Lakota West beat rival Lakota East 2-0 in girls soccer at Firebird Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 29, bouncing back from a 4-2 loss to Mason.

The game carried an extra layer. Kailyn Dudukovich, the former Firebird who became Ohio State's career goals leader with 44, returned to her old school to help with West Chester TV's broadcast, as The Report Ohio first reported.

After the final whistle, Dudukovich walked over to senior forward Ann-Marie Wambugu and playfully tapped her on the head. Wambugu froze.

"I'm never washing my head again," Wambugu joked.

Dudukovich last played at Firebird Stadium as a junior in 2019. That season she scored 50 goals in 24 games and led the Firebirds to a 22-0-2 record and the Division I state championship. She scored both goals in a 2-1 title-game win over Anthony Wayne. The game-winner came with 13 seconds left. She went on to earn first-team All-American honors at Ohio State and signed a professional contract with Portuguese club Braga in July 2025.

Seven years after that state title, the current Firebirds are building their own identity.

Freshman Harper Johnson and sophomore Elizabeth Hull scored the goals Tuesday. Wambugu, who entered the week leading the team with nine goals, assisted on Hull's strike. Head coach Brigit Reder Wilder, now in her 11th season, said Wambugu drives the team whether or not she's on the scoresheet, calling her "the engine" whose mentality dictates results every game.

The win moved Lakota West to 8-3-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the Greater Miami Conference (GMC). The Firebirds' three losses came against Olentangy Berlin, GMC leader Sycamore and Mason.

Depth has been tested. The Firebirds graduated 10 seniors from last year's squad, and junior Emi Schmidt suffered a knee injury early in the season. Wilder said a talented freshman class has meshed well with the returning core, and players have embraced expanded roles.

Wambugu said the underclassmen's goals against Lakota East meant more to her than scoring herself. She said she wants to leave her mark by paving the way for younger players in her final season.

Wilder said the team's strength of schedule ranks with the toughest in southwest Ohio, alongside Seton. She believes the Firebirds have not peaked yet and described Tuesday's rivalry win as proof the team can recover mentally.

Wilder said her alumni stay involved and follow the current players, calling Dudukovich's return "total full circle."

The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division I girls soccer tournament begins in October.