Columbus-area girls soccer teams reload for new season
Thursday, August 10, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Imani Kissi of Dublin Jerome kicks the ball during a scrimmage with host Westerville North on August 5. Photo: John Hulkenberg
During the first team meetings of the new season, which officially began with tryouts on Aug. 1, Olentangy Orange girls soccer coach Tim Lawrence posed a question.
The Pioneers, who are coming off a season in which they won their first Division I regional championship, defeating Dublin Jerome, ultimately fell 1-0 to Cincinnati Seton 2-1 in double overtime in a state semifinal to finish 19-2-3.
Seton midfielder Lexi O’Shea scored the game-winner with 4 minutes, 14 seconds remaining in the second overtime to send the Saints to the state title game. Also playing in its first state tournament, Seton defeated Strongsville 1-0 to win the championship.
“We had our first team meeting (on Aug. 3) and I set the group down and talked about the last game of the year,” Lawrence said. “I asked if any of them watched the game.”
Lawrence knew his players would have a tough time watching the game again.
“It’s hard to watch that,” said midfielder Lauryn Barringer, now a senior. “It’s good to learn from mistakes. We all watched clips of it, but it’s definitely upsetting especially since they went on to win the whole thing. We were definitely right in it and we definitely had a good chance. We had a couple (of shots) that we couldn’t put away. It was a good game, but tough to watch.”
What was Lawrence’s point?
“I told them we were the better team that night,” said Lawrence, who enters his seventh year with the Pioneers. “But that’s soccer and it doesn’t always work out that way. My point to the girls was we have the ability to make this run (again), but a lot things have to happen. In this area, I don’t think we’ve had a regional champion back-to-back in a long time.”
Pickerington North was the last team to win consecutive regional titles in 2012 and ’13, in fact. Since then, Dublin Coffman (’14 and ’19) and Olentangy Liberty (’15 and ’17) won two apiece and Pickerington North (’16), Watterson (’18), Olentangy (’20) and New Albany (’21) each won once.
Central Ohio hasn’t had a state champion since 2011 when DeSales won in Division II. Coffman (2003) is the last Division I program to win a state title.
“When you look at the traditional schools that are at the top of the polls year in and year out, they’re having success,” sixth-year Watterson coach Scott Dempsey said. “It’s the old adage, ‘Success breeds success.’ Kids want to be involved in programs that are successful. That makes it a little easier to attract those talented players and keep them in your program. I think that’s a big part of it.”
Last season, Jerome finished first in the final Central District coaches’ poll, followed by Olentangy Berlin, Orange, Coffman, Olentangy, Liberty, UA, Watterson and New Albany. All of those programs are expected to contend again this season, plus a few more.
“Our conference (the OCC-Central Division) is just brutal,” said Lawrence, whose team won the league with 12 points at 4-1, eeking out Coffman, which finished with 11 points at 3-0-2. “Coffman, us, (Upper) Arlington, Liberty, (Hilliard) Bradley and (Hilliard) Davidson. It’s a battle. I think it’s probably harder to win the league than a district championship.”
Reagan Ross of Olentangy (right) kicks the ball during a scrimmage with host Westerville Central on August 5. Photo: John Hulkenberg
To repeat as both regional and league champions, the Pioneers will have to replace some key players in all parts of the field in graduates Kaelyn Valleau (forward; 22 goals, 13 assists), Jadia Kershaw (goalie; 70 saves, program-record 15 shutouts) and Kaitlyn Covert (defender; 3 goals, 5 assists). Valleau will play at Ball State, Kershaw at Seton Hall and Calvert at Dayton this fall.
This year, Orange is particularly strong in the midfield with Barringer (10 goals, 13 assists), classmate Maryn Zavislak (4 goals, 3 assists) and junior Alexis Knisley (7 goals, 1 assist).
Seniors Bella Leonetti and Avery Hyek return on defense in front of senior goalie Savanna Shaw for the Pioneers, who open the season at home against Pickerington North on Aug. 22.
Senior Emma Barnhart and junior Sophia Prime (forward) are returning from ACL injuries.
