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Photo by Robin Spencer
The girls’ soccer team at Southeastern includes: (front row, from left) Lauren Morrow, Megan Cooke, Hannah Bowman, Chelsea Sagraves, Kayla McIntire, Kelsey Ruby; (second row) Kennedy Stucky, Morgan Battin, Maria Severt, Amber Rice, Meagan Ruby, Sarah Morrow, Jennifer Byrant; (back row) Davie Stucky, Coach Sam Stucky, Kara Ziegler, Amber Hayslip, Katie Hosier, Coach Trevor Bonsell and statistician Katie Clark. |
“Our goals are to improve our record and to be more competitive in each match. We want to give ourselves a chance to win,” said Sam Stucky, now in his second year as head coach of the Southeastern girls’ soccer team.
The squad went 4-10-2 last season. Since then, two seniors have graduated. The distribution of grade levels for this year’s teams leans toward the two extremes—five freshmen on the young end and six seniors on the veteran end. In the middle, the roster contains two sophomo-res and three juniors.
“We have much more speed this season and senior experience,” Stucky said of the team’s overall strengths. “We’re running a 4-3-3 and concentrating more this year on offense.”
Among the team’s top players are senior Katie Hosier, a strong defender, junior Amber Hayslip, “an excellent keeper,” and senior Lora Ziegler, a forward with strong leadership skills.
Amber Rice, a sophomore stopper, “runs like she’s never going to stop,” Stucky said, and junior striker Sarah Morrow has potential to make significant contributions this year.
Stucky said he is pleasantly surprised by his youngest players, two of which are starters. Freshman Kayla McIntire is a defender, and freshman Hannah Bowman plays center midfield.
In sizing up the competition, Stucky sees Greeneview and Catholic Central as the teams to beat in the Ohio Heritage Conference.
“Our numbers are always small here at Southeastern. I want to build the program to where I have too many girls,” Stucky said of the soccer program’s future.
SE GIRLS’ SOCCER SCHEDULE
Sept. 4 Xenia Christian
Sept. 6 Yellow Springs
Sept. 8 West Liberty
Sept. 15 Greeneview
Sept. 17 North
Sept. 22 Northeastern
Sept. 25 @ Central
Oct. 2 @ West Liberty
Oct. 6 @ Greeneview
Oct. 9 @ Northeastern
Oct. 13 Central
