This season, the Foxes’ girls soccer team finds itself in a new section that will test a productive offense and defense that drove them to the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals last season. While some strong players have since graduated, Coach Peter Torres anticipates the return of 11 seniors and seven starters as they move to section 3 in 2020.
Among the returning players are senior All-WPIAL forward Lucy Ream, and all-section players Kaylee Uribe, a junior midfielder, and sophomore midfielder Makayla Mulholland.
“I expect them to be major contributors as well as stabilizing players on the team,” says Coach Peter Torres. “Also, returning starter Emma Wecht, a senior forward, is a versatile player who has scored some goals for us in the past and we expect that to continue. On defense, we are returning senior Britta Lagerquist and junior Carlie Barnett. We hope to use their experience to create a solid and cohesive defensive unit.”
Senior goalkeeper Sammi Dunlap and sophomore goalie Molly McNaughton both contributed last year and are expected to perform at a high level again this year.
“Our senior class is strong and dedicated and we expect a high bar to be set at practice,” adds the coach.
Those senior leaders are Elena Bradley (defender), Melina Bradley (defender), Katie Eisengart (midfielder/defender), Lauren Marotte (forward), Lizzy McKee (forward), Sophia Oehrle (midfielder), and Addie Smith (defender).
Coach Torres also notes that the team had some significant contributions last season from players Hope Matthis (junior defender), Anna Nury (junior defender), Addie Piper (junior, defender), and Lauren Rabbitt (junior forward), as well as sophomore forward Lilygrace Goodworth.
“I think as a whole, we expect to be a productive offensive team that can score goals in bunches if we are running on all cylinders,” Coach Torres says. “The section we departed was a top-heavy offensive section where every team had dangerous attacking players that could create off the dribble or combine with others to attack as a unit. Now that we are in a new section, we know the teams will bring their best against us every night. We know Penn Trafford and Norwin (the top-ranked team last year that the Foxes lost to in overtime at the WPIAL quarterfinals) very well and we have a tremendous amount of respect for both of those teams, so every game will be tough. We are looking forward to playing some new teams in some new stadiums.”
The section is rounded out with teams from Hempfield and Latrobe, with former section foe Allderdice moving along with the Foxes into section 3.
While the Foxes lost some big contributors from last season, including Sam Dockey, Claudia DeMartino, Blair Echnat, and Sophie Williams, Coach Torres isn’t worried about the team’s potential.
“With a remaining group of such strong players, combined with younger ones who can step in and rise to the occasion, including some strong players from last year’s fantastic JV team, we’re in good shape,” he says.