West Holmes girls soccer aiming high after injury-plagued year

Two years ago as a freshman, Charli Murphy was the talk of Holmes County, helping the West Holmes girls soccer team reach the state semifinals for the first time in program history.

Last year she missed the last 11 games of the season due to a hip avulsion fracture but still finished with 22 goals and five assists.

Now back and healthy, she is ready to spearhead the charge this fall.

“It’s always good to have a dynamic, versatile player on your team,” said second-year coach Bruce Murphy, whose team finished 7-10-3 last season. “She is able to play multiple positions at a high level, which creates problems for opponents.”

Joining her as players to watch are seniors Katherine Kaster (anywhere) and Briana Poventud (defender), junior Breslyn Brown (defender/midfielder), and freshman Codi Murphy (midfielder). Poventud was second on the team a year ago with eight goals and two assists, Brown tallied two scores, and Kaster dished out four assists and buried one goal.

“Kaster can really play anywhere needed and is so skilled and intelligent,” coach Murphy said. “Codi is very technically sound. Brown is quick and intelligent. Poventud is extremely athletic and versatile for us.”

With lofty goals, coach Murphy believes health will be a key coming off a season that saw his team hit hard by the injury bug.

“Our goal every year is to have a solid, fundamentally sound squad that can go out and compete,” he said. “The OCC is tough with a lot of talented teams. We strive every year to stay competitive and be the best version of ourselves that we can be.”