By JAMIE BAKER
Staff Writer
Area girls soccer teams finally have a league of their own.
The seven area girls soccer teams that have been independent for much of their histories have banded together to form the girls North Central Ohio Soccer Association.
Like their school’s boys teams, Riverdale, Liberty-Benton, Van Buren, Ada, Upper Sandusky and Cory-Rawson are in the league. Also in the conference is the girls team from Bluffton.
“We tried to get the league together last season, but it just never got off the ground,” said Van Buren’s Tom Piccirillo, who with three seasons at VB is the longest-tenured coach in the NCOSA.
“Obviously, scheduling was difficult being an independent and sometimes getting the girls up to play in some games was tough.
“With more on the line with the new conference, that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Look for Van Buren, Liberty-Benton and Riverdale to be the favorites in the NCOSA this season.
The Black Knights were 11-5-1 a year ago and have 14 letterwinners back, including all-district players Kayla Sonnenberg and Kristen Tropf.
Riverdale coach Andrew Snook also has a solid nucleus of players back from last year’s 11-4-2 team, although just three of the returnees are seniors.
The Falcons will have to find someone to replace the scoring punch that was provided by Vanessa Stewart, who graduated last spring.
The strongest girls soccer program around the area in recent years has been Liberty-Benton. Mark Pagano is the new coach at L-B replacing David LaRocco who stepped down to take over the program at Findlay High School.
The Eagles should be strong once again with 15 returning letter winners, including seven seniors.
The rest of the NCOSA schools appear to be poised for some serious improvement. Each of the schools boast bigger rosters than they’ve had in the recent past.
Bluffton and Cory-Rawson both have more than 20 players out for the team this season while Upper Sandusky has separate varsity and junior varsity rosters.
At Ada, second-year coach, Marty Clum has raised the program’s numbers considerably to 21 players this season.
The Bulldogs will be in a unique situation, along with Bluffton, in that they will be a part of a second new league as the Northwest Conference will sponsor a girls soccer championship for the first time this fall.
Allen East, Convoy Crestview, Lincolnview, Delphos Jefferson and Lima Central Catholic are other NWC schools that will have teams this season. Spencerville will have a girls club team.
Ada posted a 4-12-1 record last season and in the process broke a 54-game losing skid. Clum is hoping the competition his club will face in the new leagues will help his Bulldogs raise their level of play.
“Our girls are looking to earn some respect. We’ve come a long way, but we still have a way to go. We have a lot to prove and a lot to learn,” said Clum, who welcomes back 11 letterwinners
“I’m hoping the advantage to this is that this will give our girls a little something more to play for. They have the chance to get recognized outside of our own school and hopefully that will be an additional thing to help motivate them.”
EXPLOSIVE GROWTH: Over the past decade the growth of girls soccer in Ohio has exploded.
Ten years ago, Ada and Bluffton were the only schools currently in the NCOSA to even field girls soccer teams.
Because of a fast jump in the number of programs across the state, the OHSAA has added a third division for girls soccer beginning this year.
The change should benefit area teams.
Area small-school teams have had a difficult time advancing beyond the district tournament over the years, typically running into larger schools from other parts of the state at the regional level.
No area girls team has ever qualified for the state semifinals since the OHSAA began sponsoring a girls soccer tournament in 1985.
Ottawa-Glandorf, which will be Division II this season, has advanced to the regional semifinals five times since 2000. Continental was a regional semifinalist in 2006 and Liberty-Benton earned a spot in the regional two straight years in 2007 and 2008. The Eagles were the first area team to reach the regional final in 2008 when they were bounced out of the tournament by Akron Hoban.
With a smaller pool of schools with similar enrollments, it should theoretically make it easier for one of the area’s small schools to finally earn that trip to Columbus.
NO INFO: Information on girls teams from Miller City and Ottoville was not available,
Ada
HEAD COACH: Marty Clum (2nd year).
