The WVC Division 1 was hands down the most entertaining division to watch last season. It was an emotional rollercoaster filled with crazy upsets, and last minute winning goals in a season that was up in the air just weeks before it started. So with that being said, let’s dig into these seven teams and see where they stand for the 2021 year.
Berwick: Head Coach - Paul DiPippa
2020 Record: 9-2
2021 Projected Record: 9-2
Notable Players - Kayla Fernandez (senior, forward), Sarina Definnis (senior, forward), Morgan Lisnock (junior, midfielder), Emma Colone (senior, midfielder), Rachel Whitenight (junior midfielder), RaeAnna Andreas (sophomore, midfielder), Leighton Force (senior, goalkeeper/defender)
Notable Graduates - Emily Ouimet, Katie Starr
What better team to start off with than the Berwick Lady Bulldogs. Reigning PIAA D2 Class 3A champions. After losing to Dallas in the championship in 2019, Berwick finally got their revenge by beating the Lady Mounts in the 2020 championship. This is surely a team that is a favorite to repeat in 2021, however they will have to get it done without their all-star goalkeeper (Ouimet, 2020 graduate) and of course Katie Star (2020 graduate) in the midfield.
Kayla Fernandez will be returning for her senior season, and she has been one of the most impressive players in the area these past couple years. In 2020, she led the league in both goals and assists, and it won’t be a shocker if she repeats that this season. Her partner in crime, Sarina Definnis, is also in her senior season. She had 12 goals and finished 2nd in the league with 11 assists. With Fernandez’s strength and Definnis’ speed, this is the deadliest duo in the WVC.
Crestwood: Head Coach- James Zabiegalski
2020 Record: 4-8
2021 Projected Record: 4-8
Notable Players - Kayla Kresge (junior, defender), Emma Suhoski (sophomore,midfielder), Kennedie Huber (junior, midfielder), Emma Sheloski (senior, midfielder), Madison Jolie (junior, midfielder), Mia Pollack (junior, goalkeeper)
Notable Graduates - Rachel Zingaretti, Nicole Joseph, Julia Rose, Jalyn Cook
Last season was average at best for the Lady Comets. Finishing the season 4-8, and lost in the first round of district playoffs 2-1 to a strong Wallenpaupack team. One shining moment last season for them was there big 3-2 upset victory against Berwick. However that was last season, and it is just a memory now. Coming into 2021, Crestwood will be without their top goal scorer in the 2020 season (Rachel Zingaretti, 2020 graduate).
The Lady Comets do have a strong returning core that features Kayla Kresge, who is a 2 time all-star and voted “NEPA HS Soccer’s Defender of the Year” in 2019. Emma Suhoski is coming off a very promising freshman season in which she scored 7 goals and tallied 2 assists. The only question is, will they be able to compete with some of the top teams in the WVC? The answer is yes. Looking at their schedule last season, many of their losses were very tight games. Crestwood will be golden if they can turn those close losses into wins this year.
Dallas: Head Coach - Nikki Pekarski
2020 Record: 10-1-1
2021 Projected Record: 12-0
Notable Players - Megan MacNeely (senior, midfielder), Caelan Gallagher (junior, forward), Kaitlyn Conrad (senior, defender), Morgan Solano (senior, goalkeeper), Kira Pomrinke (junior, midfielder), Olivia Maniskas (senior, midfielder), Elizabeth Viglone (sophomore, midfielder), Gabriela Da Silva (sophomore, defender/forward)
Notable Graduates - Claudia Carver
I‘ll be honest, I never like projecting teams to go undefeated. But looking at what this Dallas squad did last year, it’s hard for me not to put them at 12-0. After they lost a majority of their starting 11 a year ago, people had their doubts about them in 2020. But if you pay close attention to HS soccer in our area, you would know Dallas always has the tools to rebuild and compete. Now that mostly everybody is returning in 2021, this is without a doubt the best girl’s team in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Last season, they came up short in overtime at the hands of Berwick in the district championship. The Lady Bulldogs would win 2-1 and head to states. Megan MacNeely, finished the year with 17 goals which was 3rd in the league.
If you’re looking at the goal leaderboard, it won’t take long for you to find the next league’s top goalscorer in Caelan Gallagher. Gallagher had 14 goals in 2020 which was good for 8th in the league. Let’s not forget about Morgan Solano in net… good luck getting a shot by her. Well I can continue rambling about every other player in their starting 11, but it’s probably best I stop now. We cannot wait to see what this Lady Mounts team will accomplish!
