CLEVELAND, Ohio — The high school girls soccer season is underway with teams all throughout the state of Ohio plotting a course for Columbus Crew Stadium and the state championship games.
Here's a look at the top storylines, teams and players to watch during the 2014 season.
Top storylines
Walsh Jesuit looks for a three-peat
The Warriors have proven they are the class of the State of Ohio in girls soccer. In 2013, Walsh Jesuit won back-to-back championships for the second time in school history. They have never won three straight, but have a strong chance to do so after graduating just four seniors from last season's team and returning Halle Stelbasky. She was the team's leading scorer in 2012, but missed all of 2013 due to an injury.
Rocky River tries to repeat
The Rocky River girls soccer team won the school's first official OHSAA sanctioned state championship since 1927. Despite graduating several outstanding players including scorers Abby Elinsky and Grace Bennett, the Pirates will try to repeat. Sydney Hamker returns after scoring 12 goals, and Jillian Krebs will be a key playmaker after recording 28 assists as a junior. Eva Schneider is a three-time letter winner.
Strongsville starts a new era
Mustang fans will have to get used to seeing a new coach on the sidelines starting this season. Jon Felton resigned after 17 seasons in charge after leading Strongsville to four state championships. Todd Church takes over after being an assistant coach under Felton since 2005. Several seniors are gone including Kelly Novak, but the Mustangs are as good at reloading as anyone.
Hawken loaded up for redemption
The Hawks fell in the Division III championship game to Hamilton Badin on penalties, spoiling a chance at their first state championship. Hawken has the potential to get back to Columbus after graduating just two seniors, including Katherine Zalar. Anton Trifonovs is the new head coach this season, replacing Stan Shulman.
Will Holy Name take the next step?
New Holy Name coach Emily Balodis has quite a strong group of players returning to the team for their senior seasons. The Green Wave have three players committed to play Division I soccer following their senior seasons, including second team All-State midfielder Caroline Dreher and Cleveland State bound defender Toni Dickson, the team MVP from 2013.
Teams to watch
Archbishop Hoban: The Knights have gone to the regional semfiinals each of the last three years. Despite the graduation of some top seniors including Mykaela Zingale, Archbishop Hoban has a good group of juniors led by Ashley Dobbins that should help the Knights continue that run of success.
Hathaway Brown: The Blazers made it all the way to the final four in Division II last season before Rocky River knocked them off in the state semifinals. Getting back there will be tough because the team does not have any seniors this year.
Hawken: The Hawks fell just short of winning their first state championship in program history. With all but two players back from that team, Hawken has a strong chance to get back to Crew Stadium.
Holy Name: With three Division I bound players entering their senior years, the Green Wave will have a chance to compete for their first state title since 2006. New coach Emily Balodis was a member of that team.
Hudson: The Explorers have been strong in the past few years, and that should continue again this season. Junior Erin Torrence will be counted upon among others to help lead the way.
Magnificat: The Blue Streaks graduated their top two scorers after reaching the Division I state semifinals in 2013. Junior Alyssa Baumbick had 11 goals and 10 assists in 2013 and should be the go-to scorer for Magnificat.
Medina: The Bees have been among the most consistent programs throughout the last few years and should be strong once again, led by senior midfielder Bri Shingary, who was second team All-Ohio selection in Division I.
Rocky River: The Pirates ended their school's 86-year championship drought. Despite losing a great amount of talent to graduation including 2013 cleveland.com Player of the Year Abby Elinsky, Rocky River should have the talent to challenge for another return trip to Crew Stadium.
Strongsville: New coach Todd Church will have some big shoes to fill after the resignation of Jon Felton. Despite graduating Kelly Novak and several talented seniors, the Mustangs should be in good shape led by Akron recruit Rachel Schirripa.
Walsh Jesuit: The Warriors only lost four seniors from an undefeated state championship team. They also lost Halle Stelbasky, the team's leading scorer from 2012, before the 2013 season started. She is back and healthy, according to head coach Dino McIntyre.