“We had a really strong group of seniors who were good leaders,” Barringer said. “(They) really built the program to have strong team unity and chemistry and gave the girls a lot of confidence to be their own players, but also work together as a team. It’s not only about one top player of the team that takes the ball themselves. It’s more teamwork making progress to find the goal and play defense all together.”
‘We want to build on that’
While the OCC-Central is certainly tough, Orange doesn’t need to look any further than its own back yard to find high-quality competition. All four Olentangy programs reached the district final round last year, including Berlin which is coming off its own record-setting season.
The Bears defeated Watterson 1-0 (4-2 in a shootout) to capture the program’s first district championship before losing to Orange 1-0 in a regional semifinal to finish 18-2-1.
Replacing graduates Camryn Susey (forward), Roisin Kennedy (midfielder) and Reese Hinkle (forward) will be a tough task. But sixth-year coach Tara Zimmer believes the foundation has been laid at Berlin, which plays its opener at DeSales on Aug. 11.
“We definitely lost a good group of seniors, but we do have eight varsity returners, six being starters,” Zimmer said. “I think the biggest thing is that we’re looking to build on the success that we had. We have another good group of seniors this year with great leadership.”
Junior Claire Walden and seniors Paige Aloi, Erin Hudson and Madison Stark return to anchor the defense along with senior Casey Gorka.
Senior Addison Lambert (midfielder) and junior Josie Budic (midfielder) and Fina Davy (forward) are the top returners in their respective position groups.
“In the offseason, we held ourselves to really high standards,” Aloi said. “We want to do the same thing this year. We got into the weight room a lot and were really pushing ourselves there. That is something that really helps us on the field. We’d get in the gym and play futsal once a month, just making sure that we’re competing. It will really help our drive for the season.”
Liberty, which was edged 1-0 by Jerome in a district final to finish 9-3-5, is also set up for another strong season thanks to a strong defense.
Seniors Sydney Vogel, Josie Keane, Ava Petrucci and Karissa Friscone are all experienced returners in the defensive backfield in front of senior Hailey Myers and sophomore Maddy Hall in goal.
“Our whole season is in preparation for the tournament,” said coach Chris Allen, who entering his third season with the Patriots. “We may have some tough battles. We’re trying to play the better teams. We use our schedule in the regular to always prepare for the next big battle.”
Seniors Audrey Kalmar (midfield) and Lexie Mitchem (forward), Maddy McCort (midfielder/forward) and sophomore Avery Hilvert (forward) return. Senior Chloe Brecht (forward) is back in the lineup after playing club soccer last season.
“I think we have a little more of an opportunity to build on what we had last year,” said Allen, whose team opens at Pickerington North on Aug. 15. “Of course, we lost (goalie and 2023 graduate Taylor Thomas). We did have a lot of good seniors, but a lot of starters and impact players were juniors which helps with continuity.”
Meanwhile, Olentangy will certainly have a different look thanks to a group of freshmen and sophomores peppering the lineup.
The Braves, who finished 13-4-4 after falling to Orange 2-1 in a district final, graduated a strong nucleus of goal-scorers in Olivia Heskett (15 goals, 13 assists), Lexi White (9 goals, 7 assists) and Audrey Oliver (9 goals, 3 assists).
“I think a lot of the top teams lost the players we’ve been talking about for years, us included,” Olentangy third-year coach Matt Evans said. “For us, we’re going to be very young but just as talented.”
Forwards Reagan Ross (senior; 15 goals, 12 assists) and Taylor Novak (junior; 8 goals, 6 assists) are entrusted to lead a younger group.
The youngsters include sophomores Caiya Clemons (defender), Macy Boysel (goalie) and Addison Hanlon (midfielder) and freshman Payton Kolberg (defender). Boysel, Clemons and Hanlon both return after playing big roles last season.
Also returning is junior Kareena Wardlow, who moves to forward after being on defense last season.
“I think we have different weapons coming into the season,” Ross said. “I think both (Novak and Wardlow) are dangerous and can put the ball in the box or put the ball in the back of the net when they need to.”
Olentangy hosts Fairbanks on Aug. 11 to open the season.
Olentangy Orange’s Lauryn Barringer kicks a ball in practice August 4 at Orange. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Setting a standard
Second-year Jerome coach Georgi Petrov wants to continue the standard set by last year’s team, which won its first district championship since 2018, which was the last of three consecutive.
