Downingtown East girls soccer team aims for top spot again

The defending Ches-Mont champion Downingtown East girls soccer team looks to contend again this fall, as the Cougars return a strong crop of players from last year. Tops on the list is senior center back Emily Buckner, who was the Ches-Mont Most Valuable Player last year.
Buckner, a 2018 first team all-state selection who was also the Daily Local News Girls Soccer Player of the Year, scored 10 goals and dished out 12 assists last fall, while scoring six goals on free kicks.
“Emily has great technical ability,” said Downingtown East head coach Craig Reed. “She sees the field really well, her range of passing is excellent – she can make all kinds of great passes, 30- 40-yard passes – and her shooting from long range is very good. She’s a great leader from the center back.”
Buckner is one of four D-East co-captains. The other three are senior back Meg Buckner (Emily’s twin sister), who received All-Ches-Mont honorable mention last fall; senior defender Katie Hudachek; and senior center back Maren Dougherty, who was a second team All-Ches-Mont selection in 2018.
Sophomore forward Caroline McDonald, a first team All-Ches-Mont selection last fall, will be another key player for the Cougars.
“Caroline is a very, very smart player who creates a lot of space with her movement and technique,” said Reed.
Senior Ashley Buchheit, who received All-Ches-Mont League honorable mention as a goalie last fall, will once again handle the Cougars’ netminding chores.
“Ashley had an excellent pre-season,” noted Reed.
Another key scoring force for the Cougars could be senior forward Rebekah March, who showed promise as a junior despite being injured part of the season.
“Rebekah can be a big-time player for us this fall,” said Reed.
Reed, whose Cougars have won five Ches-Mont titles in his 10 years as head coach, likes the depth of his team this fall.
“We were really deep last year, and we have that same depth again this fall,” said Reed. “We have 20 players on our roster, and all 20 will play a significant role in our success this season.
“We also have strong leadership on this team. Being consistent as we get deeper into the season will be our biggest challenge.”