The Northwestern, Pleasant Valley and Tamaqua girls soccer teams all enjoyed successful campaigns a year ago and are primed for more of the same in 2019.

Several other area teams who struggled for victories last season are expecting to be much improved.

NORTHWESTERN

TEAM BLEAM

... The stability of a high school sports program is often based on the tenure of its head coach. With 22 years and nearly 400 wins on her resume, coach Kelly Bleam has enjoyed the kind of success and stability that few programs in any sport can match. Coming off an 18-4 season in 2018, the Tigers appear primed for more success this season.

GRADUATION LOSSES

... Northwestern lost two star players who combined to kick a lot of balls into the back of the net. Sara Hathaway — the 2017 Times News Girls Soccer Player of the Year — who scored 99 career goals and Maggie Motolese — the 2018 Times News Girls Soccer Player of the Year — who was the Tigers’ top point producer last season, leaves a huge void in the scoring attack.

GOT GAME

... Several veteran contributors will bring experience and poise to Bleam’s game plan this year. The Tigers will count on Bailey Groff to organize defensive play and help stop opponents’ offensive attacks at midfield. Junior goalkeeper Lauren Terell returns, and in Bleam’s words, “She sees the field and communicates well with her defense.” Senior midfielders Hallie Bleam and Jenna Lowthert will team up with junior forwards Kayla Bardonner and Lexi Bleam to lead the offense.

NO “I” IN TEAM

... Coach Bleam’s recipe for success does not feature individual playing ability, as she requires her team to play as a cooperative and cohesive unit. “We get very good athletes here, but we still have a lot of work to do,” said Bleam. “We rely on good chemistry and teamwork. Unity is crucial to our success.”

JIM THORPE

TEAM GOALS

... Following three years of improvement — and despite the graduation of eight seniors — Jim Thorpe coach Tom Condly believes this year’s team is ready to make a run for the playoffs. After being shut out six times last season, the Lady Olympians hope to upgrade their offense to complement an outstanding returning defense.

FAST, FIERCE, AND FOOTLOOSE

... Junior forward Lydia Wallace, a 10-goal scorer a season ago, brings sprinter speed to the offense and will join Heidi Washel, whose physical presence will help to keep the ball in the attack zone. Incoming freshmen Nicole Carroll and Lauren LeKites, two of 17 freshmen in the program, “should bolster the offense with their competitive drive and deep knowledge of the game,” said Condly. “They will add a relentless attack with the ability to maintain ball possession with their skilled footwork.”

STRONG DEFENSE

...Sophomore Olivia Smelas can use her height and basketball court success to win the ball in the air on the defensive backline. Along with Kelli Hogarty’s “fierce competiveness” and sophomore Maddy Edwards, the “D” should help stymie opponents’ offensive rushes in front of second team all league goalkkeeper Kate Bos. Condly lauds Bos as a “calming presence” with “intelligent decision making.”

BRING IT! ... “This team is extremely focused and excited to begin the season,” said Condly. “With an excellent offseason, a core of returning players and many talented freshmen, we feel we can compete with anyone during the season and in the playoffs.”

PLEASANT VALLEY

DIVISION DOMINATORS

... Winners of the Mountain Division of the Eastern Penn Conference a year ago, the Bears look to make another run at the title and qualify for the playoffs.

JETS TO THE NETS

... Leading goal scorers Brianna Clark and Faith D’Amato have graduated, but Coach Derek Strohl likes his uptempo team that he believes will be able to pepper the net with plenty of shots.

A FULL TANK OF GAS

... Strohl describes senior midfielder Danielle Di Marco as a player who is “hard-nosed and goes from the opening whistle.” Junior defender, Rylee Robinson has a strong leg and will be counted upon for solid corner kicks. “She’s a third-year starter for us and the leader of our defense, “ said Strohl. Freshman Ella Muir will be Strohl’s “utility” player who has a “great first touch and a non stop engine.” Meanwhile, sophomore goalkeeper Samantha Merklin will anchor the PV defense.

DOUBLE DIGIT DESTINY

... “I think we can improve upon our 13-7-1 record from last year,” said Strohl. “Our defense should keep us in games, and we expect to have a breakout attack on offense.”

WEATHERLY

ROSTER COUNTDOWN

... Coach Will Bartel begins his fourth season at the helm of a Wreckers’ program looking to improve upon last season’s winless record. They will have to do it without graduated four- year starter Calista Kuhl, not to mention just 15 players on the roster. “With only 90 girls in the entire high school, it hasn’t been easy to find athletes who have soccer experience,” said Bartel. “In fact, we have five girls on the team who have never played organized soccer before.”

PLAYING WITH EFFORT AND AN EDGE ...

Sophomore goalkeeper Kelly Royer, who Bartel said “made tons of saves” last season will back up senior defender Tabby Hinkle. “Tabby has only played soccer for three years, but being the point guard on our basketball team, she brings leadership and plays with an attitude 100 % of the time.”

OTHER VETERANS

... Also on the back line will be junior, Nicole Osifat. “She’s got a big leg and plays with an edge,” said Bartel. Lexi Berger will be counted on to hit the back of the net for an offense that had difficulty scoring last season. “She plays the game super hard,” said Bartel.

NO QUIT

... Weatherly’s roster issues were significant last year, “We played three games with no substitutes,” said Bartel. “We can hold our own in the first half, but we wear down in the second half.”

