23 wins is the record for most wins in a single season in EHS history, and that is the same number of wins that the EHS Girls Soccer team tallied last season.
“Repeating the great success we had last year will be pretty tough,” senior forward Lexi Norton said. “We lost some really good seniors last year but our underclassmen are good and we’re ready to compete.”
The Tigers will have the tough task of replacing All-State outside back Lily Cobb who scored 10 goals and added 10 assists a season ago. Also a pair of center midfielders will be lost for the Tigers as second team SWC member Taylor Thompson and third team all-conference selection Tessa Wagner will be replaced as they have moved on to the college level. As well as first team all-conference goalie Kristen Francis.
“Our expectations are very high for this season,” head coach Abby Comerford said. “We are planning to continue to grow on our record breaking season last year.”
The starters for the Tigers this year will be Norton and sophomore Abby Crabtree, who led the Tigers with 15 goals last season, at the forward spots. Senior Riley Mushill and junior Katlyn Schneider will be the outside midfielders, senior Allison Pritchard and sophomore Ashlin West will play center midfield, sophomore Tayler Hansen and sophomore Allysiah Belt will play outside back with the center backs being junior Jane Ann Crabtree and sophomore Mallory Mushill with junior Lauren Serfas in goal.
Hansen and Belt will be the two new outside backs for the Tigers this season with West holding midfield like Thompson did a year ago.
Serfas will replace Francis between the pipes this season after she set the single season program record last year for fewest goals allowed as she only allowed five balls to enter the cage. Francis also racked up 20 shutouts for the Tigers which was a single season program record as well.
“Lauren has played under Kristen for two years and know what to expect,” Comerord said. “She has played in a couple of high pressure games and she has done great. We are expecting a great season out of her.”
Abby Crabtree will create a force at forward this season with Norton for the Tigers after combining for 23 goals last season.
“Just like last year we are planning on Lexi and Abigail having a huge season,” Comerford said. “They now have a year playing together under their belts and we are planning on continuing their success.”
With plenty of returners on the team and a handful of newbies, someone is bound to breakout for the Tigers this season. Be on the lookout for potential freshman breakout performers in Joci Wagner and Megan Woll.
“I don’t think we will have one player with a breakout season but quite a few,” Comerford said. “We have 13 returning players from the Varsity squad last year. Some of those girls will be stepping into starting rolls that will hopefully have a big impact.”
Norton led the Tigers with six game-winning goals a year ago as her and Riley Mushill, who missed most of last year with an injury, will be looked upon to be the senior leaders in 2015.
“I’ve been trying my best to motivate and push the team during drills, conditioning and scrimmages,” Mushill said. “Having a voice on the field is going to be very important during the games too.”
“I’m very excited to get back out on the pitch,” Mushill said. “We’ve been working hard in the pre-season and I can’t wait to see what we look like in a game.”
The player’s expectations for this year are the same as the coaches, “To break the record from last year,” Norton said.
The Lady Tigers have already gotten off on the right foot after defeating Belleville East 3-0 in the first round of the Metro Cup on Wednesday with goals by Jane Ann Crabtree, Abby Crabtree and Norton.
The next time you can catch the Lady Tigers on the pitch will be on Friday as they continue their quest for the Metro Cup championship at home at 5 pm.
