Main Line girls soccer squads look strong again this fall

The Main Line high school girls’ soccer scene is traditonally full of strong teams, and last fall was no exception, even with the COVID-shortened season. Top teams included Lower Merion (12-0, Central League champions), Conestoga (7-3-2), Radnor (8-4), Archbishop Carroll (8-4 overall, 5-1 Catholic League) and Villa Maria Academy (8-4).
Here’s a look at the Main Line girls soccer teams as they begin the 2021 fall campaign:
Lower Merion lost a couple of key players to graduation last spring – co-MVP Maya Masotti and All-Central League first team goalie Audrey Brown – but still has a solid cast of key returnees.
One key returning Ace is junior midfielder Elly Slensky, who was a first team All-Central League and All-Main Line selection last fall. She was a strong all-around performer for the Central League champions, and added scoring punch as well (three goals, three assists in 12 games).
“Elly helps support our forwards and has an endless motor,” said Lower Merion head coach Kevin Ries.
A couple of returning seniors who received second team All-Main Line girls soccer honors last fall are defender Roberta Moger and forward Hannah Blodget.
“Hannah plays hard, is unselfish and has a knack for the goal,” said Ries. “Roberta is a four-year starter in the back and controls the wing.”
Other returning Aces to watch include junior midfielder Emma Burke, junior forward Grace Downey and junior defender Sadie Cohen. Downey received All-Main Line honorable mention last fall.
“Emma works tirelessly in the midfield and protects our backline,” said Ries. “Grace is a tough, strong player on the ball. She can finish with both feet. Sadie is a great 1v1 defender with speed.”
Conestoga features 16 seniors and seven juniors, many of whom were part of the Pioneers’ 2019 trip to the PIAA 4A state final. Key players include senior center forward Abby Klebe, who scored 12 goals last year and was a first team All Main Line and All-Central pick last fall; senior center defender Haleigh Wintersteen, who was a second team All-Main Line and All-Central selection; senior defensive midfielder Megan Daly; senior attacking midfielder Emily Burgess; junior center defender Mia Galrao; and senior outside back Eli Mayock.
Pioneer head coach Ben Wilson said, “Abby is an extremely fast, high-pressure forward, who has great strength on the ball and composed finishing ability. Haleigh poses a great threat to teams on set-plays, and her authoritative style of defending brings great confidence to the team. Megan is a great safety-blanket who shuts-down counter-attacking opportunities, wins tackles, and distributes the ball extremely well. Emily possesses great confidence on the ball and is extremely explosive taking players on in the final third to get to goal or create opportunities for others. Mia has become a staple in the backline, she’s great in possession to help launch attacks from the back and a very strong composed defender.
Eli has incredible speed and a high work-rate, brings intensity and high-pressure ability whether she is playing outside back, wing, or forward, and is always a goal scoring threat with her hard shots and crosses.”
Radnor features a trio of key seniors in midfielder Emily Daiutolo, forward Jane Daiutolo and midfielder Kate Boujoukos. Emily Daiutolo is a multiple time All-Central League honoree, was an All-Main Line first team pick last fall and was team MVP her sophomore season. Boujoukos and Jane Daiutolo received second team All-Main Line honors last fall.
“Emily will lead a talented midfield and provide both defensive stability and offensive awareness to spark the attack,” said Radnor head coach Jake Solderitsch. “Jane is an exceptional 1v1 attacker with a nose for the goal and an equal willingness to create chances for her teammates. Kate’s physical presence combined with her endurance to run box to box throughout the game grinds down opponents and provides reliability and consistency that her teammates can always count on.”
Haverford High School has a trio of solid captains who have been varsity performers for four years – forward Mackenzie Lacey, midfielder Paige Snell, and defender Emma Lonergan. Lacey and Snell received All-Main Line honorable mention last fall and have received All-Central League honors as well. Other seniors to watch include midfielder/defender Maura Dougherty, midfielder Leah Hayes, goalie Madison Kantawala, defender Campbell Carlin, forward Erin O’Brien and forward Akie Kobayashi.
Harriton has a trio of seniors to watch this fall – Camilla Trotti, Josie Becker and defender Kira McDonnell. Two other key Rams are sophomore midfielders Emma Moureaud and Ariel Katz, both of whom received All-Main Line honorable mention for their efforts last fall.
“Camilla returns to our backline, providing leadership, and her ability to engage in Harriton’s attack will be needed,” said Harriton head coach Jeff Rhodes. “Josie’s enthusiasm and ability to step up big when it counts help anchors our attack. Kira helps anchor our defense – we return the entire defensive line. Kira’s ability to read the game well and shut down attacks will help the Rams prevent scoring opportunities.”
