Girls Soccer Preview: area's top teams look to replace former stars
A preview of the area's 2023 high school girls soccer teams:
Ashland Arrows
Coach: Lee Hunt (fourth year)
Last year: 7-8-3 (5-1-1 Ohio Cardinal Conference)
Projected starters: Claire Plank (SR), Lauren Green (JR), Oaklynn Burns FR), Amelia Hunt (SO), Ella Argo (SR), Maddie Beattie (SO), Adi Helbert (SO), Adria Brock (JR), Mackenzie Cool (SO), Haylee Bond (SO)
Top players in 2023: Claire Plank, Amelia Hunt, Adi Helbert, Ella Argo
Coach's comments: "We will be a young team after graduating nine from last year, with three seniors on the roster. We will get better as the season moves forward and plan to compete for an OCC title this year."
Crestview Cougars
Coach: Elizabeth Webb (fourth year)
Last year: 3-12-3 (0-3 Mid-Buckeye Conference)
Projected starters: Gracie Dinsmore, Mady Mack, Lily Cline, Kieren McClenathan. Elyse Belcher, Kylee Salser, Haili Benedict, Olivia Grant, Baileigh Jo Cordrey
Top players in 2023 + coach's comments: "Elyse Belcher is a great overall player and offensive threat, Gracie Dinsmore is a leader and our best defender, and Mady Mack, our goalkeeper is up and coming into her position and will also provide leadership."
Hillsdale Falcons
Coach: Michele Lahmers (second year)
Last year: 0-18 (0-12 Wayne County Athletic League)
Projected starters: Kaylin Moneer (SR), Erica VanStee (SR), Lori Vesper (SR), Lela Funk (JR), Taylor Rafeld (JR), Tessa Butcher (SO), Zoe Ritchie (SO), Kaylin Simmons (SO), Abby Funk (FR)
Top players in 2023: "Kaylin Moneer and Zoe Ritchie have really stepped up as leaders on an off the field, they are pushing their teammates to work together. We have the talent and the strength to make big things happen, we just have to work together. These two ladies will be the driving force behind the success of the season."
Coach's comments: "The team has put in an incredible amount of work this off-season in three-versus-three tournaments all over Ohio, team camos, open fields, and summer leagues. We play in one of the toughest leagues in the state. Chippewa and Norwayne are always in the top 10 in the state, but these ladies have put their time in and can give them a run for their money this season."
Loudonville Redbirds
Coach: Roy Templeman (first year)
Last year: 10-6-1 (2-2-1, Mid-Buckeye Conference)
Projected starters: Emma Carney (SR), Grace Fogle (SR), Liberty Gerhart (SR), Emma Templeman (SR), Alayna Ziegler (SR), Maddie Osborne (JR), Emlyn Bitner (SO), Maggie England (SO), Addison Lowe (SO), Ana Zeigler (SO), Rebekah Carroll (FR), Gabby Frazier (FR), Quinn Morris (FR)
Top players in 2023 + coach's comments: "Emma Templeman is a senior team leader, offensive leader, and a great ball distributor with a strong inside and outside of the goal box. Emma Carney is a senior team leader, offensive leader who controls our offensive attack, and is always first to get back, keeps defensive shape, and is always in a good position."
Mapleton Mounties
Coach: Carly Sue Stevens (second year)
Last year: 9-6-1 (1-3 Mid-Buckeye Conference)
Projected starters: Brinlee Youngen (SR), Maggie Hellickson (SR), Caitlyn Vermila (SR), Gracen Beatie (SR), Piper Weidinger (JR), Ellie Hageman (JR), Ava Hardesty (JR), Zoe Hunt (JR), Audrey Hellickson (SO), Ava Clay (SO), Skylar Hopstetter (SO), Kendall Ramey (SO), Sidney Stanley (SO), Sara Drake (FR)
Top players in 2023 + coach's comments: "Brinlee Youngen is a strong player across the board with her skills, leading her to be one of the area's top scorers, as she scored 38 goals and added 10 assists in 16 games for the Mounties. The junior striker and midfielder also used her speed and quick thinking to bolster Mapleton's defense, and was selected first-team all-district and honorable mention All-Mid-Buckeye Conference and first-team all-area for the Times-Gazette."
Northwestern Huskies
Coach: Tim Boggs (first year)
Last year: 7-8-1 (5-5-1, Wayne County Athletic League)
Projected starters: Bri Lance (SR), Gabby Ream (SR), Taelyn Lambert (JR), Sydney McConahay (JR), Alysa Troyan (JR), Jailynn Woodruff (JR), Addy Connelly (SO), Coralynn Hall (SO), Kate Johnson (SO), Savannah McConahay (SO), Haley Harper (FR), Alivia Welch (FR)
Top players in 2023: "My two captains, Taelyn Lambert, and Sydney McConahay, are really taking charge with leading the girls with practices and overall team unity. And there are several club players on the team that add some experience and quality."
Coach's comments: "Considering it's my first year with the team, our numbers are really low for the girl's program. Coming into Northwestern with no sense of who is who among the league stat holders, gives me a different perspective approaching the season. I have coached high school soccer since I left the Smithville boys program, I do coach for Ohio Strikers United."
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Girls Soccer: a team-by-team preview of the 2023 season
