By Alex Frazier
Welcome to the 2010 spring girls soccer season. This will be the last year the girls play in the spring. Next year they will join the other schools that play in the fall (more about that in a later notebook).
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is something noteworthy or interesting about a team, a player or a game. I’m always looking for newsworthy items related to soccer.
New coaches – Each year I like to recognize the new coaches around the league. This year there are three of them.
Lew Mladjen, Bensalem
Mladjen played baseball and soccer at Conwell Egan, but chose to continue with baseball at Gettysburg College from which he graduated in 2004.
Since being hired as a social studies teacher at Bensalem in 2007, he has also taken up coaching soccer.
He was the head freshman coach in 2008 and head jayvee coach in 2009.
Both years he also assisted in the spring girls’ program, essentially as a goalie coach.
This year’s team is very young but talented. Eleven players return, with only three of them seniors.
Those players include: Jody Sokol (senior, MF/F), Casey Gendron (sophomore, F), and Kristen Jones (sophomore, MF/F).
“Although young, I expect our team to surprise many schools and really challenge the perennial powers in the league with our intelligence and speed up front,” said Mladjen. “Ultimately my goals this year are to establish a winning attitude and four-year commitment to the program.”
Kaitlyn McGinniss, Pennsbury
McGinniss played for Pennsbury from 2000-2003 and was a part of the 2000 team that was a state runner-up. She was a captain of the 2002 and 2003 teams.
Senior year she switched from midfield to central defender, which she continued to play at Villanova. At Nova she played club soccer and was a captain of the squad.
Since graduating, she was the head coach of Pennwood middle school co-ed soccer (two seasons with only one loss). Meanwhile, she spent the springs with the girls programs, first as the jayvee assistant (2008) and then varsity assistant (2009).
This past fall she was the head coach of the freshman boys’ program.
And now, she’s made the jump to varsity head coach.
“I'm very excited for this season,” she said. “I bleed black and orange and know how important this season is to the program. Pennsbury has traditionally performed well in the playoffs and has never earned a league title. That is something we would like to accomplish before the switch to the fall.
“We have some very talented players on this team that have an opportunity to do something special. Our seniors are finding ways to lead on and off the field as many of the juniors and sophomores are developing and excelling as varsity athletes. We have had a promising pre-season and have seen some good things out of our first two games. When we play Pennsbury soccer, we have the opportunity to compete with the best teams in the area.”
Besides coaching, McGinniss has been teaching English for three years at Pennsbury and will be tying the knot in May. (Maybe in time for the state playoffs).
Matt Emmert, Souderton
Emmert knew since he was a high school player that he wanted to coach when his playing days were over. Going into his sophomore year of college, he had already completed the 'D' license and had done some volunteer coaching work with local club teams.
His playing career effectively ended after his sophomore year when he tore ligaments in his left knee and then repeated the injury to his right knee, about seven months after the first one.
After finishing physical therapy, he volunteered at Gettysburg High School (he was attending Gettysburg College) as the jayvee girls coach. After that season, the head coach asked him to coach the ninth grade boy’s team in the upcoming fall. That was his first paid gig and after the season, over senior-year winter break, he headed to Florida at IMG academy to complete the 'C' license.
He coached the jayvee girls again that spring and then moved back to this area after graduation.
Through some contacts, he landed a job as assistant men’s coach at Ursinus College.
Last spring he became the jayvee girls coach at Souderton under Terry Underkoffler, who had been his high school and club coach when he was younger. This past fall he left Ursinus and was hired to be the head girls’ coach at Souderton when Underkoffler retired.
Emmert has also coached at the club level with Nether Providence and Montgomery United. Currently he coaches at Harleysville FC and Lower Merion while serving on the EPYSA ODP staff.
“I'm very excited by the opportunity to coach at Souderton and follow in the footsteps of Terry Underkoffler and Tom Quintois, two individuals who have been influential in my coaching career to date,” said Emmert. “I know the program has a history of success, and I hope to continue that tradition. We're a young team and there will be tough games where we'll have to fight just to keep our heads above water, but we also have talented players who are capable of enjoying success this season and in the future.
“Being new to the league, it's difficult to place expectations on what I want us to accomplish, but I try to focus primarily on the process rather than the outcome. If we work every day on improving aspects of our play, we'll play good soccer and will be able to compete in all of our games. That being said, a league finish that will qualify us for districts is a challenging, but attainable goal that we'll strive to accomplish.”
League overview
National Conference
The National Conference will be another dogfight among five teams, any of which could rise to the top.
Even though Council Rock South was ousted in the first round of the district playoffs last year, the Golden Hawks are the pre-season favorite to win the conference, although Neshaminy, which went undefeated in the league last year could have something to say about that. Rock South returns eight seniors, including Jessica Levy, a first-team all-league keeper as a junior. The Hawks also have another great keeper in Nicole Ulrick, who sat almost all of last season with a knee injury.
Neshaminy has been playing well in the preseason, but the Redskins have a new defense and a new keeper. So far a host of subs that saw significant time last year are stepping up. First team all-leaguer, Briana Hires will pace the offense.
Council Rock North has a young squad this year, which may be evident when the Indians gave up a two-goal lead to Upper Dublin. Kelsey Kausch (junior), Caitlin Hanagan (sophomore) and Katie McNamara (sophomore) are North’s only all-league players returning.