LEAD STORY

... Bartel loves his team’s spirit and “never give up” efforts. “Obviously we’re setting out to win a game this year,” said Bartel. “We can’t win if we don’t score. It’s a simple as that. We have to capitalize when we get breaks and I tell my team to go get the first goal of a game and get an edge.”

LEHIGHTON

NEW COACH, NEW APPOACH

... First year coach Brian Meckes feels his team will definitely improve upon last year’s total of one victory.

PLENTY OF RETURNEES

... Despite losing Alexandra Hydro and Amaya Quinones to graduation, the Tribe boasts a bevy of returnees and newcomers. Senior Katie Aarron is a two- year starter who will quarterback the field. Sophomore striker Brittany Bartasavage is a track hurdler and brings speed, athleticism, and what Meckes hopes will be a strong scoring ability. Senior defender, Becky Serfass might be the fastest player on the team.

ANALYTICS AND ATHLETICISM

... Abigail Meckes is versatile and can play all positions. She is adept at reading goalkeepers to determine the best angles to put shots on net. Sophomore Kayla Hregician has a strong leg and can hot the top back of the net from 30 yards out. Yelina Horn has excellent ball control skills and Brielle Gosselin will guard the goal.

PLAYING WITH FIRE

... “This summer we played against boys teams at a beach tournament in Wildwood. We had a great turnout and competed very well,” said Meckes. “This season we want to come out on fire and do something to make this year’s record much better than a year ago.”

PALMERTON

NEW BOMBER PILOT

... New coach, Paul McCrone, who assists the girls’ varsity basketball team, takes over a program that won just three games last year. “With what we have showed so far, we should be much better than a three win team,” McCrone said.

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

... Senior, Morgan Coles is a speedy back line defender and will play along side of Chloe Odlt who possesses strong leadership and good soccer instincts. Senior Shelby Brazes will also help to stop opponents’ offensive rushes. Last year’s leading scorer Carissa Fallon will lead the offensive attack and will be assisted by newcomer Megan Green who McCrone says is “quick and athletic” and has experience playing youth soccer.

CROSSING THE LINE

... Madison Balliet returns as a solid defender. Freshman Emma Martinez can play “anywhere” according to her coach. She has played travel soccer at high competitive levels and has shown “superior decision making skill with great ball handling technique,” McCrone said. He describes her as an “impact player.”

GENDER GAMES

...‘We re building a program here,” McCrone said. “We had 25 girls come in the summer and we worked with the boys’ soccer team to become more competitive.

PLAYOFFS

... “As long as we can build good chemistry, we can be an eight or nine win team and make it to the playoffs,” McCrone predicted.

TAMAQUA

THE TRADITION CONTINUES

... With 16 years and 180 wins as the Raiders’ coach, Clem McCarroll knows what it takes to be successful. McCarroll believes this year’s team can be very special. With senior leadership and their top five scorers all returning, the Blue and White are primed to make a deep playoff run. Tamaqua will have to replace graduate Kayla Sherry, a key member of last season’s 12-6 team.

SUPER SOCCER SENSE

... Emma Kuczynski, a three-year starter who has scored 46 career goals, including 15 last season, can play anywhere according to McCarroll. “She’s fast, intelligent, and is always in the right spot because she anticipates the play.”Senior Katie Rudy, first team all league the last two years, Is an “amazing ballhandler” added McCarroll. She’s the quarterback of the field and led the team in assists a season ago.

SKILL AND WILL

... Jen Frederickson is a four-year starter as defender and communicates positioning to help block oncoming rushes. Goalkeeper Baylee Reinhardt looks to improve upon her five shutouts from last season. Sophomore Gabby Robb will step in at midfield and McCarroll expects her to be a scorer because of her ball handling skill. He describes junior Lexi Thomas as having “out of this world” talent. “Her ball skills are so impressive, she has the ability to take over a game.”

THE X FACTOR

... With a deeply talented roster, McCarroll has to keep his squad focused on taking one game at a time. “We have a great group of girls and we have to stay humble,” he said ,We want to be peaking and playing our best soccer when it comes to the post season.”

NORTHERN LEHIGH

SETTING THE BAR HIGHER

... Jason Reinhard begins his 10th season leading the Bulldogs. Following a three-win season a year ago, he believes this could be a breakout season despite the loss of three, four-year starters. Graduated are Kate Yesik, who had 16 career goals, Abby Merkle, who was NL’s assist leader, and starting defender Lexi Meckes.

AGILE AND MOBILE

... Reinhard returns a solid nucleus of juniors. Erica Detweiler, a second-team all league goalkeeper, is third in school history in saves and made “a ton of them” last season according to her coach. Shaina Mazzocca brings “tremendous speed’ to midfiled where she has already tallied 13 career goals. Riley Griffith plays defense.“Riley is a solid defender and an all around good soccer player,” said Reinhard.

Senior Taylor Reitz, who played soccer for one year, is someone Reinhard describes as having “crazy good ability.”

WELCOMED ADDITIONS

... Newcomer and midfielder Emily Hunsicker comes with a multitude of soccer skills, having played at a high club level. “Emily has a great touch,” said Reinhard. “She runs like a deer and her excellent ball skills will make her a handful to defend.” Senior, Alexa Hartman, an accomplished gymnast, will be a first year player who will contribute. Reinhard sees the potential of his young team turning into production and that will mean more wins than last year.

EXPECTATIONS

... “We have a nice group of 18 varsity players, some of whom we will throw right into the fire,” said Reinhard. “If we stay healthy, I think we have a chance to win eight or nine games and get to the playoffs.“Right now we’re working on getting better each day.”