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MHS girls soccer has big shoes to fill this season

Photo by Ron Johnston Marietta High’s Courtney Schuck (23) keeps the ball away from a Williamstown defender during a high school girls soccer match last season.

With several seniors, including six starters, graduating, the Marietta High girls’ soccer team is a work in progress on the pitch.

“Our numbers are down,” said 16th-year MHS head coach Jeff Price. “Among the graduates were Marietta’s all time scoring leader Lexie Mullen and an outstanding goalkeeper Brooke Heiss.

“Those are two crucial positions hardest to fill.”

Mullen, a two-time All-Ohio honoree in Division I with a career 93 goals and 19 assists, will be playing at West Liberty University, while Heiss, a four-year starter between the pipes, is at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Another senior lost was Kennedy Schuck, a forward and backup keeper, now competing at Waynesburg University in Pa.

The other graduates were midfielder Emily Mendenhall — an all-district and ECOL honoree — forward Kyleigh Lewis, defender Torrance Nonnenmacher, defender Hunter Welch, and defender Caitlyn Corpman.

During the past four years, that senior class posted a combined 47-17-8 overall record. Last season, the Tigers finished 12-2-3.

“So far we are still looking for our keeper and experimenting with our lineup,” Price said. “For scoring, we will rely on team contributions.”

Junior midfielder Courtney Schuck, an all-district and ECOL honoree with nine goals and eight assists last season, is expected to lead the attack. An all-around athlete, she was a leg on the school’s record-setting 4 by 100 relay team in the spring.

The 2019 roster will feature five freshmen, two “who will contribute right away,” Price said.

Senior midfielder Marie Pfaff and senior defender Sam Zumwalde, will be the team co-captains.

“Both are four-year starters and bring leadership and experience,” Price said.

Other starters back are junior striker Ava Limegrover, sophomore defender Chloe Chen, and sophomore midfielder Claire Schenkel.

Junior Gretchen Lankford and sophomore Payton Mullen are expected to help shore up things on the defensive side.

Also returning to the pitch for the Tigers will be senior Macy Kendall and junior Piper Halliday. Last year, Halliday was an exchange student in France.

“The transition to this year is slowed by not having the consistency of playing together,” Price said. “Add to it they are trying to learn new systems and new concepts. The team is doing a lot of learning but making progress.”

Marietta scrimmaged Westerville North and Steubenville at the Devola Soccer Complex on Aug. 6.

Ron Johnston can be reached at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com

Marietta High girls soccer

Head coach: Jeff Price

2018 record: 12-2-3

Roster

Seniors

7 Macy Kendall, 4 Sam Zumwalde (cap/defender), 11 Maria Pfaff (cap/mid)

Juniors

23 Courtney Schuck (mid), 22 Gretchen Lankford (defender), 34 Ava Limegrover (striker), 28 Jessica Smith (striker), 29 Jennifer Smith, 13 Piper Halliday (mid)

Sophomores

10 Chloe Chen (defender), 37 Mercedes Huges, 37 Harmony Huges, 6 Payton Mullen (defender), 17 Claire Schenkel (mid), 2 Jocelyn Rings, 18 Sophie Westbrook

Freshmen

14 Emma Bauerbach, 15 Lexi Brown, 5 Kennedy Hearing, 8 Georgia Laumann, 3 Katie Mannix, 20 Kristen Pfaff

Schedule

Aug. 20 DOVER 7 p.m.

Aug. 24 CHILLICOTHE 3 p.m.

Aug. 27 CAMBRIDGE 6 p.m.

Aug. 29 at Alexander 7 p.m.

Sept. 3 at Coshocton 7 p.m.

Sept. 5 PHS 7 p.m.

Sept. 7 LOGAN 6 p.m.

Sept. 10 NEW PHILADELPHIA 7 p.m.

Sept. 12 at Athens 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 UNIOTO 1 p.m.

Sept. 24 at Zanesville 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 28 MINFORD 3 p.m.

Oct. 1 RIVER VIEW 7 p.m.

Oct. 3 at Warren 7 p.m.

Oct. 10 vs. Williamstown@Schoenbaum Field (Coonskin Park)

7 p.m.

Oct. 12 at Zane Trace 3:30 p.m.

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