The Columbus North and Columbus East girls soccer teams will look to continue title streaks this fall.
The Bull Dogs are coming off back-to-back semistate appearances, including last year’s run to the final four in Class 3A. They’ll try to make it three regional titles in a row this fall, but will face steep opposition from East and Center Grove in the Franklin Sectional before they can even think about another regional crown.
“I think we have the players and the talent to definitely do it,” North coach Derek Stewart said. “We just have to execute and perform on the field and get stronger and better each game.”
The Olympians, meanwhile, are the defending Hoosier Hills Conference champions and have won that title 12 times in the past 13 years.
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Here is a look at North and East, along with other area teams, heading into the 2018 season.
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs return seven players who started in the semistate last year against Guerin Catholic, which was ranked No. 1 in the country at the time. That North team went 14-4-2, including 4-2-1 in Conference Indiana.
“I think they’re progressing nicely,” Stewart said. “We have a lot of good young players that are coming into the program, which we’re really excited about, and I think we’ll put another solid team together.”
Senior Tanner Johnson, last year’s The Republic Girls Soccer Player of the Year, returns at forward, along with senior Baleigh Drum. Junior Caroline Hollenkamp is back at center midfield, senior Elise Whitley and sophomore Kate Kolhouse return at center back, sophomore Lauryn Whitley can play forward or midfield and junior Hannah Grimes is back in the midfield.
Jenna Lang, who leads a deep and talented freshman class, could join Hollenkamp in the center midfield. Freshmen Nitya Chenanda, K.J. Ely and Claire Levers will play outside midfield.
Seniors Rose Sardina and Morgan Blankenhorn, Chenanda, Levers and sophomore Sam Crossman could play in the midfield or at outside back, and junior Alayne Davis also could see action. Junior Kaylyn Bates takes over in goal.
“We have a number of players that can play multiple positions,” Stewart said. “We just need to find the right chemistry and the right slot for them.”
Columbus East
The Olympians return eight starters from a team that went 10-6-1 last season, including 6-0-1 in the HHC.
“This is a very talented group, a very skilled soccer group, a very hard-working group,” East coach Ilya Schwartzman said. “The important part is to stay healthy through the season. We feel like we can make a deep run with this group and play some quality soccer.”
Senior Sarah Park and sophomore Alana Dwenger return at forward. Junior Jada Berkemeier will play an attacking mid, and juniors Lindsey Stoughton and Mya Federle are back at center midfield.
Senior Breiana Burton returns at center back, and junior Emily Stiles moves from outside back to center back. Sophomore Hannah Hemmerlein returns at outside back.
Senior Annie Bastian will step into a center midfield spot, while with senior Kambery Wagner will play outside back and junior Karisma Parker takes over in goal. Junior Elena Stoughton at forward and sophomore Abby Miller at midfield or forward also will see action.
“We’re certainly expecting (Dwenger) to produce up front,” Schwartzman said. “Sarah had a really good summer. We feel like we’re very good up front and have a solid defense. I’m expecting the midfielders to really control the midfield for us.”
Jennings County
The Panthers will look to improve on a 6-10-2 record, including 2-5 in the HHC.
Jennings lost six seniors to graduation, but only one was a starter. Six juniors are among the 10 returning starters.
“This strong junior class are upperclassmen now,” Jennings coach Kate Gray said. “They’ve kind of been groomed for this since they were freshman, and we’ve kind of put the pressure on them to perform. “We have to unlock the goal. I’d put my back lineup against anybody on any given day. But offensively is kind of where we fall off the wagon.”
Junior Lauren Green returns at forward, as does senior Naomi Beal at attacking mid. Junior Sonya Miller and senior Andra Reitman are back at outside mid, while junior Katie Pappenheim, returns at defensive mid.
The back line remains intact with junior Baylee Byford and junior Kayla Pappenheim in the center and junior Emily Montgomery and senior Callie Wilder outside, along with sophomore Kenna Maschino in goal. Freshman Morgan Lane will fill the other defensive midfielder spot
“We’ve talked a lot about putting all of the pieces together,” Gray said. “We have a little bit of depth in our bench. We can move some things around and give a different look. That is a nice feature to have.
Brown County
The Eagles were hit hard by graduation and began the season with only 12 players the first week of practice.
“We always get more as soon as school starts,” Brown County coach David Phelps said. I’ve never had a small team.”
The Eagles went 6-10-1 last season, including 3-1-1 in the Western Indiana Conference. Top returners include senior goalkeeper Skylar Fleischman, senior center back Maggie Crimmins, junior outside back Hannah Hummel, junior Izzy Rygiel in center mid and junior forward Bella Hobbs.
Looking to step into starting spots this season are senior Gabi Beathard at forward, senior Maddy Westcott in the midfield, freshman Kylie Workman at outside midfield, freshman Selena Greiner at outside back and sophomore Isa Fogg at center back. A couple other players are battling for other outside midfield spot.
“We have plenty of talent,” Phelps said. “It’s just a matter of getting them on the same page and ready to go. Sometimes, it’s hard to judge what new players can do until you see them in a game.”
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars also will have a small team this season with only 14 players so far.
Six starters return from a team that went 7-8-1, including senior forward Sidney Hoene and senior outside mid Maddie Bell. Also back are sophomore Flossie Cooper at midfield or forward, junior Emma Goecker at center mid, junior Ashley Goecker at center back and sophomore Erin Enzinger at outside back.
Senior center back Emilee Lang, who started as a freshman and sophomore, is back after missing last year with an injury. Looking to fill the other spots are freshman Kailene Cockeram at center mid, junior Mary Matthews at outside back and sophomore Genesis Munoz in goal.
A couple other players are vying for other outside midfield spot.
“I can build through the middle,” Trinity coach Jeff Nolting said. “I have some players I can work with, and we can be competitive.”
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2018 girls soccer schedules for Columbus East and Columbus North:
Columbus East
Wednesday;Bloomington North;7 p.m.
Aug. 18;Roncalli;4:30 p.m.
Aug. 20;at Bloomington South;7 p.m.
Aug. 22;at Columbus North;7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28;at Madison;7 p.m.
Aug. 31;at North Central Invitational;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1;at North Central Invitational;11 a.m.
Sept. 4;Bedford North Lawrence;7 p.m.
Sept. 6;Batesville;7 p.m.
Sept. 8;Floyd Central;6:30 p.m.
Sept. 11;Jennings County;7 p.m.
Sept. 15;at New Albany;11 a.m.
Sept. 18;Jeffersonville;7 p.m.
Sept. 22;at Center Grove Tournament;10 a.m.
Sept. 27;at Seymour;7 p.m.
Columbus North
Monday;at Center Grove;7 p.m.
Thursday;Heritage Christian;7:30 p.m.
Aug. 18;Lawrenceburg;11:30 a.m.
Aug. 22;Columbus East;7:30 p.m.
Aug. 27;Franklin Central;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1;at Terre Haute South;12:30 p.m.
Sept. 5;at Southport;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 10;at Bloomington North;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 12;at Perry Meridian;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 15;Terre Haute North;3:30 p.m.
Sept. 17;at Bloomington South;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 19;at East Central;7 p.m.
Sept. 25;Batesville;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 29;Franklin;11:30 a.m.
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