Like a quarterback heaping praise on the offensive line, Big Walnut girls lacrosse goalie Caroline Weber habitually deflects credit for her record-setting career to the defense in front of her.
But the senior also acknowledges that some good fortune has paved the way for her to become the state’s all-time saves leader.
Thinking she had little chance to play as a freshman, let alone start, because a senior was in net, Weber supplanted her elder teammate and has started ever since.
Then after a torn quad tendon in her left leg cost her much of the offseason leading into her junior year, Weber recovered in time for the preseason and didn’t miss a game.
And here Weber stands, steadily building on her record as her final prep season winds down and a college career at Findlay beckons. She had 657 career saves entering a Monday game against Dublin Scioto, leading the Golden Eagles (11-3) to a vast improvement on last year’s 5-12 record.
“I’d have never seen this coming,” Weber said. “I was hurt and then I had my best season ever. Freshman year, I didn’t even think I’d have the opportunity to play varsity … but things shook out and (coach Steve) Palmer took a chance on me. We really hit the ground running.
“Every year, I just try to do my best and build off (the previous year).”
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Weber made 152 saves as a freshman and 203 as a sophomore, fifth most in a single season in state history, according to Ohio High School Athletic Association records. Another 188 saves last year put her within 13 of record-holder Katie Luciano from Solon, and Weber broke the record March 21 in the final minutes of a 13-6 win over Olentangy Berlin.
“You don’t set records just by being good,” Palmer said. “You have to be really good at your craft now, and she is. If you’re not working hard all year, playing club, getting work in, somebody else is.
“We felt like she was our best option (three years ago), and I think we got it right for her and the team and our system.”
Lacrosse became an OHSAA sport in 2017, although many records on the organization’s website predate that season.
Weber lauded a veteran defense led by seniors Bridget Backs, Izzy Dolfi and Josie Graziosi and junior Chesney Stackpole. It is a position Weber knows well, having split time between defender and goalie when she took up the game in sixth grade.
Weber moved exclusively into goal a few years later.
“They know how I want them to slide to the ball and they know when they can take risks,” Weber said. “It’s extremely helpful. After a goal gets scored, we always talk it out. Everybody knows what they have to do. We can communicate really well.”
Senior midfielder Clara Bowser’s lasting memory of Weber is that she was the first player to reach out when Bowser moved from Washington state in December 2022.
“I walked into the weight room the first day and there was a friendly face,” Bowser said. “She comes early and she stays late. She is always up for another rep, asking if I can practice taking shots with her or help with this or that. She gives her all in everything she does.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How did Big Walnut goalie Caroline Weber become Ohio girls lacrosse's career saves leader?
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