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Lake girls soccer coach Steve Hoffman and the rest of the Flyers have been looking forward to the 2010 season
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Lake sophomore forward Kayla
Encalado sends the soccer past
Rossford junior Alexa Jefferis at
the Bulldog’s soccer complex last
week on Glenwood Road. (Press
photo by John Pollock/www.pollock.
smugmug.com) |
ever since their double-shootout loss to St. Mary's Memorial in last year's Division II regional finals.
The Flyers graduated just one starter, midfielder Kristen Lehman, and return the top two vote-getters in last year's Suburban Lakes League Player of the Year voting.
“Everybody is expecting a big year out of our kids,” Hoffman said. “I would assume if you talk to anybody around this area, the expectations for us are huge. We have a lot of athletic girls back and girls who are difference makers. They all know their roles and all we're trying to do is excel in those roles.”
Lake has lived up to those expectations so far. Through three games, the Flyers are 3-0 and 1-0 in the SLL following shutout wins over Rossford (7-0), Genoa (6-0) and Delta (5-0).
Hoffman said he hopes Lake's early-season defensive dominance carries through the rest of the year.
“We're pretty deep,” the third-year coach said. “Of the three girls we have back on defense, two of them (Emily Whitmore and Tara Preble) are four-year starters and one of them (Hannah Cox) is a third-year starter. We'll be pretty strong defensively. We go six deep on the defensive end, and our goalie is outstanding.”
Goalie Ashley Timmons, a sophomore, was a second-team all-league pick a year ago when the Flyers finished 19-2-1. Lake went 7-0-1 in the SLL to win its second straight league title.
Hoffman said defenders Whitmore, Preble and Cox are “the strongest part of our team.” Preble earned first-team all-league honors in 2009.
“They take the challenge on themselves to keep us grounded as well as keep us in the game,” Hoffman said. “I don't think we've faced more than 15 shots this season; our goalie hasn't touched the ball very often. That's a combination of our defenders and how we're playing right now. I'm pretty happy with how we're playing.”
Lake's other returning starters are senior forward Drew Plummer, sophomore forward Kayla Encalado, junior center midfielder Lindsay Hoffman, sophomore outside midfielder Shelby Antonacci, senior stopper Hillary West and junior stopper Casey Hughes.
The diminutive Antonacci was named the SLL Player of the Year as a freshman after scoring 14 goals with 17 assists. She had two goals and one assist in the season-opening win over Delta.
“She's poised to have another big year,” Hoffman said. “She had one year of playing to learn a little more about high school soccer. She's going to have a big year.”
Plummer led the Flyers with 19 goals last season and was second in the league's player of the year voting. She was the 2008 SLL Player of the Year and was a second-team All-Ohio pick last season.
“She's worked hard since June, when soccer actually started for us,” Hoffman said. “Drew has a great attitude and work ethic, and her leadership role has expanded. I expect a huge year out of her.”
The Flyers' top returning backups are sophomore forward/defender Rebecca Boos and sophomore stoppers Nichole Henry and Lauren Reed. Freshman forward Kylie Hoffman already has two goals and one assist through three games.
Coach Hoffman looks for the Flyers to stay consistent and motivated and, with a little luck and barring major injuries, advance farther in the tournament than they did last season.
“We did a team bonding trip in July in Columbus for three days,” Hoffman said. “We played all Division I teams and we lost 3-2 in the finals. I was pretty happy with how we played down there. It was a great bonding experience for the kids, and I think that's going to go a long way this year.”
In the win over Rossford, goals for Lake were by Encalado (3), Drew Plummer (2), Jessica Abbey (1), and Kylie Hoffman (1). Assists for Lake were by Hannah Cox (2), Plummer (2), Nichole Henry (1).
Against Genoa, Flyer goals were by Encalado (2), Plummer (2), Rebecca Boos, and Lindsay Hoffman on a penalty kick. Encalado, Antonacci, Lindsay Hoffman and Kylie Hoffman each had an assist for the Lady Flyers.
In the win over Delta, Flyer goals were by Abbey, Kylie Hoffman, Plummer and Antonacci (2). Antonacci also had one assist.
Pic-LakeGS1
Lake senior forward Drew Plummer (19) tries to get past a Rossford defender as senior midfielder Jessica Abbey (5) looks on last week at the Bulldog’s soccer complex on Glenwood Road. (Press photo by John Pollock/www.pollock.smugmug.com)
Pic-LakeGS2
Lake freshman forward Kyle Hoffman (17) controls the soccer ball as Rossford sophomore Kacey Mullins (6) defends last week at the Bulldog’s soccer complex on Glenwood Road. (Press photo by John Pollock.www.pollock.smugmug.com)
Pic-LakeGS3
Lake sophomore forward Kayla Encalado sends the soccer past Rossford junior Alexa Jefferis at the Bulldog’s soccer complex last week on Glenwood Road. (Press photo by John Pollock/www.pollock.smugmug.com)
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