Pennsbury has a new coach, Kaitlyn McManniss, who is motivated to bring the team back to the level it was when she played on the state runner-up team in 2000. Junior midfielder Molly Phillips will pace the Falcons.
William Tennent lost several good players from last year’s squad, but returns nine starters from a young squad that made it to the district quarterfinals. The Panthers have already lost second team all-leaguer Angelina Liddy to a broken leg. But she should return for a hopeful playoff run.
Abington, Bensalem and Harry S Truman all hope to move up this season. The Ghosts will rely on Gina McCoy (first team all-league) and Sheila Longo (second team). Bensalem, also with a new coach, has an experienced team with 11 varsity players returning, including Judy Sokol, a 2009 third team selection. Truman will look to junior forward Malorie Kolar to score goals.
Continental Conference
Certainly defending district champion Pennridge and third place Central Bucks South would be strong contenders for the conference title this year. Both teams lost valuable players.
The Rams took a big hit on defense with the graduation of keeper Shannon Zickler, sweeper Marissa Kunkle and midfielder Olivia O’Neill.
Depending on how well they can shore up the defense will determine how far they get. Sophomore Steve Parker is the only all-league defender returning.
Up top the Rams will look to veteran Sarah Senoyuit to create scoring.
Although the Titans also lost all-state midfielder Julia Goldsworthy, they have a lot of depth, including first team all-league defender Melanie Keer and first team junior defender Brittany Middleton as well as all-leaguers Casey Walsh, Molly Grove and Lauren Buchanan-Dwyer.
Central Bucks West is a young squad but has already flexed its muscles with a win over archrival Council Rock South. As usual the Bucks will be strong defensively, led by sophomore Lindsay Horst, who was first team all-league as a freshman. Sophomore keeper Jen Bradley will also be a pillar in the back.
Hatboro-Horsham may be surprise team this year, as the Hatters should be much improved, having had a young squad last year.
North Penn has a mix of veterans and newcomers this year. The Maidens posted an impressive 4-3 win over Pennsbury
Souderton lost a lot of quality players from its fourth place district playoff team as well as coach Terry Underkoffler. There may be a period of transition as players become accustomed to new coach Matt Emmert.
The Big Red took a devastating hit just as the season began when Ingrid Moyer went down with an ACL injury that will sideline her for the rest of the season.
Quakertown may be a year or two off. The Panthers have a solid freshman class (17), five of whom start.
American Conference
To no one’s surprise, Upper Dublin and Wissahickon are the preseason favorites to vie for the conference title. The edge, however, would have to go to Upper Dublin, particularly after the Flying Cardinals rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Council Rock North.
Upper Dublin returns three first team players in Erin Lafferty, Larissa Nysch and Emily Marvill.
Wissahickon also has a couple of young second teamers returning in Alex Schaefer and Lauren Becker. The Trojans also return goalkeeper Alyssa King (honorable mention all-league).
Cheltenham, which started the league season with a 3-2 win over Springfield, will be among a group of three schools, including Plymouth Whitemarsh and Upper Merion, competing for the middle spots.
The Panthers have a pair of sophomore center midfielders, Marissa Gorman and Bree Hansteen, who, if they can connect with junior forward Rhoda Moise, could be a dark horse contender.
PW returns several good young players in Brittany MacDonald (first team), Molly McTamney (second team) and Jessica Knudson (second team).
Upper Merion coach Ryan Larkin returns after a year off. The Vikings lost some of their best players but return Tracey Kline, keeper Kate Cortellesa and Meredith Lorenz.
Being the smallest schools in the conference, Springfield and Upper Moreland struggle with consistency from year to year.
The Spartans, who finished sixth last year, will look to Tierney Carabba and Jill Simmons.
Upper Moreland will look to move up from seventh behind Kristy Graf and Trisha Connelly.
Last year Norristown didn’t win a game, but the Eagles are hoping to break into the win column this year behind junior Andrea Stickley and senior Alyssa Spencer.
Around the league – The weather hasn’t been real conducive to soccer, but in the early going, Neshaminy has recorded two big wins over C.B. South (2-1 on Stacy Bartleson’s goal in the second half) and North Penn (1-0 on Megan Kelly’s overtime goal).
North Penn came back to beat Pennsbury 4-3 on Katelyn Shamp’s penalty kick.
In a rivalry that has been fierce over the years, Central Bucks West nicked Council Rock South 1-0 on sophomore Lindsay Horst’s goal.
Upper Dublin also scored a big non-conference win over Council Rock North 3-2. The Cardinals came from down two goals to win it on Hale Kline’s tally in the second half.
Preseason Top Five SOL Teams
1. Neshaminy
2. Central Bucks South
3. Council Rock South
4. Pennridge
5. Upper Dublin
NSCAA Region One Rankings
(March 30)
Rank School W-L-T
1. Neshaminy (Langhorne, Pa,) 1-0-0
2. Hershey (Hershey, Pa.) 1-0-0
2. Padua Academy (Wilmington, Del.) 2-0-0
4. Penn Manor (Millersville, Pa.) 2-0-0
5. Emmaus (Emmaus, Pa.) 0-0-0
6. Pennridge (Perkasie, Pa.) 0-0-0
7. Hempfield (Landisville, Pa.) 1-0-0
8. Red land (Lewisbery, Pa.) 1-0-0
9. Central Bucks West (Doylestown, Pa.) 1-0-0
10. Easton (Easton, Pa.) 1-0-0
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