Columbus East’s Cadence Zeser, right, tries to keep the ball away from Columbus North’s Paige Terry Aug. 23, 2023 at the BCSC Soccer Complex.
The Republic file photo
Columbus North went through a rebuilding year last girls soccer season. This year, it will be Columbus East that is young and rebuilding.
Meanwhile, Hauser has a girls soccer team for the first time.
Here is a look at those and other area teams heading into the 2024 season:
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs slipped to 6-7-3 last season, including 3-2 in Conference Indiana, but return all but one starter.
“The summer was very productive, much better than last summer, and much more competitive all around,” North coach David Young said. “There’s a couple words we’ve been using this summer, and one of those is potential. We have the potential to be very good. We have some sophomores who are very good, and we also have the senior leadership. We are a much stronger team than we were last year.”
Sophomore Avery Baker, who was The Republic Girls Soccer Player of the Year, returns at forward. Senior Page Mora will once again play attacking midfield and forward, and senior Amelia Corney is back as the defensive midfielder. Senior Paige Terry, who played in goal the second half of last season, sophomore Rachel Fulp and freshman Grace Betherum also will play forward or midfield.
Senior Rachel Merritt, junior Gabby Spurgeon and sophomores Grace Merritt and Evelyn Lopez will play in the midfield. Juniors Allison Kolhouse, Brooklyn Pendleton and Spurgeon and senior Greta Schuetz return on defense, where they will be joined by sophomore Adi Butcher and junior Hayden Bigler.
Sophomore Danika Hoehn takes over in goal.
“We’re running three formations, and we’re going to be moving some pieces around,” Young said. “It’s probably the deepest team I’ve had at Columbus North since I’ve been here.”
Seniors Anna Halstead and Kaitlin Kasidas also return to the varsity. Moving up from the JV are sophomores Riley Sims and Lily Ryan.
“The goal is always to compete for Conference Indiana, and then in the sectional, if we can compete for the title, we’d love to do so,” Young said.
Columbus East
The Olympians lost nine seniors and seven starters from a team that went 4-9-2, including 3-2-1 in the Hoosier Hills Conference.
“We’re going to be pretty small as far as numbers are concerned, but we’re working hard to improve and be competitive,” East coach Ilya Schwartzman said. “We lost a lot to graduation. We have some players coming back, and we’ll build around them.”
Columbus East’s Cadence Zeser, right, tries to keep the ball away from Columbus North’s Paige Terry Aug. 23, 2023 at the BCSC Soccer Complex.
The Republic file photo
Junior Sophie Glick returns at outside midfield. Juniors Cadence Zeser and Morgan Scott and sophomore Bri Hatcher are back on defense.
Junior Emma Christie takes over in goal and also could play in the field. Junior Natasha Armstrong will play forward and also could play in goal.
Juniors Ella Garn and Jo Conrad step in on defense. Sophomores Marley VanEst and Lilah Glick, junior Sherlyn Rivas and Ava Singh, sophomore Jade Olivera and senior newcomer Ally Hernandez could play in the midfield. Freshman Cara Veach could see action on defense or at forward.
“It’s not just working for this year, we’re working for next year,” Schwartzman said. “But we want to work this year to showcase our abilities, as well. Every challenge can be turned into a positive.”
Hauser
The Jets will head into their first season with 16 girls on the roster.
Kristy Madden, who played at Pike and one year Ball State and is a dean at Hauser, is the head coach. She is being assisted by Jessica Pendleton.
“We’re really excited about this year,” Madden said. “We have a talented group of girls. They have really been working hard and put in a lot of work during our sessions.”
The Jets have six seniors, including Lilly Roll and Kylee Wallace, who have played on the boys team in the past. They are joined by seniors Rose Roll, Lucie Asher, Lexi Ross and Haylin Campbell.
“They’re doing a great job of leading by example both on and off the field,” Madden said. “It’s a great group of girls.”
Sophomores Abigayle Trotter, Katherine Price and Kennedy Konradi also played on the boys team last year.
“We have a lot of girls who have played soccer before and some girls who have played other sports that are playing soccer for the first time, and they’re doing a great job,” Madden said. “I know that competition will be tough, but I am really confident in our ability to rise to the challenge and play at the same level as some of the other teams that we’re playing against.”
Jennings County
The Panthers will be strong in the back with five returning senior defensive starters from a team that went 6-10-2, including 1-5 in the HHC.
Senior Alayna Phillips is back in goal. Seniors Kassidy Beal, Trinity Burke, Alexa Mollenhoff and Aliza Applegate return on defense.
