New faces will dot the sidelines at area girls soccer programs this season. Of the five local schools with girls programs, three have new head coaches.
Here is a look at each of those five schools:
Columbus North
David Young takes over the Bull Dogs program from Derek Stewart, who retired after seven seasons. Young has coached with the Columbus Express Soccer Club since 2012, was the Franklin girls head coach in 2016-17 and was a boys assistant at Franklin from 2013-15 and at Columbus East last year.
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North, which went 11-5 last season, is coming off a big summer. The Bull Dogs beat some quality programs, including a 3-0 win against defending Class 3A state champion Cathedral.
"We had some growth during the summer," Young said. "We’re actually dealing with some injuries right now, so compared to early in the summer, we’re about where the growth should be."
The strength of the team figures to be in the midfield with sophomore Jenna Lang, junior Lauryn Whitley and senior Caroline Hollenkamp. All have started since their freshman years.
"We feel like with Jenna, Lauryn and Caroline right there in the middle of the field, we should be very dominating against a lot of teams," Young said. "We feel like we have some pieces that we can put up top that will complement Jenna. My thought as a coach is having your best player on the ball as much as you can, and just let her dictate the game and allow other teams to kind of figure out what we’re doing."
Stepping in at forward will be junior Laney Moore, sophomore KJ Ely and freshman Lauren Barker. Ely was a starter last season.
Junior Kate Kolhouse returns at center back, and sophomore Nitya Chenanda moves from outside back to center back. Sophomore Rion Stevens moves from midfield to outside back, and seniors Alayne Davis and Abigail Hovis will play the other outside back spot. Senior Kaylyn Bates returns in goal.
Also figuring to see plenty of action are sophomore forward Claire Livers and juniors Erin Rawlins and Helena Ho at forward, freshman Riley Schumm at outside back or center back and junior transfer Emily Kleinhelter at outside back or center midfield.
"We have some pieces, girls that can run, girls that can understand the game well, and so far this summer, we like what we’ve seen from them," Young said. "On any given day, we have probably 16 or 17 players that I would feel comfortable starting. I feel like we’re pretty deep."
Columbus East
The Olympians had a big year last season, going 15-3. Like North, East was knocked out in the sectional by Center Grove.
Seven starters return from that team, including The Republic Girls Soccer Player of the Year Alana Dwenger.
"It’s a great group of soccer players," Schwartzman said. "This group of soccer players is one of the most athletic and skilled groups we’ve had in a long time at East."
Dwenger, a junior, and senior Maya Federle are back at the outside at outside forward spots. Senior Jaeda Berkemeier returns as an offensive midfielder, senior Lindsey Stoughton is back at center midfield, senior Emily Stiles returns at center back and senior Karisma Parker is back in goal. Junior Hannah Hemmerlein moves from outside back to center back.
Junior Abby Miller, who saw considerable action last season, steps in at center forward. Freshmen Norah Dwenger and Allison Craig will be at outside back, and freshman Alexis Spurgeon will be a defensive midfielder.
"We have three freshmen who will be starting," Schwartzman said. "Then we have a few others who have grown and matured and will be helping us."
Senior forward Elena Stoughton, junior defensive midfielder Chloe Miller and sophomore forward Kathleen Soedel all saw action last season, as did junior Erin McIntyre as the backup goalkeeper.
"It’s a pretty experienced group," Schwartzman said. "Even the freshmen have played at a high level in club. They have quite a bit of experience on the soccer field, and they certainly have shown tremendous potential and tremendous display of skill in the preseason to earn their varsity spots."
Jennings County
The Panthers return eight starters from a team that went 11-7.
Senior Baylee Byford, who enters her fourth year as a starter, moves from center back to an attacking midfielder position. Senior Lauren Greene moves from forward to outside back.
Also returning are senior twins Kayla Pappenheim at center back and Katie Pappenheim at defensive midfield, senior Emily Montgomery at center back, junior Ellie Ebinger at outside back, sophomore Morgan Lane at defensive midfield and junior Kenna Maschino in goal.