2010 RECORD: 4-12-1 overall.
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Sarah Clum, sr., forward/midfielder; Heather Rowe, sr., defender; Rachel Colley, jr., defender/midfielder; Kendra Paul, jr., midfielder/forward; Ariel Rall, jr., midfielder; Katelyn Simon, jr., forward/midfielder; Kenzie Corbet, soph., defender/midfielder; Annie Hannah, soph., midfielder/defender; Sara Lansing, soph., defender/goalkeeper; Annabel Pinkney, soph., defender/midfielder; Jessica Rojas, soph., midfielder/defender.
TOP PROSPECTS: Courtney Archer, jr., defender; Cosette Brodeur, jr., midfielder; Josie Corwin, jr., midfielder; Alexis Gonder, jr., midfielder; Natasha Long, jr., defender/goalkeeper; Stephanie Mosgrove, jr., midfielder; Alex Thomas, fr., midfielder; Kera-Ann Bollinger, fr., defender; Terra Hunter, fr., midfielder; Gabi Rall, fr., midfielder.
NOTABLE: Ada will join two new leagues for girls soccer this fall. The Bulldogs will compete in the Northwest Conference and the North Central Ohio Soccer Association. Expect some improvement from the Bulldogs in Clum's second season with 11 letterwinners returning and 21 players on the roster, which is the most the program has ever had.
Bluffton
HEAD COACH: Joel Steinmetz (2nd year).
2010 RECORD: 3-12-2 overall.
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Abbey Heslep,soph., goalkeeper; Megan Dulle, jr., forward; Jill Steinmetz, soph., forward/midfielder; Katie Palte, jr., forward/midfielder; Rachel Yoder, jr., midfielder; Alissa Garmatter sr., midfielder; Sydney Bonnell, soph., midfielder; Wynter Wise, sr., midfielder; Ava Yoakam, sr., defender; Kylee Barnett, jr., defender; Molly Moser, soph., defender.
TOP PROSPECTS: Alexis Lugibihl, jr., defender/midfielder; Anna Crisp, jr., midfielder; Emily Schwager, soph., goalkeeper; Danyelle Hughes, soph., midfielder; Kayla Longworth, sr., defender/midfielder; Gabby Sneary, soph., defender; Sarah Wright, soph., forward; Meg Burrell, soph., defender; Kylie Cartwright, soph., defender.
NOTABLE: Bluffton will be competing in two leagues (the Northwest Conference & North Central Ohio Soccer Association) this season after being independent for a number of years. With eleven letterwinners, the Pirates hope to be more confident on the field this season.
Continental
HEAD COACH: Toby Bidlack (9th year, 92-38-15).
2010 RECORD: 9-7-2 overall, 0-3-1 Putnam County League.
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Kayla Mansfield, sr., defender/midfielder; Alli Prowant, sr., midfielder; Mady Recker, sr., midfielder/forward; Hannah Baker, jr., midfielder; Sara Deken, jr., defender; Leva Weller, jr., goalkeeper/forward; Taylor Williamson, jr., forward; Paige Kindilien, soph., midfielder; Whitney Miller, soph., defender; Paige Ordway, soph., midfielder/forward; Bridgitte Shelton, soph., forward/midfielder; Kiana Warnement, soph., defender/midfielder.
TOP PROSPECTS: Sloane Zachrich, soph., forward; Caitlin Geckle, fr., midfielder; Taylor Niese, fr., forward; McKenna Scott, fr., forward/midfielder.
NOTABLE: With nine returning starters, the Pirates could be a factor in the Putnam County League race.
Cory-Rawson
HEAD COACH: Jay Frommer (1st year).
