Pictured above: #7 Nadia Gill of Lakeland. Photograph taken by John Maros.
Dunmore
2020 Record - 5-6-1
2021 Projected Record - 9-7
Head Coach - Daniel Badyrka
Notable Players - Jessica Trauger (striker, senior), Faith Bravo (defender, junior), Adeline Toole (midfielder, junior), Kaylie Zimmer (sophomore)
Notable Graduates - Olivia Leo, Gia Levis, Abby Springer, Anna Talutto
The Lady Bucks will be in search of a new goalscorer come the 2021 season, as Anna Talutto who scored 16 goals in 2020 has graduated. Additionally, Olivia Leo who made 89 saves and kept 8 clean sheets last year has also graduated. So these will be two key roles that will have to be sorted out as the season approaches.
Returning is first team all-star defender Faith Bravo. Since her freshman season, she has been one of the best backs in the league. Kaylie Zimmer had a very nice freshman season in 2020, scoring 5 goals, assisting 2.
We asked Head Coach Daniel Badyrka on his thoughts about this Fall, and what the Lady Bucks can improve on.
“The upcoming season will be exciting for us. We will be returning 7 starters and have a talented freshman class coming in. Obviously in a physically tough and talented division with Lakeland, Montrose, Holy Cross, Mountain View, and Western Wayne we need to improve our physical and mental toughness to stay focused late in games.”
Holy Cross
2020 Record - 2-9-2
2021 Projected Record - 4-12
Head Coach - Andrew Nelson
Notable Players - Faith Hosie (goalkeeper, senior), Mary McHugh (midfielder, junior), Shannon O’Malley (midfielder, junior), Nora Betts (midfielder, senior)
Notable Graduates - Abby Lentowski
Returning to the Lady Crusaders this season is second team all-star goalkeeper Faith Hosie who made 141 saves in 2020 (2nd best in league). Mary McHugh, and Nora Betts were tied for 2nd on the team with goals scored last year, while Abby Lentowski led the team and has since graduated.
Lakeland
2020 Record - 12-0-1
2021 Projected Record - 11-3-1
Head Coach - Paul Sotak
Notable Players - Nadia Gill (midfielder, junior), Kirsten Navich (midfielder, sophomore), Abigail Davis (defender, sophomore), Joan Clauss-Walton (defender, junior), Camryn Flynn (midfielder, senior), Ava Piraino (midfielder, senior)
Notable Graduates - Marissa Boles, Emily Pollack, Selena Hoover, Liberty Stefalo
There are three teams you can look at in this division and think each one has a good shot at winning it all. The Lady Chiefs are one of them. Nadia Gill is returning for her junior season and was more than impressive last year, scoring 20 goals (3rd in league) and leading the league with 14 assists. Kirsten Navich put on a show in what was just her freshman year, scoring 12 goals, with 12 assists (2nd overall in league).
Another freshman on the team last season was Abigail Davis, a second team all-star who also scored 3 goals and assisted 5. Lakeland‘s all time leading scorer in Marissa Boles is no longer with the team, but the 1-2 punch of Gill and Navich should make up for that loss. Three time all-star goalkeeper Emily Pollack has also graduated, so that will also be another hole needed to be filled.
Nadia Gill gave us her thoughts on the upcoming season…
“This year we have a new team vision. We are playing as a solid unit and not focused on individual goals. We have talented players that will contribute to get our team to the next level.”
Montrose
2020 Record - 8-3-1
2021 Projected Record - 13-0-2
Head Coach - Jenton Esworthy
Notable Players - Tangi Smith (forward, senior), Aspen Smith (forward, sophomore), Cici Adams (midfielder, senior), Riley Keihl (utility, sophomore), Hailey Pompey (defender, junior), Mya Snyder (goalkeeper, junior)
Notable Graduates - Lizzy Lathrop
Two words. “District Champions.” This was a team we did not favor last year to win districts, however they proved us wrong. Now I think it would only be fair to project them to go undefeated in 2021. Tangi Smith scored 20 goals last season for the Lady Meteors, and will be looking to have a big senior year. Her sister Aspen, had a very nice freshman year scoring 9 goals and assisting 4.
