Upper Arlington girls lacrosse coach Laura Sandbloom steps down after two seasons

At least for now, a tremendous coaching run is going on hiatus.

Upper Arlington girls lacrosse coach Laura Sandbloom confirmed her resignation Monday after two seasons in which she led her alma mater to the Division I state final, winning the championship in 2023 and falling by a goal in this year’s final , both against Olentangy Liberty.

“I’ve been coaching for a decade and my girls are 6 and 3, so I’m hoping to spend more time with them and give more time and energy to my family,” Sandbloom said. “It was a very hard decision, but I know it’s the right one.”

UA went 21-3 in both of Sandbloom’s seasons.

Last year’s team won the program’s 11 ^th championship, and this year’s lost 6-5 to the OCC-Central Division rival Patriots in the state final June 7 at Historic Crew Stadium.

A 2006 graduate of UA who won two championships as a player and played lacrosse at Ohio State under longtime UA assistant Sue Stimmel, Sandbloom returned home in January 2023 after winning seven consecutive Class 5A championships at Colorado Academy in Denver as either an assistant or the head coach.

More: OHSAA girls lacrosse: Can central Ohio extend its state championship streak?

UA’s next coach will be its third since Wendy Pinta retired following the 2021 season .

Pinta won 382 games in two stints (1992-2008 and 2012-21) and led the Bears to nine state championships.

Morgan Fee Maldovan coached UA in 2022, when it lost to her alma mater, New Albany, in overtime in the state final .

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Upper Arlington girls lacrosse coach Laura Sandbloom steps down after two seasons