2010 RECORD: 2-11-1 overall.
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Morgan Woodward, sr., midfielder; Ay'lish Hulihan, sr., forward; Alexis Collert, sr., defender; Michelle Rettig, sr., defender; Lauren Korpics, sr., goalkeeper; Paige Wieman, jr., midfielder; Erica Frantz, jr., sweeper; Kelsey Reese, jr., midfielder; Alyssa Collert, jr., defender; Natasha Shields, soph., defender; Kerrigan Besse, soph., midfielder; Kristen Hassan, soph., sweeper; Hannah Roebke, soph., sweeper; Miki Kussmaul, soph., sweeper; Mallory Hiser, soph., defender; Bryce Hotelling, soph., defender; Abby Schultz, soph., goalkeeper.
TOP PROSPECTS: Erika Nigh, jr., midfielder; Christin Frommer, fr., defender; Dallas Tennant, fr., forward; Shiann Ludwig, fr., midfielder/goalkeeper; Rachel Welch, fr., midfielder.
NOTABLE: Cory-Rawson will have plenty of depth with 22 players out for the team. The Hornets will also have ten juniors and seniors on the roster.
Fort Jennings
HEAD COACH: Rodney Wagner (11th year, 104-58-17).
2010 RECORD: 11-6-3 overall, 2-1-1 Putnam County League.
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Morgan Schroeder, sr., midfielder; Kelsey VonLehmden, sr., goalkeeper; Andrea Heitmeyer, sr., fullback; Cassie Kaverman, sr., midfielder; Gina Clay, sr., midfielder; Macy Schroeder, jr., forward; Kristen Maag, jr.; midfielder; Lori Bruskotter, jr.; fullback; Katlin Stechschulte, jr.; midfielder; Elaina Magg, jr., midfielder; Marissa Mesker, jr., forward; Jenna VonSossan, jr., midfielder; Cassie Horstman, soph., fullback; Ashley Gable, soph., forward.
TOP PROSPECTS: Gina Stechschulte, jr., fullback; Martina Weems, jr., forward/midfielder; Mara Brown, jr., midfielder/fullback; Emily Grone, soph., fullback; Jamie Saum, soph., fullback; Marissa Good, soph., fullback; Nicole Ricker, soph., fullback/forward; Brittany Inkrott, jr., forward/midfielder.
NOTABLE: Look for the Musketeers to have a good season with several returning starters along with other players who played some varsity last year. Defense and ball control will be a priority.
Kalida
HEAD COACH: David Kehres (6th year, 46-29-10).
2010 RECORD: 10-6-1 overall, 3-1 Putnam County League.
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Erika Brinkman, sr., forward/goalkeeper; Nicole Kaufman, sr., forward/defender; Marissa Smith sr., midfielder/defender; Alexis Wurth, sr., defender; Skylar Basinger, jr., midfielder/defender; Summer Holtkamp, jr., forward/midfielder; Emily Schnipke, jr., utility; Kaylyn Verhoff, jr., defender; Kiersten Recker, soph., defender; Nicole Reindel, soph., midfielder/forward; Whitney Smith, soph., defender/midfielder; Justine Verhoff, soph., midfielder/forward; Sarah Verhoff, soph., goalkeeper/forward.
TOP PROSPECTS: Jackie Gardner, fr., midfielder; Mariah Doepker, fr., defender.
NOTABLE: Summer Holtkamp, the reigning Putnam County League Player of the Year and a first team all-district selection, is back for Kalida. The Wildcats also return 12 other players including second team all-PCL selections Nikki Kaufman, Kaylyn Verhoff and Sarah Verhoff.
Liberty-Benton
HEAD COACH: Mark Pagano (1st year).
2010 RECORD: 10-6-2 overall
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Laura Fish, sr., forward; Chelsea Mason, sr., forward; Brianna Windle, sr., forward; Stephanie Taylor, sr., midfielder; Shaunna Lee, sr., midfielder; Alex Johnson, sr., defender; Sarah Beeman, sr., midfielder; Marisa Burkett, jr., midfielder; Taylor Badertscher, jr., defender; Megan Bartchlett, jr., forward; Sydney Stuck, jr., midfielder; Madison Switzer, jr., defender; Christy Sharrer, jr., defender; Kayla Trevino, soph., midfielder; Kaitlyn Hanrahan, soph., goalkeeper.
