to live with her and see her hard work pay off.”

First-year Bay coach Scott Simpson broke a record that had stood for 15 years. He won a girls title as a head coach at Medina in the late 1990s and a boys title as an assistant in the late 2010s, and said what the new state record holder accomplished goes back to her Bay Village roots.

“Tessa grew up in the Bay and is part of a good community program, part of a good club program,” Simpson noted of the University of Notre Dame’s involvement. “She’s part of a good high school program. Her work rate and attitude are definitely important factors in getting her where she is.”

Bay has three regular season games left, with its final home game coming on Oct. 7 when Avon comes to town for a 7 p.m. evening game.

PHOTOS: Bay vs. Padua girls soccer, October 5, 2024

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