More work to do

By JOHNENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

August 24, 2006 Last Updated: August 24, 2006 12:47 PM High School

Slippery Rock's Kelsey Drennen (8) hopes to help the Lady Rockets find District 10 playoff success in soccer this fall. The high school season begins next weekend for area schools.

Knoch, Slippery Rock girls seek happier soccer endings

Unfinished business.

Knoch and Slippery Rock have it on their minds as the high school girls soccer season approaches.

Both reached the playoffs last fall, only to be met with disappointment. Knoch suffered a 4-3 overtime loss to Mount Pleasant in the first round while Slippery Rock followed up a 14-0 record in conference play with a 6-0 loss to Harbor Creek in its first playoff game.

Now both schools are trying to beat the "never" game.

"Knoch's never won a section title in the program's history," fourth-year coach Amy Travis said. "Our goal is to change that. We've got the personnel to do it."

Among the Knights' returnees this year are junior forward Amanda Sharbaugh (27 goals, 9 assists) and senior midfielder P.J. Abels (8 goals, 25 assists).

Defender Meghan McCrea, who missed all of her junior season with a back injury, returns along with nine other starters.

"Slippery Rock has never won its first playoff game,"sixth-year coach Blair Gantz said. "We've been unable to get over that hump."

Harbor Creek defeated the Lady Rockets 1-0 in the first round of the District 10 playoffs two years ago.

But Slippery Rock lost no key players from last year and have 36-goal scorer Jence Rhoads and 15-goal scorer Kelsey Drennen among its returnees this season.

"We can count on playing Harbor Creek in the playoffs every year,"Gantz said. "With our experience and the memory of that loss last year, I'm banking on a better showing this time around."

Here is a look at the area's girls soccer teams this season:

• Coach:Marlene Peoples, seventh year• Last Year:12-6-1, 6-5-1 in section• Key Losses:Jamie Albert, Kelly Hilderbrand (Robert Morris), Lindsay Hohn, Jen Schwab, Lauren Rodgers, Danielle Plaisted• Key Returners:Senior goalkeeper Lisa Rodgers, senior defender KariLee Cowan (5 goals), senior forward Caitlin Tschappat, junior forward Becca Crissman (5 assists), junior midfielder Amanda Malecky, junior forward Alex DiMartino, sophomore midfielder Ashley Oluschak• Peoples says:"We're low on numbers, but if the kids work hard and work together, we can get a playoff spot. Our focus is higher than that, but we'll go one step at a time."

• Coach:Autumn Godot, second year• Last Year: Sub-.500 record• Key Losses:Carly Kinter, Lystina Kabay• Key Returners: Senior defender Maurielle Blake, junior sweeper Jordan Dunn, senior midfielder Kirsten Almquist, sophomore forward Kayla Eckman (13 goals, 4 assists), sophomore forward Courtney Boroski (6 goals), senior goalkeeper Allison McClelland, sophomore goalkeeper Emily Thompson• Godot says:"We're really young, but that may work to our advantage in that we've already got some experience. We want to get more wins, work as a team and work on building from the back, using all of our players to score."

• Coach:Ernie DeSue, third year• Last Year:9-7Key Losses:Emma Stapleton (Pitt), Jessica Hodge (Grove City College)• Key Returners:Senior sweeper Laura Buchanan, senior center-forward Courtney Bright, junior forward Christie Allison, junior center-midfielder Randee Gregg, junior defender Erin Gilmore• DeSue says:We've got 34 girls, the biggest group we've ever had, but we'll be starting two or three freshmen. We didn't score many goals at all last year and that's a concern. Our defense will be solid, but we need to control the ball and set up offensive chances. Our freshmen group is outstanding."

• Coach: Lisa Castiglione, first year• Last Year:Won 11th District 9 title, reached second round of state playoffs• Key Losses:Brittni Grenninger (St. Francis), Nikki McElroy (Slippery Rock), Kristen Barnhart, Adrienne Olszak, Kayla Yough• Key Returners:Junior midfielder Julieanne Scott, junior forward Allyson Kepple (10 goals), sophomore midfielder Cristen Futcher, junior forward-goalkeeper Michelle Sweeney, sophomore sweeper Samantha Bly, senior goalkeeper Kiersten Foreback• Castiglione says:"We're extremely young this year with eight juniors, eight sophomores and nine freshmen. Joe Meshanko did a great job as coach here and I want to maintain what he's put together. We still expect to have a strong Karns City team, though we'll change our style of play with (top scorer) Brittni Grenninger gone."

• Coach:Amy Travis, fourth year• Last Year:12-7-1, lost in first round of WPIALplayoffs• Key Loss:Erin Pettit• Key Returners:Junior defender Meghan McCrea, junior forward Amanda Sharbaugh, senior midfielder P.J. Abels, junior defender Alex Gordon, senior goalkeeper Erin Lewis, junior midfielder Libby Burris, sophomore midfielder Amanda Bartell, senior defender Kayla Bartell, sophomore defender Audrey Scott, junior defender Liz McElroy, junior midfielder Nancy Paul, junior defender Brea Thrower.• Travis says:"The girls have worked hard during the summer. We had a fitness competition and many of them did very well. Everybody gets along and there's a lot of anticipation going into this season. The seniors have stepped up and taken on the leadership we need."

• Coach:Dale Giovengo, 10th year• Last Year:11-6-1• Key Losses:Stephanie Romanias, Kaitlyn Angeletti• Key Returners:Junior forward Glenis Robash (5 goals), senior forward Angela Higgins, junior forward Emma Bugel (5 goals), junior midfielder Marci Dillner, senior midfielder Katie Heckman, senior defender Megan Eidenshink, junior defender Stephanie Curaso• Giovengo says:"For two years, we've barely missed the playoffs and we want to get back there. We've had a young team for two years now and it's time to benefit from that. We have plenty of athleticism and skilled players. Hampton, Knoch, Ambridge and us are battling for three playoff spots — that's what it will come down to again."

• Coach:Dave Sylvester, sixth year• Last Year:9-1-4 in section play• Key Losses:Ashley Rees (West Virginia Wesleyan), Ali Intihar (softball at Cornell), Tara Dohn, Cassie Berlin (Penn State-Behrend)• Key Returners:Sophomore defender Jenny Jergel, senior defender Alissa Gamelier, junior defender Logan Gamelier, senior defender Caitlin Elser, senior midfielder Jessica Meurer (8 goals), sophomore midfielder Aleisha Rees, senior midfielder Veronica Pecora, sophomore forward Carrisa Fernandez, senior center-midfielder Courtney Leon• Sylvester says:"We should be pretty solid. We've got three goalkeepers battling for the starting spot, but that's looking like (sophomore) Shannon Quail. Our strength is our defense. There's a lot of experience there."Slippery Rock• Coach:Blair Gantz, sixth year• Last Year:14-0 in conference play, lost in District 10 semifinals• Key Losses:None• Key Returners:Senior center-midfielder Kelsey Drennen (15 goals), senior center-midfielder Jence Rhoads, senior defender Bethany Johnston, senior defender Tara Huff, junior midfielder Melanie Prelec, sophomore forward Elissa McCune, senior center-midfielder Britney Miller• Gantz says:"Hopefully, we'll go undefeated in our league again. Our closest challenge last year was Hickory and they were a second-year program. Harbor Creek is a quality team and our girls know the consistent level we have to play at to get past them."