Hazleton Area: Head Coach - Jim Paisley
2020 Record: 2-10
2021 Projected Record: 4-8
Notable Players - Hailey Kaschak (senior, midfielder), Lacie Kringe (junior, defender), Reese Kaschak (sophomore, forward), Camilia Arias (senior, midfielder), Ella Schneider (junior, striker)
Notable Graduates - Caitlyn Katchur
The year 2020 was a season of ups and downs for the Lady Cougars. However, the “ups” came in a very crucial time. After losing to Wilkes-Barre Area 8-1 just a week before district playoffs, they would match up with them again in the first round and stun them by a score of 3-2. Then going on to play Wyoming Valley West in the semifinals and beating them 1-0, and eventually losing to Williamsport in the championship.
Well it’s a new season for Hazleton, and you can’t dwell on the past. Goalkeeper Caitlyn Katchur has graduated, so that will be hole they need to fill. The sister duo of Hailey & Reese Kaschak will be leading the offense for the Lady Cougs (unless we see Reese fill the goalkeeper spot). Our “2020 Co-Defender of the Year” Lacie Kringe will also be returning for her junior year.
Pittston Area: Head Coach - Elana Falcone
2020 Record: 1-11
Projected 2021 Record: 0-12
Notable Players - Rhiannon Okuniewski (senior), Kayla Rodzniak (sophomore), Jordan McGoff (junior), Ryli Smith (senior), Kayla Mease (senior)
Notable Graduates - Kendall Tigue, Mia Snyder, Brynne McGoff, Katelyn Wesp, Gia Innamorati, Ashlin Menendez
There‘s going to be a lot of changes for the Lady Patriots this upcoming season. In addition to a new head coach… six key players from last season have graduated. Many holes will have to filled, including the goalkeeper position. Kendall Tigue made 180 saves last season, which led all goalies in Division 1. Their top goalscorer, Mia Snyder, has also graduated.
Kayla Rodzniak was second on Pittston’s 2020 goal scoring list with 7, and she will be entering in her sophomore season. So there is a bright spot. It’s usually not a good thing when there are more players in the “Notable Graduates” section than “Notable Players.” With that being said, hopefully they can turn some heads and surprise people with a few wins here and there.
Wilkes-Barre Area: Head Coach - Desiree Kreidler
2020 Record: 6-5
2021 Projected Record: 5-7
Notable Players - Krystal Haertter (senior, midfielder), Esa Mendola (senior, forward), Lindsey Syms (junior midfielder), Mackenzie Evans (junior, midfielder), Jyanna Mendola (junior defender), Sarah Gryskewicz (senior, defender)
Notable Graduates - none
The Lady Wolfpack will be entering their third year as a soccer program. During each of their first two seasons, they finished one win above .500, and a first round exit in district playoffs. On paper, they might have one of the best rosters in the league. But, during the past two seasons they have had an inability to beat the top teams such as Dallas, Berwick, and Wyoming Valley West.
Bonita Brigido, who led the team with assists last season is out after ACL surgery, so not the greatest news to start off the year. Krystal Haertter who will be entering her senior season scored 21 goals last season which was 2nd best in the league. Esa Mendola will also be entering her senior year, and she had 14 goals which was 8th in the league. Her sister, Jyanna Mendola, has things locked up at the center back position. If they want to win a district chip, this might be the year they want it to happen… considering a few of their top players are seniors.
Wyoming Valley West: Head Coach - Deb Stevens
2020 Record: 7-2-1
Projected 2021 Record: 8-4
Notable Players - Gwen Langley (senior, defender), Veronica Warunek (midfielder junior), Annabelle Wojciechowski (senior, midfielder), Riley Bobkowski (sophomore, defender), Mackenzie Bowling (junior, goalkeeper), Devaeh Greene (forward, junior), Lauren Richie (forward, junior), Gabrielle Marsola (midfielder, sophomore)
Notable Graduates - Chloe Chipego
The phrase “defense wins games” was taken very seriously by the Lady Spartans last season. Now that Chloe Chipego has graduated, the WVW defense takes a minor hit. However, Gwen Langley & Riley Bobkowski will most definitely make up for the absence of Chipego.
Veronica Warunek is now entering her junior year, and led the team with 5 goals last season. In addition to Warunek up top, the speedy & skilled Annabelle Wojciechowski (2G, 3A in 2020) will be in her senior season. Mackenzie Bowling did a great job between the sticks last year for the Lady Spartans, making 105 saves and keeping 5 clean sheets.
This is definitely a team capable of winning a district championship this season. Valley West is a team with tremendous defense, speed, skill. If they can build off their success from 2020, then it should be a great year for the Lady Spartans!
Wyoming Valley Conference Girl’s Division 2 projections will be out within the next week, followed by boy’s teams in the WVC.
Contact the writer…
David Brigido, NEPA HS Soccer Founder
nepahighschoolsoccer@gmail.com
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