Last year was a big one for Columbus girls soccer programs. Both Columbus North and Columbus East won conference championships and will look to defend those this fall.
Here is a look at them, as well as other area girls soccer teams for the coming year:
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs could be one of the top teams in the state, but they’ll be tested right off the bat by two of the state’s other top teams. They visit Brebeuf Jesuit on Saturday and Center Grove on Monday.
Center Grove handed North, which went 14-3 overall and 5-0 in Conference Indiana, two of its three losses last season, including one in the sectional.
"This will be new for us playing on Saturday (to begin the season)," North coach David Young said. "That will help us going into Center Grove."
The Bull Dogs feature one of the state’s top talents in junior Jenna Lang, who netted 32 goals and eight assists last season in earning The Republic Girls Soccer Player of the Year honors. Lang played mostly as an attacking midfielder last season, but could play some forward this fall.
"There are times where we’ll move her around a little bit and get her out on the wings to open it up," Young said. "It’s all going to be dependent on the opponent."
Senior center mid Lauryn Whitley tied the single-season school record with 21 assists last season and is closing in on the career record. Sophomore forward Lauren Barker had nine goals and five assists and could see some time in the midfield this year.
Juniors K.J. Ely and Claire Lyvers also return at forward, where they will share playing time with seniors Laney Moore and Helena Ho and senior newcomer Alexa McKinley, a basketball standout who is out for high school soccer for the first time.
Ely, Livers and senior Sam Crossman will play in the outside midfield. Junior Rion Stevens moves from outside back to join Whitley at center mid. Senior Emily Kleinhelter and freshman Anna Donica also could see action in the midfield.
Junior Nitya Chenanda and senior Kate Kolhouse return at center back to anchor the defense. Sophomore Riley Schumm returns at outside back, and will be joined by junior Annagail Fields or freshman Charlotte Loheide.
Sophomore Mallory Gilley who filled in at goalkeeper while the starter was injured last season, is battling for that job with junior Layla Terry.
"We have a lot of talent coming back," Young said. "A lot of goals and assists are returning. We’re a year older, a year stronger, a year faster, a year more mature than we were last year. The girls have progressed more this season than I thought they would, given the short amount of time. We’re a pretty mature team this year, so hopefully, we can step in right where we did last year."
Columbus East
The Olympians hope to contend with North and Center Grove for sectional supremacy.
East lost five seniors, including four three- or four-year starters. But it returns several key players from a team that went 11-5-2, including 6-0-1 in the Hoosier Hills Conference.
"Our numbers are not terribly great, but we have a pretty good squad," East coach Ilya Schwartzman said. "We return a strong nucleus and have some strong freshmen that are going to help out, as well. The returners are more mature, and we’re very fit and very athletic and should be demonstrating some exciting soccer this year."
Senior forward Alana Dwenger, the 2018 Republic Girls Soccer Player of the Year, led the Olympians with 12 goals last season. She is joined up front by senior Abby Miller and junior Kathleen Soedel.
"I think offensively, we’re very strong, and defensively, we’re very solid, as well," Schwartzman said. "We’re very athletic, and we have a lot of speed. I think we’re going to surprise some people around the state and challenge quite a few programs this year."
Junior Gabi Schuetz could play forward or defense. Sophomore Sydney Berkemeier, seniors Katherine Wolf and Chloe Miller and freshmen Nadia Harris and Ruth Federle are battling for the center mid spots.
Senior Hannah Hemmerlein returns at center back, and sophomores Norah Dwenger and Allison Craig are back at outside back. Sophomore Alexis Spurgeon will play center back or defensive mid.
Sophomore Anna Liimatta takes over in goal.
"There are a lot of young players there, but they have a ton of experience," Schwartzman said. "They have played at a high level in club."
Jennings County
The Panthers have a new coach in Tom Moore, who helped start boys soccer at Jennings County in the 1980s and has coached goalkeepers for both boys and girls teams at the school.
Moore takes over for Kate Gray, who led the Panthers to an 11-7 record last season, including 1-6 in the HHC. They lost eight starters from that team.