But the Celtics, who finished 17-2-1 last season and won the OCC-Cardinal with 15 points at 5-0, have to replace top scorer Sophia Penegor (20 goals, 10 assists).
Senior forward Imani Kissi (5 goals, 15 assists) and senior midfielder Darian Mitchell are the top two returning scorers for Jerome. Senior Delayney Stone is returning starter in the midfield.
Sophomore goalie Haydyn Stone (22 saves) got plenty of experience during last year’s district tournament after Jaylee Strickland (2023 graduate; 49 saves) had her season end prematurely because of a knee injury.
Junior Elizabeth Powell, sophomore Corinne Baumgardner and senior Ella Fuller anchor the defense in front of Stone for the Celtics, who open at home against Bexley on Aug. 19.
“We’re trying to keep the same standard from last year,” Petrov said. “Obviously, we had some seniors graduate and we have some new players coming up and we had some injuries.”
Watterson finished 11-6-2, has played for a district title in each of the last five years and six of the last seven. The Eagles have reached the district semifinal round every year since 2014.
“I think there’s a great mixture of tradition and desire (at Watterson),” Dempsey said. “Over the course of time, we’ve had a tremendous group of players – not just in the last decade, but going back four decades. So, it’s a blessing that players and families are passionate about the game and want to succeed and we have that legacy to look at.”
Watterson returns seniors Emily Copeland (midfielder/forward; 14 goals), Erin Scully (forward), sophomore Emma Miller (forward), junior Bailey Kearns (defender) and sophomores Ally Capozella (midfielder/defender) and Suzie Roginski (goalie).
The Eagles lost 10 to graduation, including Rachel Spencer, Erin Karras, Katie Bettendorf and Hannah Brady. Junior Ellie Rowlands (midfielder) is playing club soccer with Ohio Premier ECNL this fall.
‘You never know’
New Albany had a rash of injuries last season, but still managed win a district championship, going 14-6 overall.
The Eagles luck hasn’t changed as junior Noelle Miriello (forward) is out for the season with a knee injury after missing last season. Classmate Sydney Berring (forward) suffered a knee injury during the Eagles’ scrimmage at Olentangy on Aug. 3 and will miss the season.
“This seems to be the theme of our program the last couple of years,” Seventh-year New Albany coach Dave Dombrowksi said. “We just can’t get a break when it comes to injuries. We’re already off to a bad start with two starters (out with knee injuries). We had a rash of injuries last year and we were still able to win districts. So, you never know.”
Senior midfielder Allie Metcalf missed most of last year’s postseason because of a knee injury. She led New Albany last season with 22 goals and nine assists.
“She’s already off to a great start for us in the preseason in our showcases,” Dombrowski said. “She’s been very influential in our scrimmages. This year, we’re going to be tested by our depth, but we have a lot of returning players that have a lot of experience. It’s just a matter of seeing which players step up and fill the voids. I think we have those players. It’s just a matter of who it is.”
Seniors Meryn Canowitz (goalie), Bella Hoff (defender) and Ameilia Horton (forward; 14 goals, 11 assists) and junior Maci Sammans (midfielder; 12 goals, 11 assists) all return from last season. Freshman Kilynn Brown has the ability to play all over the field.
New Albany opens the season at Hilliard Davidson on Aug. 19.
The Eagles are expected to fight with Gahanna and Pickerington North in the OCC-Ohio after the three shared the title last season with 12 points at 4-1.
The Panthers return a solid nucleus including, seniors Ayla Briones (midfielder/forward) and Sania Dearing (midfielder), junior midfielders Anna Carlisle and Ellie Mason and sophomore Liv McCuen (midfielder/forward) under first-year coach Jeff Sever.
“I think it’s going to be another dogfight,” Dombrowski said. “Pick North just got a new coach in Jeff Sever, who used to be the coach at Thomas Worthington and then spent the last couple of years as Scott Dempsey’s assistant at Watterson. Dave Merrick in in Year 2 at Gahanna and they got the better end of things last year. Dave knows our players well because he’s had the privilege of coaching some of them on the club level. He knows our players and what buttons to push and what areas to stop.”