Girls soccer season set to kick off

While the Women’s World Cup is taking place in Australia and New Zealand, the high school girls soccer season is about to commence here in Indiana.

Teams began practice last week. Columbus North opens the season on Saturday, and Columbus East starts Aug. 16.

Here is a look at those two teams, along with the other area girls soccer squads heading into the 2023 season:

Columbus East

The Olympians went 8-5-5 overall and were unbeaten in the Hoosier Hills Conference, but a pair of ties cost them the HHC title.

This year’s team will feature a little versatility with a few girls able to play several positions.

“We just need to make sure that they’re staying healthy,” East coach Ilya Schwartzman said. “We’re trying to manage our fitness training with staying healthy, as well. It’s going to be a challenge, but we’re up to the challenge.”

Seniors Taylor Scott, Kira VanValkenburg and Erin Walters will play forward. Senior Nadia Harris, who led the team with 11 goals last season, will be at offensive center midfield.

Senior Ruth Federle will be at center mid. Battling at outside mid are VanValkenburg, Scott, senior Maleah Dyette and sophomore Sophie Glick. Senior Kylie Hatcher returns as the defensive mid.

Sophomores Morgan Scott and Cadence Zeser will be at center back. Freshman Bree Hatcher steps in at outside back and will be joined by senior Erin Walters, Glick or Taylor Scott. Junior Kate Stiles, who has seen some varsity action the past two years, takes over in goal.

“We’re going to have a brand new back four,” Schwartzman said. “We have to rebuild the defense, but they’re grasping the concept, and they have enough soccer skill that it’s coming along very well.”

Sophomore Emma Christie will be backup goalkeeper and could play in the field. Senior Jenna Patton also could see action.

“They have worked very hard,” Schwartzman said. “We have a lot of good talent and ball skills, as well as physicality and speed. We’re coming along.”

Columbus North

The Bull Dogs will be a young team with only one probable senior starter. They went 7-7-3 last season.

“Whenever you lose your top scorer and your mainstay in goal, you’re going to take a dip,” North coach David Young said. “But the girls have been working hard this summer. I think the goals are going to come from multiple people this season. It’s going to be scoring by committee. I think we’re going to have multiple kids up in double digits.”

Senior Anna Donica moves into the center forward spot. Junior Paige Terry and freshman Avery Baker likely will play the outside forward/outside midfield positions.

Columbus North’s Page Mora (4) dribbles past Plainfield’s Mary Reynolds (29) during a Sept. 21, 2022 match at BCSC Soccer Complex in Columbus.

The Republic file photo

Junior Page Mora, who scored seven goals last season, steps into the attacking center mid position that had been filled by the past two Republic Players of the Year, Jenna Lang and Lauren Barker. Juniors Amelia Corney and Rachel Merritt will be in the center midfield.

Sophomore Allison Kohlhouse and junior Greta Schuetz will be at center back and will be flanked by sophomore Gabby Spurgeon and junior Lily Priest at outside back. Junior Erica Kaufman takes over in goal.

Senior Izzy Lynn and juniors Bella Newman-Stump and Anna Halstead and sophomore Brooklyn Pendleton are moving up from the JV.

“We’ve been rotating 17 to 20 on the top team,” Young said. “Then, we have a slew of freshman that could play. “We’re still young, and I’m sure we’ll take our lumps, but I’m sure we’ll surprise some people, too.”

Those freshmen include Evelyn Lopez, Grace Merritt and Rachel Fulp.

“Offseason was great this year, honestly one of the best that we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Young said. “We’ve had over 40 in our training sessions and averaged about 35 in our weight room. Culture is great right now. Girls are picking each other up. It’s been a refreshing experience this summer.”

Jennings County

The Panthers have a new coach in Olivia Owens, who a former player and assistant coach at Jennings. She also has been an assistant at Lawrenceburg.

Several key players return from a team that went 6-11-2.

Junior Audrie McClintock and senior Cheyeanna Leslie likely will be at forward. Junior Madelyn McIntosh is back at center mid, where she will team with junior Aliza Applegate, who was injured last season. Sophomore Chloe Franks and freshman Audrey McDonald will be at outside mid.

Junior Alexa Mollenhoff returns on defense and will be joined by junior newcomers Trinity Burke and Kassidy Beal. Junior Alayna Phillips is back in goal.

Senior Lily Schildknecht has a knee injury and could be back around midseason. Sophomores Josie Franks and Caylee Whitesell and senior Danna Gordillo also could see action.

“I’ve absolutely been impressed with the work ethic of the group that we have and with how hard they’re working since we’ve gotten started,” Owens said.

Brown County

The Eagles showed improvement last season, going 4-5-1. Four starters return from that team.

Junior River Ford is back at forward. Senior Julia Burt and junior Ella Jackson return on defense, and senior Anna Tipton is back in goal.

Junior Sophie Mathis also saw action in the midfield last season. Beyond that, Brown County will be inexperienced.

“We had some talented freshmen last year that are getting better,” Brown County coach David Phelps said. “We have lots of new players that are coming along. They’ve put in a lot of time over the summer and are showing a lot of improvement.”

Trinity Lutheran

The Cougars could be in for a rebuilding year after losing several key players from an 11-8 squad.

Senior Kaydence Miller can play anywhere on the field and likely will begin the season on defense. Senior Dianna Munoz will be in goal.

Junior Layla Jones will be a forward, and junior Delaney Williams and sophomores Hannah Helt and Bailey Reimer will play in the midfield.

Zoe Croquart, who could play midfield or forward, leads a large freshman class.

“We have a lot of new ones,” Trinity coach Thom Hayes said. “It’s definitely going to be a rebuilding year for us. I’m optimistic we’ll get a whole lot better as the season goes.”

The 2023 girls soccer schedules for Columbus schools: 

Columbus East 

Aug. 16;at Bloomington North;7:15 p.m.

Aug. 19;at Roncalli;11:45 a.m.

Aug. 21;Bloomington South;7:15 p.m.

Aug. 23;Columbus North;7:15 p.m.

Aug. 26;at Park Tudor;11:45 a.m.

Aug 28;Franklin;7:15 p.m.

Aug. 31;Providence;7:15 p.m.

Sept. 5;at Bedford North Lawernce;6 p.m.

Sept. 7;at Batesville;7:15 p.m.

Sept. 9;at Floyd Central;6:30 p.m.

Sept. 13;at Jennings County;5:30 p.m.

Sept. 16;New Albany;11:15 a.m.

Sept. 19;at Jeffersonville;7:15 p.m.

Sept. 28;Oldenburg Academy;7:45 p.m.

Sept. 28;Seymour;7:15 p.m.

Columbus North 

Saturday;Terre Haute South;1 p.m.

Aug. 14;Center Grove;7:15 p.m.

Aug. 17;at Seymour;6:45 p.m.

Aug. 21;at Franklin;7:15 p.m.

Aug. 23;at Columbus East;7:15 p.m.

Aug. 26;at Floyd Central;7:45 p.m.

Aug. 28;at Plainfield;7:45 p.m.

Aug. 31;Roncalli;7:15 p.m.

Sept. 6;Southport;7:15 p.m.

Sept. 9;Greenfield-Central;1:45 p.m.

Sept. 11;Bloomington North;7:45 p.m.

Sept. 13;at Lawrence North;7:45 p.m.

Sept. 18;Bloomington South;7:45 p.m.

Sept. 23;Evansville North;7:45 p.m.

Sept. 26;Batesville;7:15 p.m.