Northwestern returned to the top of the mountain in 2019, capturing Colonial League and District 11 titles. The Tigers have the firepower to be contenders again this year.

JIM THORPE

HIGH EXPECTATIONS ... In Tom Condly’s ninth year at the helm of the Olympian soccer program, the expectations are high to improve upon last year’s 12 win season because of proven talent at every position.

A LEG UP ... Despite the graduation of five seniors from last year’s team that made it to the District semifinals, this year’s roster is loaded with offensive power and defensive protection. Senior Lydia Wallace is a “top scoring threat in the league” says Condly. With 32 career goals, she can score with foot speed and leg strength. Classmate and midfielder, Heidi Washel is a team leader with ball control and superb skill with balls in the air. Senior defender, Nikki Ivan steadies the back line and can clear the ball with her booming leg kicks.

JUNIOR GEMS ... Thorpe may be young, but its underclass starters carry experience and star power to the field. Junior net minder Kate Bos is JT’s all-time leader in shutouts and added 10 to her rising number last year. “She’s a tremendous athlete with excellent reflexes and technical skills,” says Condly. Junior Kelli Hogarty, First Team All Schuylkill League, is a “tenacious defender” who never gives up on a play and is respected by her teammates for her work ethic.

SUPER SOPHS ... Nicole Carroll, First Team All League, is the “complete package” at midfield with the ability to score as well as defend. “Nicole has phenomenal footwork and boundless energy,” says Condly. “She’s our engine in the middle of the field.” Lauren Kites, a First Team All Schuylkill League forward a year ago with 20 goals in her freshman year, can score from anywhere, and is exceptionally accurate at hitting the back of the net from long distance with free kicks. Gabby Cinicola steadies the back line and can start the offensive rush. Ehlauna Penn is a “highly athletic” defender.

TITLE TARGETS ... “We play a team oriented, possession based, offensive style of soccer,” said Condly. ‘We lost three games in overtime last season so this year we have to be more patient and shoot accurately in OT. Just like any other team, we have to take this year one day at a time, but we will work hard toward our goal of competing for both league and district titles.”

LEHIGHTON

FORWARD MARCH ... Despite the loss of team MVPs Katie Aaron and Becky Serfass, the Indians will still have plenty of experience on the field. Senior Ashley Marchessault will play forward and utilize her foot skills to get in position for shots on goal. Casey Hanley can play multiple positions and has good soccer sense up and down the field. Kelsey Gaston is a “big runner” according to head coach Brian Meckes and will use her speed to get to the ball. “Kelsey can play anywhere. We’re even working her at goalie to create some depth on our roster,” said Meckes. Hailee Hall is left-footed and will give the Tribe the opportunity to score from the port side of the net.

FIELD GENERALS ... Lehighton’s trio of junior starters have the ability to know where the ball will go before it gets there. Abigail Meckes, last season’s defensive team MVP, is another who can play anywhere. She’s soccer strategic and can be in position to stop an opponent’s advance or can create separation to receive a pass when she’s playing striker. Yelina Horn sees the field well. “She’s got very good judgment at midfield and good touch with the ball,” said Meckes. Erin Homm is small in stature, but big in her skill set. “Erin is quick and mobile,” said Meckes. “She’s a forward and has a knack for the net and can finish on the shot.” Junior Alyssa Myers is a veteran goalkeeper who has a good sense of the incoming rush and can direct her defenders to cut off passing lanes.

TOP SOPHS AND A FAST FROSH ... Cheyann Marx will play aggressively on defense. Mady Wolter is another versatile player who is one of the team’s best passers. Freshman Charli McHugh is a physical striker whose speed should get her open for plenty of scoring chances.

VERSATILE ... This year’s squad allows Meckes the flexibility to move his players to different places all over the field. “Our challenge will be to create chemistry with so many moving pieces,” said Meckes. “We also expect to push our offense more. Last season we lost a lot of games by just one goal. We need to finish at the net and turn around those scores.”

