The high school girls soccer season begins Aug. 15. Here are season previews for area schools.
Hiland
The Hawks lost seven players to graduation and another three-year starter who would have been a senior this year, but they’re still full of talent and potential.
“Lots of young players will need to step up and learn quickly,” eighth-year coach Conner Lee said. “... The core group we have returning has a lot of experience and talent. We will have to rely on them a lot, especially at the start.”
Those returning letter winners are senior Chanelle Kellogg (F), juniors Italee Mullet (M) and Chloe Mullet (D), and sophomores Lilly Yoder (D) and Zoe Miller (F). Three promising freshmen newcomers — Minka Mullet (M), Ally Mullet (F) and Claire Mullet (D) — will be leaned on to help fill the void left by the graduated players.
Hiland finished last season with an 11-5-4 record.
Triway
Triway had a solid season a year ago. The 2025 campaign will give some insight as to whether the Lady Titans have turned a corner as a program.
Last year, Triway posted an 8-8-2, which included a 6-4-2 mark in the Principals Athletic Conference. Both numbers are modest until you factor in that the team had just seven wins in three prior seasons under head coach Tyrone Hostetler, an indicator that the coach is building the right way.
Now comes the challenge. Triway will move forward this year minus 10 players who were part of the 2024 season. The Lady Titans return just five letter-winners in their top two classes but have a solid nine returners overall.
“We will be a lot younger this season,” Hostetler said. “We lost eight starters from last year’s team, and many of the returning letter-winners will be in new positions.”
The senior class will be headed by midfielder Kylee Strong, defender Grace Williamson and forward Julie Roof. Juniors Jamie Walter (M) and Bethany George (D) also return. Strong was the team’s leading scorer the last two seasons and will attract plenty of attention from opposing defenses, but expect her to fill the net.
Forwards Kailynn Nommay and Elise Wigal are joined in the sophomore class by fellow returners Teiryn Flinner (D) and Addi Gentry (GK), who was the Greater Akron Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Goalie of the Year last season as a rookie.
Another four sophomores — midfielder/defenseman Vivian Gaffey, midfielder Kenasyn Garrison, and defensemen Chloe Hill and Amy Miller — are new to the varsity and will look to fill some of the holes left by graduation, along with junior midfielder Addy McKelvey.
“They work hard for each other and don’t want to let each other down,” Hostetler said. “We will be relying on our seniors to lead the team.”
Waynedale
The Lady Golden Bears have the unenviable task of competing year in and year out in the Wayne County Athletic League, where state and regional powers like Chippewa and Norwayne never seem to take a breath. Many teams would be hard-pressed to top Waynedale’s 7-11 record a year ago, 2-8 in the WCAL, against that level of competition.
Coach Kelly Lawlis saw eight players move on from that squad but returns nine, including what should be a solid senior class. The upperclassmen include Madelyn Baney (defense), Grace Cerniglia (midfield), Kailynn Keister (forward), Carleigh Lynch (forward), Anna Pittman (forward) and Abigail Polen (midfield).
Also returning are junior defender Raegen Bigley and sophomore forward Piper Polen. They are joined by a quartet of freshmen newcomers: goalie AJ Hostetler, defenders Brianna Reifsnyder and Gabby Troyer, and forward Becca Wickens.
It doesn’t help that none of the returnees is named Nayeli Cruz, who scored or assisted on 26 of the team’s 40 goals last season. Cruz leaves behind quite a legacy in the Lady Golden Bears program.
“When you graduate an All-Ohioan and your top goal scorer in program history there are big shoes to fill and adjustments to be made,” Lawlis said. “We will start the season more defensive-minded as we return some key starters. We are excited to see who will emerge as our goal scorers.”
Pittman showed potential to fill the void left by Cruz. As a junior she scored 10 goals and had a pair of assists. Polen added six tallies and one assist, so the team won’t be without punch.
“Piper Polen and Anna Pittman have made a name for themselves in cross country and track and give us a burst of speed in the attack,” Lawlis said. “We have seven seniors, so there’s a lot of experience that we can lean on.”
Lawlis will lean on everybody, most likely. The Lady Golden Bears will not lack talent but they do lack depth.
“We have a very small team,” she said. “That is our main weakness. However, we’re bringing in four freshmen that I’m very excited about.”