Top players to watch
Norah Barnes, Buckeye, Sr.: Barnes helped Buckeye win the Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division championship last season. She had 12 goals and 12 assists in 2013 and was a second team All-Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association selection in Division II.
Julia Bowen, St. Vincent-St. Mary, Sr.: Bowen was a second team All-OSSCA Division II selection in 2013. She helped the Irish reach the district final.
Julie Bruening, Madison, Sr.: Bruening scored 10 goals and added 18 assists last year for the Blue Streak. She contributed to 28 of her team's 80 goals last season.
Ashley Dobbins, Archbishop Hoban, Sr.: Dobbins is a captain of the Knights this season. She recorded seven goals and eight assists for Archbishop Hoban in 2013, helping her team reach the regional semifinal.
Katarina Doncevic, Hawken, Sr.: Doncevic is a major part of the Hawks' back line. She helped lead a Hawken defense that allowed just 21 goals in 23 games in 2013.
Caroline Dreher, Holy Name, Sr.: Dreher was a second team All-OSSCA selection in 2013. She is committed to play her college soccer at Indiana.
Maddie Filicko, Walsh Jesuit, Sr.: Filicko is a four-year varsity player and will anchor the defense for the Warriors. She has great versaility and can play in the back as well as in the midfield.
Sydney Hamker, Rocky River, Sr.: Hamker is the Pirates' top returning goal scorer from 2013. She had 12 goals and 10 assists as a junior to help the Pirates win their first state championship.
Editor's note: The school was reported incorrectly in print for Sarah Krause. It has been corrected below.
Sarah Krause, Valley Forge, Jr.: She was one of two Holy Name players named second team All-OSSCA in Division II in 2013. Krause transferred to Valley Forge for the 2014 season.
Jillian Krebs, Rocky River, Sr.: Krebs was one of the Pirates' top playmakers from the midfield last season. She had 28 assists and six goals in 2013.
Sabrina Kunimoto, Hathaway Brown, Soph.: Kunimoto started every game as a freshman at forward. She scored five goals and is one of the Blazers' top returning scorers.
Cydnee Martin, Brush, Sr.: Martin returns after scoring 31 goals in her junior season for the Arcs. She is one of the state's top returning scorers.
Zoe McCormick, Western Reserve Academy, Sr.: McCormick was a second team All-Ohio selection in Division II last season.
Bianca Medancic, Hawken, Sr.: Medancic was a second team All-OSSCA selection in Division III last year, helping lead the Hawks to the state championship game. She had 22 goals and 14 assists as a junior.
Rachel Schirripa, Strongsville, Sr.: Schirripa had nine goals and 10 assists for the Mustangs. She helped Strongsville reach the regional final last season before it fell to Walsh Jesuit.
Bri Shingary, Medina, Sr.: Shingary was a second team All-OSSCA selection in 2013, helping the Bees reach the regional final. She will play her college soccer at Buffalo.
Sam Slagle, Solon, Jr.: Slagle was the only sophomore on the Division I All-OSSCA first team last season. She helped anchor a Solon defense that allowed just 14 goals in 2013.
Halle Stelbasky, Walsh Jesuit, Sr.: Stelbasky was the Warriors' leading scorer in 2012 with 18 goals and 11 assists, but missed the 2013 season due to an ACL injury. She will play her college soccer at Butler.
Erin Torrence, Hudson, Jr.: Torrence has started since her freshman season and is one of the Explorers' top returning scorers. She had eight goals and five assists in her sophomore season to help Hudson reach a district final.
Maddie Zuberer, Kirtland, Jr.: Zuberer made 82 saves for the Hornets as a sophomore and allowed just seven goals last season. She recorded 11 shutouts in 2013.
Key dates
Oct. 5: OHSAA tournament draw.
Oct. 13-18: Sectional tournament.
Oct. 20-25: District tournament.
Oct. 28-Nov. 1: Regional tournament.
Nov. 4: State semifinals.
Nov. 7: State finals at Columbus Crew Stadium.
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