Riley Keihl also had a very promising freshman year, someone who can play anywhere on the field scored 13 goals with 5 assists. Cici Adams, another player on this squad who was so valuable to their district title, is coming back for her senior season. Adams scored 14 goals with 9 assists last year. They will have to deal with the loss of Lizzy Lathrop on defense, but besides that, this is a team heavily favored to repeat in 2021.
We talked to Head Coach Jenton Esworthy, and asked him on how they can improve on their success in 2020, and other thoughts on this Fall.
“We are excited for the 2021 season. We will be looking to replace three graduating seniors and still carry a majority of starting players from last years District Championship team. We will return a strong offense with Tangi and Aspen Smith, Cici Adams in the Midfield and my utility player, Riley Keihl, who will play wherever we need her and get the job done. Defensively, Hailey Pompey and the backs will need to be prepared to make up for the loss of Lizzy Lathrop. Mya Snyder returns as goal keeper. We also have some new players joining us which should bring interesting dynamics to the team.”
“Last year, we were ranked at the bottom of the pre-season polls and surprised a lot of people. But I am sure that last years success also puts a target on our back this year. Teams will want to beat us which means the preparation we do in preseason and training will be that much more important.”
Mountain View
2020 Record - 2-6-2
2021 Projected Record - 5-9-1
Head Coach - Todd Calabro
Notable Players - Rebecca Plomchok (senior), Maressa Salansky (senior), Michaela Hammond (junior)
Notable Graduates - Reagan Cameron, Natalie Cross, Morgan Hammond, Marisa Ostir, Reagan White
This is a team that has lost quite a bit since last season. Their 2020 leading goalscorer Marisa Ostir has graduated, along with many other players who were key to the team in 2020. Their key to somewhat success in 2021 will solely depend on how they play in division crossover games, and against other teams in Division 2 such as Dunmore and Holy Cross who also lost multiple key players.
Western Wayne
2020 Record - 8-3
2021 Projected Record - 12-2-1
Head Coach - Tyler Jakes
Notable Players - Jaden Gregory (defender, junior), Ella Pavlovitch (forward, junior), Kennedy Mistishin (goalkeeper, senior), Amanda Gravine (midfielder, junior), Rhayni Carroll (midfielder, sophomore), Brooke Kellogg (defender, sophomore), Cyrah Butler (midfielder, junior), Alex Butler (defender, senior)
Notable Graduates - Cassidy Asinski, Lena Piccolino, Makayla Gregory
Last, and definitely not least are the Lady Wildcats. 100 goalscorer, and first team all-star Cassidy Asinski has graduated. Which means they will be on the lookout for somebody to put goals in the back of the net on a regular basis. Next on the scoring list is Amanda Gravine, she scored 6 goals and assisted 3 in 2020.
Makayla Gregory was a second team all-star last season and has since graduated. For the most part, the WW defense looks like it stays intact with first team all-star Jaden Gregory returning, and Brooke Kellogg & Alex Butler.
We asked Head Coach Tyler Jakes on who can replace a scorer like Cassidy Asinski, and some of his thoughts heading into 2021.
“Losing a girl like Cassidy who can put the ball in the back of the net on any given day is never an ideal situation. The good news is soccer is a sport where 4-5-6 things need to happen for before the ball finds itself in front of the opposing teams net. It is going to take a collective effort from the entire roster in order for the team to have continued success.”
“Sophomore Rhayni Carroll and last years first team all star selection Jaden Gregory have shown a lot of promise over the winter and summer workouts and I can see them being impact players heading into the 2021 season.”
“Being a first year coach there is always a learning curve heading into a season for both the players and the coach. It takes time to buy into a new philosophy and system. I think at this point, heading into year 2 I have gained the trust of the girls and I have learned more about where girls can be most effective and make the most impact on the field. With that being said, we are very excited for this upcoming year and look forward to another successful season.”
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