NORTHERN LEHIGH

IMPROVEMENT LOOMING ... Coach Jason Reinhard feels his team is stacked with club level experience and will improvement on its three-win season from a year ago.

ROSTER RISE ... Twenty-four players fill this year’s NL lineup. Reinhard, who starts his 10th season as the head “Dog,” says for the first time in a long while that “soccer is their thing” for many of the girls. “We will have players who just play soccer and their athleticism should really help us improve,” he said.

TALENT AND TENACITY ... Gone are forwards Taylor Reitz and Alexa Hartman, but eight seniors return to bolster the scoring attack and the back line. Three have played high level club soccer. Shaina Mazzocco is described by Reinhard as “one of the fastest forwards in the league.” She is second all-time on the NL scoring list and, according to Reinhard, her ability to get into position for the shot on net should help her add to that total.

Senior Riley Griffith is a talented ball handler who, according to Reinhard, “breaks ankles” when she goes one on one against a defender. Assist leader Emily Hunsicker is soccer savvy and possesses excellent footwork. Defender Maddie Seier has a “bulldog” mentality and she gets in position to ward off scoring threats. Erica Detwiler is a three-year starter as the goalie who holds the school record for saves. “Erica singlehandedly kept us in many games last season when our defense broke down,” said Reinhard.

JUNIOR JETS ... The Bulldogs will feature three juniors with speed and stamina in Sophia Lear, Emma Niebell and Briana Ojeda.

TOP SOPHS ANS FRESH FACES ... Reinhard is high on three sophomores who will see plenty of play ­- Kaylee Wilk, Caitlin Kirk and Danielle Dougherty has absorbed the nuances of playing solid defense. Freshmen Victoria Hanna and Jayden Fischer bring club ball experience and look to work into the rotation.

FUN BUNCH ... Reinhard lauds this year’s edition of Bulldog soccer. “They are so much fun to coach. We lost six games last year by one goal so we’re looking to turn that around,” he said. “If we do all the little things and finish our shots on goal, and with our solid depth, we just need eight wins and we’ll be in the playoffs.”

NORTHWESTERN

THE NORM ... In two of the last three seasons, Northwestern has made a run in the PIAA state tournament. In 2017 the Tigers reached the semifinals. After missing States in 2018, they returned lasts eason and reached the quarterfinals. Last season also saw them take gold in both the Colonial League and District 11 playoffs, racking up an impressive 22-3 record in the process. Postseason success has become the norm for Northwestern under veteran coach Kelly Bleam.

BIG LOSSES ... Northwestern lost seven players to graduation, many of them playing huge roles in the team’s success. The good news is that there is plenty of young talent and this year’s team has eight rising seniors on the roster who will look to make an impact.

REASON FOR OPTIMISM ... Coach Bleam is optimistic about her team’s chances this season, especially since they saw definite development in some young players during the often-chaotic offseason. While the normal schedule was thrown out the window, Bleam saw her players adapt well to the changes that had to be made. “I think we’ll be able to fill the holes that we had coming into the season the same way that we’ve filled them in the past - with very talented players who are ready to go,” said Bleam. “Our girls are performing in a really positive way and I’m not concerned about what we lost to graduation. Actually, I’m very optimistic about where we are right now.”

MISSING THE SPARTANS ... Southern Lehigh handed Northwestern its only loss in the Colonial League last season, but the Tigers took revenge with a 1-0 win over Southern Lehigh in the league championship game snapping a five-year grip that the Spartans held on the league title. The two teams expect to be among the favorites for this season but because of the abbreviated schedule they won’t be meeting in the regular season.

LOOK WHO’S BACK ... In the 1-0 win over Southern Lehigh in the league championship last season, the winning goal was scored by Kayla Bardonner off an assist from Lexi Bleam. The two form the core of a strong group of returning players who have been battle tested during their time at Northwestern Lehigh. “You can’t just look at how many seniors you have, you have to look at how much experience your players have and we have a number of girls who have not just put in minutes, but have put in minutes in big games and that means a lot,” said Bleam.