"It’s a rebuild year, for sure," Moore said. "If we keep the ball in front of us, it’s hard for them to score, so that’s what we’re working on right now."
Seniors Tori Lee and Kenna Maschino shared time in goal last season. Maschino is moving to center midfield, where she will team with junior Morgan Lane, who had 11 goals and six assists last year.
Junior Ellie Ebinger returns at outside back, where she will team with sophomore Bree Galyen. Junior Lilly Burchell and sophomore Cassie Burchell step in at center back
Junior Delany Burkman takes over as defensive midfielder. Junior Lexi Giltner could play forward or midfield, junior Zoey Ison could play midfield or defense and junior Alyssa Kent could play center mid or forward.
Junior Grace Kirchner and senior newcomer Cassidy Mull also could see action at forward. Freshman Lily Schildknecht could play anywhere on the field and senior newcomer Grace Ramey will back up Lee in goal.
Brown County
Carlie Salisbury takes over as head coach for Alyssa Newlin, who remains as an assistant.
The Eagles have only 13 girls on the team after going 1-12-1 last season.
"I told them they’re not going to get a lot of rest, so these first two weeks of practice are tough," Salisbury said. "They’re going to have to run up and down that field."
Eight starters return, including senior Isa Fogg, juniors Darla Weiss and junior Kylie Workman and sophomores Victoria Klaker, Xyleigh Thomspon, Alli Majors, Jamie Bube and goalkeeper Sarah Callahan. Freshmen Savannah Lawson, Anna Tipton, Julia Burt, Jenna Patterson and Jade Hoffmeister also figure to see action.
"We’re not quite sure on positions yet," Salisbury said. "Our defense will be pretty new. We’re a very young team. They are a great group of girls, and they all jive and get along really well, which is really neat to see, especially because they’re so young. We’ve been working really hard, and hopefully, we can outrun up and down the field any team we come up against."
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars return eight starters from a team that went 9-6.
Juniors Kailene Cockerham, who led the team with 17 goals, and Sarah Lemming and sophomore Emma Myers are back at forward. Sophomores Kathryn Whitmore and Samantha Enzinger return in the midfield, seniors Flossie Cooper and Erin Enzinger are back on defense and senior Genesis Munoz returns in goal.
Junior Riley Lawles and junior newcomers Kayla Goecker and Paige Lawrence will step into midfield spots. Freshman Kaydence Miller will play defense or midfield.
"We have a pretty balanced team," Trinity coach Thom Hayes said. "I think even some of the new ones played youth soccer. Everyone that’s coming back had a good season last year and has another year under their belt. I think we’re going to be in as good of shape as we were last year and maybe better if we keep everybody healthy."
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The 2020 girls soccer schedules for Bartholomew County schools:
Columbus East
Wednesday;Bloomington North;7 p.m.
Aug. 22;Roncalli;4 p.m.
Aug. 24;at Bloomington South;7 p.m.
Aug. 26;at Columbus North;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1;at Madison;5:30 p.m.
Sept. 5;Castle;12:30 p.m.
Sept. 8;Bedford North Lawrence;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 10;Batesville;7 p.m.
Sept. 12;Floyd Central;6:30 p.m.
Sept. 16;Jennings County;7 p.m.
Sept. 19;at New Albany;11 a.m.
Sept. 22;Jeffersonville;7 p.m.
Sept. 26;at Center Grove Tournament;10 a.m.
Oct. 1;at Seymour;7 p.m.
Columbus North
Saturday;at Brebeuf Jesuit;12:30 p.m.
Monday;at Center Grove;7 p.m.
Aug. 22;Seymour;11:30 a.m.
Aug. 24;Franklin;7 p.m.
Aug. 26;Columbus East;7:30 p.m.
Aug. 29;Floyd Central;12:30 p.m.
Sept. 9;at Southport;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 12;Lawrenceburg;2;30 p.m.
Sept. 14;at Bloomington North;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 19;Terre Haute North;3:30 p.m.
Sept. 21;at Bloomington South;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23;at East Central;7 p.m.
Sept. 29;Batesville;7:30 p.m.
Oct. 3;at Terre Haute South;12:30 p.m.
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