NOTABLE: Pagano will have several returning players to work with in his first season as L-B's girls coach. Laura Fish and Marisa Burkett both earned all-district honors a season ago.
Ottawa-Glandorf
HEAD COACH: Bob Huth (10th year, 95-44-14).
2010 RECORD: 12-5-1 overall, 7-1-1 Western Buckeye League.
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Kelsey Hoehn, sr., midfielder; Megan Hoehn, soph., goalkeeper; Jessie Kreinbrink, sr., defender; Taylor Bockrath, sr., defender; Whitney Warnecke, jr., forward; Breann Schroeder, sr., forward; Brooke Zynda, sr., midfielder; Allison Nash, sr., midfielder; Alexis Osting, sr., defender.
NOTABLE: Ottawa-Glandorf returns seven senior letterwinners, including first team All-WBL midfielder Kelsey Hoehn and second team defender Jessie Kreinbrink.
Riverdale
HEAD COACH: Andrew Snook (2nd year).
2010 RECORD: 11-4-2 overall.
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Breanne Parrish, soph., goalkeeper; captain; Kylee Cole, sr., midfielder; Kristen Evans, soph., D; Jordyn Wright, soph., MF; Miranda Albert, sr., sweeper; Kelsey Bailey, soph., midfielder; Casey Frey, jr., defender; Shelby Blum, sr., midfielder; Tiffany Hanson, sr., defender; Lindsey Cole, soph., midfielder; Jenica Beck, soph., defender; Tiffany Wright, soph., midfielder.
TOP PROSPECTS: Julia Naus, fr., defender; Alex Manns, fr., defender.
NOTABLE: Riverdale will be playing in a league, the North Central Ohio Soccer Association, for the first time as a girls soccer team. The Falcons return twelve letterwinners, but will have to replace Vanessa Stewart, who scored over 100 goals in her career, and Alison Gil, who holds the Riverdale record for career intercepts.
Upper Sandusky
HEAD COACH: Chelsea Porter (1st year).
2010 RECORD: 4-13 overall.
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Aubry Wentling, sr., defender; Brigitte Snow, jr., midfielder; Rowan Ritchey, jr., defender; Danielle Brodman, jr., forward.
TOP PROSPECTS: Keely Stover, soph., goalkeeper/forward; Mallory Weininger, fr., forward; Sarah Rall, soph., midfielder; Brooke Bennett, sr., defender; Brittany Vent, jr., goalkeeper/defender; Alyssa Funkhouser, jr., defender; Abigail Young, fr., defender; Krista Rowland, sr., forward; Melissa Latham, soph., defender; Jaime Calvin, fr., forward; Allison Moser, fr., defender.
NOTABLE: Upper Sandusky will be a very inexperienced team in 2011 with only two seniors and four returning letterwinners returning for Porter, Upper's third coach in three years.
Van Buren
HEAD COACH: Tom Piccirillo (3rd year, 17-15-2).
2010 RECORD: 11-5-1 overall.
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Kayla Sonnenberg, jr., midfielder; Kristen Tropf, jr., midfielder; Taylor Fieger, sr., defender; Julia Edelbrock, sr., goalkeeper; Meg Ewing, sr., midfielder; Morgan Flick, jr., defender; Michaela Conkle, jr., defender; Heather Clark, jr., defender; Sydney Jameson, jr., midfielder; Laura Endicott, jr., midfielder; Sarah Greer, jr., forward; Madi Endicott, soph., midfielder; Alyssa Spears, jr., forward; Abby Shroll, soph., forward.
TOP PROSPECTS: Ashley Arbaugh, sr., goalkeeper; Nicole Miller, fr., forward; Rachel Wymer, fr., midfielder.
NOTABLE: Expect another big year from the Black Knights, who return 14 letterwinners. Kayla Sonnenberg and Kristen Tropf were each second team all-District selections in 2010.