Baldwin School has a solid number of key returning players this fall, including senior forward and co-captain Clara Page, a three-sport athlete and captain who is committed to UCal Berkeley for lacrosse; senior midfielder and co-captain Josie Stockett; senior forward Brianna Wright; senior midfielders Callie Stoltz and Grace Halak; and junior defenders Maddie Davis and Ana Naylor.
“Clara is a strong target forward,” said Baldwin head coach Adrian Cox. “She plays well with her back to the goal, links well with midfielders and can put the ball in the net. Josie has good field vision and dribbling skills, and can create her own shot off the dribble and makes smart decisions. Brianna is a tireless worker and extremely versatile. She is a two-way player who creates opportunities on goal and hustles relentlessly on defense using her speed and quickness. Callie is a talented and physical player with an excellent shot from long distance. She is a fearless tackler and strong ball winner. Grace is a smart and selfless player. She understands her role, is a good decision maker and provides great cover for teammates. Maddie is a hard worker and super competitive, has excellent recovery speed and solves emergencies on defense. Ana is a tenacious individual defender with a hate-to-lose mentality. She anticipates plays well and will be instrumental in building our attack out of the back.”
Villa Maria Academy has a couple of key midfielders to watch this fall – junior captain Kaelyn Wolfe and senior second-year captain Peyton Coron. Wolfe is a two-time All-AACA player, was a first team All-Main Line selection last fall and led the Hurricanes in scoring as a sophomore. Coron is a three-time all-league selection and received All-Main Line honors last fall.
“Kaelyn is explosive with the ball with excellent field vision,” said Villa Maria head coach Gary Christopher. “Peyton is technical, fast and dynamic with the ball.”
Archbishop Carroll has three key players to watch this fall – sophomore central mid Olivia Stout; senior center mid Reagan Duzy, a four-year starter who received All-Catholic League honors last fall; and junior forward Ella Wright.
Carroll head coach Tom Quintois said, “Olivia is a very technical player capable of creating and finishing. She possesses an high soccer IQ and sees the field with the best of them. Reagan is a very disciplined, focused leader who is very skilled. Ella is an athletic, skilled player who capable of playing virtually every position on the field at a high level. This year she is taking on more of the offensive load.”
Episcopal Academy features eight returning starters, led by senior midfielder and co-captain Kendal Elison, senior forward and co-captain Bella Piselli, senior center back Makayla Cawley, junior goalie Maya Naimoli, sophomore center back Natalie Magnotta and sophomore midfielder Ava Roberts. Last fall, Piselli received second team All-Main Line selection, and Elison and Naimoli received All-Main Line honorable mention. Other players to watch include senior center back Lauren Gage, senior forward Alexa Capozzoli, senior defender Julia Cunningham, senior forward Erin Cunningham, senior defender Morgan Stickley and sophomore forward Lainey McGonagle.
Academy of Notre Dame has seven returning seniors who according to ND head coach Bill Bradley will provide valuable leadership and experience, including their four captains – midfielder Sarah Kichula, forward Caeli Maher, forward Julia Rossi and back Mia Vittanzo.
“We have four incoming first-year players who will get playing time as well,” said Bradley. “All of our roster has played travel soccer at some point in their career, including some of the premier travel clubs in the area like FC Europa, Penn Fusion and Lower Merion.”
Agnes Irwin, which posted a 3-2 record last fall, has a solid trio of senior captains, including midfielder Belle Fusco (who received All-Main Line honorable mention in 2020), midfielder Carly Wilson and defender Sydney Wilson. Other Owls to watch include junior goalie Morgan O’Donnell, sophomore defender Abby Ballinger, sophomore defender Campbell Collins, junior midfielder Kennedy Kelleher and sophomore midfielder Lily Fusco.
Merion Mercy Academy features some good midfielders this fall, including senior tri-captain Mary Kate Lopresti (who received All-Main Line honorable mention in 2020), senior tri-captain Hannah Mishinkash and junior Cara Comey.
“Mary Kate’s creativity and competitiveness as a two-way player will help us at midfield and into the attacking third,” said Merion Mercy head coach Brett McGovern. “Hannah’s ability to win the ball and calmly possess in the midfield will help us as we try to build an attack. Cara’s playmaking abilities will help us in trying to penetrate tough opposing defenses.”
Barrack Hebrew Academy has a trio of seniors to watch this fall – striker Jessie Singer, Dayna Felger and midfielder Arielle Zabusky. “Jessie has great ability to create space and scoring opportunities, and attacks defenders with speed and creativity,” said Barrack head coach Keith Bradburd. “Dayna has the ability to create her own goal-scoring opportunities, and is willing to take on defenders and challenge the goalkeeper with quick decision-making ability. Arielle has superb field vision and is able to distribute the ball and also score goals. Her field awareness and strength on the ball will be the key for our team to maintain possession.”