Senior Sonya Miller will step in at forward. Senior Kerrigan Moore and sophomore Delany Burkman will play the outside midfield spots.
"Experience is definitely on our side this year," Jennings coach Kate Gray said. "It’s nice to go into the season with several kids understanding their role. Our deal is going to be to find scoring, finding that true striker that can score goals."
Brown County
Alyssa Newlin, who played soccer and softball at Brown County and softball at Millikin University, takes over the head coaching role after being an assistant for the Eagles last season.
Newlin inherits a team that went 3-9-1 and returns six starters. Back are senior forward Izzy Rygiel, sophomore forward Kylie Workman, senior outside back Piper Boyer, senior sweeper Bella Hobbs, senior goalkeeper Hannah Hummel in goal and sophomore Darla Weis, who moves from outside midfield to attacking center midfield.
Looking to fill starting roles are senior Marley Nickels at outside back, senior Adri Kritzer and junior Isa Fogg at outside midfield, freshman Tori Klaker at defensive midfield and freshman Jamie Bube at forward.
Three freshmen — defensive midfielder Alli Majors, outside forward Xyleigh Thompson and backup goalkeeper Sarah Callahan also figure to see action.
"I feel like we’re a growing team," Newlin said. "We have a lot of new freshmen and a lot of players who haven’t played before. They’re really learning to play as a team. There’s definitely going to be those struggles, so our first couple games are going to be kind of a challenge."
Trinity Lutheran
Thom Hayes, who has been a coach in the Seymour Soccer Association and was assistant boys coach at Trinity for two years a decade ago, takes over the Cougar girls program following a 7-9 season.
Hayes will look to seniors Ashley Goecker and Emma Goecker and junior Flossie Cooper to lead the way.
"They’re all very strong defenders, so they’ll play some defense for sure," Hayes said. "But they definitely have capabilities of playing everywhere on the field. It just depends on how the game is going and how much defensive strength we need. My goal is to see where all the girls play best."
Junior Genesis Munoz returns in goal. Battling for the other starting spots are seniors Mya Nay, Mary Matthews and Alyssa Schultz; junior Erin Enzinger; sophomores Kailene Cockerham, Riley Lawless and Sarah Lemming and freshmen Emma Myers, Kathryn Whitmore and Samantha Enzinger.
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The 2019 Columbus East and Columbus North girls soccer schedules:
Columbus East
Wednesday;at Bloomington North;7 p.m.
Aug. 24;at Roncalli;4:30 p.m.
Aug. 26;Bloomington South;7 p.m.
Aug. 28;Columbus North;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 3;Madison;7 p.m.
Sept. 7;at Castle;12:30 p.m.
Sept. 10;at Bedford North Lawrence;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 12;at Batesville;7 p.m.
Sept. 14;at Floyd Central;6:30 p.m.
Sept. 17;at Jennings County;7 p.m.
Sept. 21;New Albany;11 a.m.
Sept. 24;at Jeffersonville;7 p.m.
Sept. 28;at Center Grove Tournament;10 a.m.
Oct. 3;Seymour;7 p.m.
Columbus North
Monday;Center Grove;7:30 p.m.
Aug. 24;at Seymour;11:30 a.m.
Aug. 26;at Franklin;7 p.m.
Aug. 28;at Columbus East;7 p.m.
Aug. 31;at Floyd Central;12:30 p.m.
Sept. 4;at Franklin Central;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 7;Terre Haute South;11:30 a.m.
Sept. 9;Westfield;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11;Southport;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14;at Lawrenceburg;11:30 a.m.
Sept. 16;Bloomington North;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21;at Terre Haute North;3 p.m.
Sept. 23;Bloomington South;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25;East Central;7:30 p.m.
Oct. 1;at Batesville;7:30 p.m.
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