A QUICK SEASON ... The Colonial League schedule has been cut from 12 regular season league games down to just seven. The Tigers open the league portion of their schedule at Saucon Valley on Sept. 21 and open the home portion of their schedule two days later against Palisades. Northwestern will also play road games Pen Argyl, Salisbury and Catasauqua and have home contests against Wilson and Northern Lehigh.

PALMERTON

ATTACK MODE ... Palmerton graduated Chloe Oldt, Morgan Coles, and Shelly Brazes from the defensive side of the ball, so first year head coach Dave O’Brien seeks to turn up the firepower of his offensive talent to score more. Senior Carissa Fallon returns with her bag of double-digit goals from a year ago and has “one of the best legs in the league,” according to O’Brien, along with a natural “nose for the net.” Classmate, Lauren Rehrig will play attacking midfielder in O’Brien’s diamond formation offense. “Lauren has great field sense and she’s an excellent passer.”

LEAD WITH SPEED ... Senior Gianna Kintz, perhaps the fastest on the team, is also “tough and knows how to score.” Aliya DeKorte plays a smart, physical game and will help build the attack from the center of the field. Junior newcomer, Brianna Moore brings a strong skill set from playing club soccer. O’Brien calls her a “high level player” who should have a big impact on the Bomber’s scoring attack. Sophomore, Emma Martinez, who started as a freshman, will bring speed and ball control at mid field.

DEFENSE IS THE KEY ... With the graduation of three backliners, the Bombers will revamp their defense. Senior Madison Balliet is described by O’Brien as a “tenacious defender” who plays the whole field with “an incredible attitude.” Junior Isabella Mujevic is a leader who doesn’t let the ball get past her, and senior goalkeeper Megan Green is athletic with the potential to be a top goalie in the league according to her coach.

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS ... With a change in coaches and the loss of three solid contributors, Palmerton still has what it takes to make some noise in the league this year. “We’re very experienced on the front line, but we need to have consistency in our play to score as much as I think we can,” said O’Brien. “Replacing our defenders will be our challenge, but our team speed with the ability to play possession offense should give us the opportunity for a very good season.”

PLEASANT VALLEY

HYLAND IN CHARGE ... Former assistant coach Tara Hyland takes over to lead the Bears after the last season’s team captured the program’s fourth straight Mountain Division Championship of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and a semifinal berth in the district tournament. It should be noted that due to the EPC’s decision to delay their fall sports season, tryouts were not scheduled until after this story went to press, so Hyland’s roster has not yet been finalized.

TEN AT THE TOP ... Ten seniors of the 14 returning starters gives the Bears plenty of experience. Teah Cardoza scored nine goals as a junior and her speed to the net makes her an expected top point getter again. Larissa Mulligan can “run forever” according to Hyland. She hit the back of the net 12 times last season. Another solid senior scorer and passer is playmaker Aurora Cruci. Rylee Robinson “is a bulldog at the back line of defense and gives 100 per cent for the whole game,” said Hyland. Returnee, Trinity Treulieb is also expected to see plenty of action

POWER PLAY ... Five juniors will add speed and strength to the Bears’ games. Goalkeeper, Sam Merklin won Second Team EPC honors with 13 shutouts and looks to break that school record. Lexi Weaver can play every position with her ball control footwork and Aliyah Williams plays well off the ball and her endurance keeps her moving at top speed. Alexa Pridham is versatile and aggressive at the point of attack and Autumn Castro returns from an injury. Sophomore Ella Muir was a Second Team EPC award winnerat her midfield position last year. “

EXTRA MOTIVATION ... Pleasant Valley’s Schyler Herman, who was a varsity goalkeeper as a freshman four years ago, passed away last October after a long battle with cancer. “Our motivation to be successful will be stronger in memory of Schyler, especially with our seniors,” said Hyland.

FAST TO FIVE ... For the Bears to win their fifth division title in a row, Hyland believes they need to play fast and make fast decisions with the ball on first touch. “We have experience, depth, and speed, and we can score,” she said. “We are ready to come together and make another strong run to the playoffs.”

