KARNS CITY — With a rash of injuries to three of her goalkeepers late last season, Karns City girls soccer coach Tracy Dailey asked for volunteers to step into the breach.

Hannah Knoll raised her hand.

Knoll was serviceable in goal for the Gremlins in the playoffs, but stopping shots was not her forte.

Scoring them was.

“I was more than willing to try it out and help the team any way I could,” said Knoll, now a junior. “I love my team. They are like a second family to me.”

The 5-foot-8 Knoll is playing another new position this season at center-midfield and has made a huge early impact with six goals in Karns City's first two games.

She also scored three goals in the Gremlins' last scrimmage against Oakland Catholic.

Not bad for a player who wasn't exactly a fan of changing positions — again.

“I'm not going to lie,” she said. “I wasn't a fan at first.

“Honestly, I never played the position before. I've played everywhere else, but never center-mid and I was kind of nervous because I didn't want to let (Coach Dailey) or the team down.”

Dailey, though, had little doubt Knoll could fill the spot once occupied by two-time Butler Eagle Girls Soccer Player of the Year Megan McCartney.

“She's just annihilating the attack,” Dailey said. “She's very smart and wants perfection. She's not happy with herself if it's not perfect.”

Knoll also has a knack for hitting shots on goal from outside the 18.

Sometimes far outside of the 18.

It's something Knoll said she's always been able to do and it's a potent weapon in her arsenal.

“I've always had a strong foot,” Knoll said. “I love the long shots. I love taking shots from the 40 and try to put it on the goalie.”

The long shots are difficult to defend and often lead to rebound opportunities for her teammates.

That happened in a 7-0 win over Clarion Wednesday.

Knoll hit a long shot that the Clarion keeper couldn't handle, leading to a rebound goal by Hunter Dittman.

“She's able to strike the ball from anywhere,” Dailey said. “She can place the ball from a distance on the goal.”

Knoll knows how difficult those shots can be from her brief experience as a keeper last season.

She said her time in net helped make her a better player.

“The truth is I love playing in the field more,” Knoll said, “and it helped me realize how much I loved it.”

Her latest move to center-mid has also allowed her to fully unleash her unbridled aggressiveness.

As an outside-midfielder last season before her move to goal, she couldn't be as disruptive as she is now.

“I've always been a pretty aggressive player,” Knoll said. “You kind of have to be aggressive and strong in the middle of the field.”

Knoll is still getting some reps at goalkeeper “just in case,” Dailey said, laughing.

But unless another rash of injuries befall the keepers currently in the Karns City roster, Knoll will stay put.

“I hope I don't need to play keeper again,” Knoll said, chuckling. “But if that happens, I'll be glad to do it.”