Also returning are senior Audrie McClintock at forward, senior Maddy McIntosh at center mid, sophomore Audrey McDonald and junior Josie Flores in the midfeld. Junior midfielder Chloe Franks is back after tearing an ACL early last season.
Juniors Ceirra Phillips and Caylee Whitesell also could see action. Freshmen Lila Schrink, Mookky Ratcliff, Emma Russell and Sofia Lazcano make immediate contributions.
“We’re really excited about what we were able to see over the offseason,” Jennings coach Olivia Owens said. “Our session attendance increased significantly, so that’s super positive. We also have increased our roster size, which is another exciting element this year.”
Brown County
The Eagles were the lone area team to post a winning record last season, going 6-5-1, including 4-4 in the Western Indiana Conference.
Junior Ava Stogsdill and senior River Ford return at forward. Juniors Jordan Nicols and Sophia Gordon and senior Sophie Mathis are back in the midfield. Junior Gracie Van Zuiden and seniors Ava Sanders and Ella Jackson return on defense.
Senior Anna Enkes is the frontrunner to take over in goal. Enkes also could play in the field, and Sanders and Ford could play in goal. Sophomore Ava Kinnett could see action on defense.
“We graduated quite a few, but we have a big team this year, which is something to build on,” Brown County coach David Phelps said. “I think we made some good progress skill-well last year, and I think we have a really strong group this year, especially our juniors, and just a really strong group of freshmen that are hungry to play and willing to learn.”
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars have a new coach in Emilee Lang, a 2019 Trinity graduate who was an assistant last year.
Senior Layla Jones and sophomores Mackenzie Pumphrey and Addison Garcia return at forward from last year’s 1-8 squad. Sophomore Olivia Pollert is back in the center midfield, and senior Abby Lorenz returns at outside midfield. Sophomore Zoe Croquart plays midfield and defense, and senior Delaney Williams and sophomore Katie Masters return at outside back. Junior Hannah Helt moves from defender to goal.
Sophomore Rowan Sharp steps in at center back. Sophomore newcomer Taylor Kramer and freshman Anyah Carrigan could see action at forward.
“We have a pretty big team this year,” Lang said. “We have a good group of girls returning from last year, but we have a lot of girls that are trying out for the first time. I’m looking forward to it.”
2024 girls soccer schedules for Bartholomew County schools:
Columbus East
Monday at Franklin, 7 p.m.
Aug. 21 vs. Bloomington North, 7 p.m.
Aug. 24 vs. Roncalli, 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 at Bloomington South, 7 p.m.
Aug. 28 at Columbus North, 7:45 p.m.
Sept. 5 at Providence, 7 p.m.
Sept. 10 vs. Bedford North Lawrence, 6 p.m.
Sept. 12 vs. Batesville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. Floyd Central, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Greenwood, 6 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. Jennings County, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 19 vs. Hauser, 6 p.m.
Sept. 21 at New Albany, 11 a.m.
Sept. 24 vs. Jeffersonville, 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 at Oldenburg Academy, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Seymour, 7 p.m.
Columbus North
Monday at Center Grove, 7:15 p.m.
Aug. 22 vs. Seymour, 6:45 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Franklin, 7:15 p.m.
Aug. 28 vs. Columbus East, 7:45 p.m.
Aug. 31 vs. Floyd Central, 7:45 p.m.
Sept. 5 at Roncalli, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 9 vs. Greenwood, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 11 at Southport, 7:45 p.m.
Sept. 14 at Greenfield-Central, 1:45 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Bloomington North, 7:45 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. Lawrence North, 7:45 p.m.
Sept. 21 vs. Terre Haute North, 12:15 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Bloomington South, 7:45 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Terre Haute South, 2:45 p.m.
Oct. 1 at Batesville, 7:15 p.m.
Hauser
Aug. 22 at South Dearborn, 6 p.m.
Aug. 24 at Lapel, noon
Aug. 26 at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 28 vs. South Ripley, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 29 vs. Rushville, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 vs. Connersville, 11 a.m.
Sept. 7 vs. Knightstown, 2:30 p.m.
Sept. 3 at Greenwood Christian Academy, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 10 at Greensburg, 5 p.m.
Sept. 12 vs. Trinity Lutheran, 5 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. University, 2 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Madison, 6 p.m.
Sept. 17 vs. Indianapolis Lutheran, 6 p.m.
Sept. 19 at Columbus East, 6 p.m.
Sept. 24 vs. Austin, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 26 at Brown County, 5:30 p.m.
