Girls Soccer Preview: Reigning Player of the Year returns to open Central League

We’ll be posting team-by-team preview capsules for all the Daily Times soccer teams all this week, in addition to the preview feature on defending Inter-Ac champs Episcopal Academy and the ramifications of the classification shuffle. First up is the Central League: 

The big name for Strath Haven in coach Gino Miraglia’s 10th year at the helm is Lizzie King, the reigning Daily Times Girls Soccer Player of the Year who scored 14 goals last season in helping the Panthers win 13 games.

She’ll have plenty of support on the forward line with Maddie and Grace Forbes on the wings, while Morgan Crain and Claire Van Duyne will anchor the midfield, the latter stepping up from her successful stint as a central defender last year. The defense is in good hands with veterans Liz DeCarlo and Kacy Hafertepe.

The big question centers on replacing two-time All-Delco Katie Fisher in goal, and Miraglia will audition several newcomers for that opening.

Garnet Valley takes a hit with knee injuries ruling two-time All-Delco Britney Dragoni and U.S. youth national teamer Julia Burnell out for the year. Paul Costa’s program, though, is often able to recover from such challenges with the depth it cultivates through the classes.

They replace one Dragoni with another, sophomore Gia, who acclimated quickly last year. The midfield is an area of strength, thanks to Jenna Buttermore, Kayla Morey, Ava Wenger and Sydney Peterson. And they have the reliable Ashley Bufano, who orchestrated the penalty-kick shootout upset of Boyertown in the first round of districts last year, returning in goal.

The defense is anchored by Alex Zecca (a Virginia Wesleyan commit) and Beth Hoffman, with senior Ashley Sweier stepping up. Alyssa Saito will also contribute to the midfield as a sophomore.

Haverford will rely on sister power thanks to the Janzers and Durfees. Clare Janzer will star in defense along with Brianna Blair and Maddie Santoro, while Nora Janzer will add to the midfield’s speed. Amelia Durfee will work the forward line, while sophomore Alison Durfee will assume the starting goalkeeper job full-time.

Sadie Gold and Annalena O’Reilly are underclassmen who enjoyed plenty of minutes a season ago.

Penncrest won 12 games last season and bowed out of the first round of the playoffs on penalty kicks, and while coach Mike Deleo has a large proportion of that team back in his third season at the helm, the vets mostly cluster in midfield and up top, leaving his defense young and relatively thin.

Goals shouldn’t be a problem, though. Olivia Mancarella slides into a midfield role after succeeding up top in seasons past. Winger Tara Higgins and striker Katie Sparling can shoulder the scoring load, both just juniors, while classmate Corryn Gamber and senior Gia Martyn will reprise their stout central midfield pairing. Logan Morris augments the midfield’s depth.

The defense is where things could get dicey, but Deleo has several players ready to step up. Carly Dunford and Sarah Hughes bring experience, despite being sophomores. Freshmen Julia Mullaney and Kenna Kaut are likely to shuffle into the lineup, helping sophomore keeper Bryn McLaughlin.

Jake Solderitsch takes the reins at Radnor, which won 11 games under Mike Welsh last season before he left for Agnes Irwin. All-Delco midfielder Maura Holst is one of an 11-strong senior class. That core group includes several returning starters, including defender Allison Lanzone and goalkeeper Alexa Solomon, who excelled on last spring’s District One championship girls lacrosse team.

The midfield will be filled out with underclassmen, including sophomore Audrey Rosenblum and junior Cat Belveal.

Bridget O’Brien is the third coach in four seasons at Marple Newtown, the former Archbishop Prendergast and Villanova standout having grown as an assistant for the Friends’ Central boys team.

She inherits a young squad whose strength lies in the junior class, including Halle Robinson, Shannon McCarthy, Sonya Dervishian and Chloe Canonica. Sophomore Becca Ritchie is also among the notable returnees.

O’Brien is hopeful that freshmen Eleni Zografakis and Gabby Cramer will contribute early on.

Twelve seniors graduated from last year’s five-win team at Ridley, and with only five seniors this year, there are ample opportunities for young players. All five seniors – goalkeeper Olivia Rosado, defenders Saray Boyle and Madisen Carroll, midfielder Katlyn Thorp and forward Tori Hollenbach – return with limited experience, further opening the door for younger generations.

The midfield will be secured by a pair of sophomores in Rylie Butler and Danielle Simister, with juniors Sarah Hurley and Amaya Impriano in the mix. The forward corps is junior-heavy thanks to Rachel Smith, Vicky Zielke and Samantha Najmola alongside sophomore Micah Schiavo.

Emily Cooper is the stalwart in defense, with fellow junior Naia Perry, while Sydney Zimmerman and Rosado will battle it out for minutes between the posts.

Springfield endured a tumultuous 2015 season that featured just two wins, but new coach Brian Coleman is hopeful that the Cougars’ talent is sufficient to prevent a repeat. Coleman is the Cougars’ third coach in as many seasons, and he’s taking over a varsity program for the first time in his career, which includes stops at club teams in Delco as well as St. Francis CYO.

Senior Bridget Whitaker will lead the forward line, while Olivia Little and Eric Cutcliff will furnish the midfield with strong two-way play. Isabella Mastropietro and Jordan D’Ambrosio gained experience as freshmen that they hope will translate into the sophomore success.

Coleman identifies as many as four freshmen ready for varsity action, including midfielders Erin Gormley and Carli Johnston, forward Alyssa Long and Shannon Cutcliff, one of the candidates for the vacant goalkeeping position.

Upper Darby’s strength figures to stem from a midfield laden with juniors, including Jaclyn Castell, Jess Liberio and Kendra Chan, as well as freshman Emily Lehman. Sarah Jordan and Rachel Feldmayer are veteran defenders in front of Alyssa Hanrahan in goal, and freshman Gabby Liberio will try to poach goals up top.