TAMAQUA

PLAYOFF GOAL ... The Raiders are poised for another run to the playoffs despite the graduation of 11 seniors from last year’s squad.

EIGHT IS ENOUGH ... Coach Clem McCarroll begins his 16th campaign at the helm of Tamaqua soccer and needs just eight victories to reach the milestone of 200 wins. “When I started, I never thought I’d get to 100,” he said with a laugh.

RELOADING ... Gone from last season’s 12-8 team and that advanced to the District 11 quarterinals is 30 goal scorer and the school’s third all- time leader in goals Emma Kuczynski. Also lost were assist leader Katie Rudy and “shut down” defender Emily Titus. “We need to replace eight or nine starters, but we think we have the talent to do so,” McCarroll said.

HIGH FIVE ... A quintuplet of new seniors will lead the Raiders’ charge this season. Co-captain Sophia Boyle, who missed half of last season with an injury, is McCarroll’s “dynamic” midfielder who brings energy and scoring pop. Co-captain Makenna Kane will be a defensive sweeper who can stop the breakaway. Forward Lexi Thomas, who also struggled with injuries a year ago, will get to the net with speed and excellent footwork. Adding scoring potential is senior newcomer Megan Rolko who will carry her track team speed to the forward line. On defense, Emma Hope will start following her rotation role from last season.

NEW STARTERS ... Juniors, Gabby Robb and McKenna Meckes and Zoe Seltzer jump into starting roles after seeing a good deal of field time last season. Freshman, Sara Hope will add energy to the rotation and classmate, Ava Agosti is a smooth midfielder who McCarroll says is “ahead of her time” with her soccer skill set.

JUST PLAY ... McCarroll peaches to his team to not worry about matching the success of last year’s team that was led by a few superstars. “We have a solid core of talent, but everyone has to step up and contribute and play with good chemistry. If we don’t think about hanging onto last year’s coattails and become this year’s team, we should be able to compete with anyone.”

WEATHERLY

STAYING POSITIVE ... The Wreckers bring spirit and hustle into this season after a winless record last year. Coach Will Bartel begins his fifth season with more than half of his 15 person varsity roster having no experience. He promises his team will hustle and give what it can give to compete in every game.

TEAM LEADER ... Weatherly loses two key seniors from last year’s squad. Tabatha Hinkle and Taylor Cithon both played the back line. This year, five seniors start for the Wreckers, including 2019 Schuylkill League Second Team Goalkeeper, Kelly Royer. “That is a great achievement for Kelly,” said Bartel. “There were some games she made 15 to 20 saves, and many were point blank. She’s a leader, too. She keeps our kids going. We might switch her on and off between playing goalie and defense depending upon where we think she can help us the most.”

LEADER TOO ... Another senior leader is midfielder Isabella Wagner, a four-year starter who has been taking the freshmen newcomers under her tutelage.

OTHER WRECKERS ... Tanya McCroy brings speed to her striker position and Bartel says, she can score, but it will depend upon the group around her to set up her shots. Junior Kayla Jones has never played soccer at any level, but her eagerness to learn and compete are two attributes that Bartel likes in her. Sophomore Emma Kane will play mostly defense, but she might see some action keeping shots out of the net. “Emma started playing last year and she’s been working very hard to grow into the sport,” said Bartel.

FEED AND SEED ... The seeds of Weatherly soccer program are being planted this fall with eight freshmen on the roster. “At least five of the eight have played in a feeder program at the youth level,” Bartel saidd. He likes what he has seen in Erin Prete, Bethany Houser and Juliette Bartel.

LESSONS ... Bartel tells his team to never accept losing and to learn from their mistakes. “Take the lessons you learn from the game into the classroom and beyond,” he said. “I tell them they have a shot to win every game and we’re never out of the fight. We have to stay off our heels and keep pushing the ball. We don’t tolerate giving up.”