Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Duck Hess, who is entering his 11th year as head coach at Clay, said his team’s focus this year is on improving offensively.
“For us to improve, and I think we're going to, we have to be better offensively,” he said. “We've been able to compete defensively with teams, but we were depending on our defense only giving up one goal at best to have a chance to win because we had trouble scoring last year. We have to be more productive offensively.”
The Eagles finished 8-8-2 overall last year before falling to Northview, 1-0, in a Division II district semifinal. The team was shut out in all eight of their losses and scored 27 total goals over 18 contests.
“I think we will be better offensively,” Hess said. “I think we're gonna be able to pass and just combine better offensively. We're gonna be able to technically be better offensively.”
Clay’s biggest loss to graduation was centerback Gianna Cuttaia, who was the Northern Lakes League Cardinal Division Player of the Year. Also gone are a pair of midfielders — Addison Csehi (First Team) and Karina Espinosa (Second Team), and forward Delaney Giborowski.
Returning are six starters, including several seniors.
One of those seniors, midfielder Natalie Miller, missed all of last season due to injury.
“She’s going to help us,” Hess said. “She would have really helped us last year (if not for the injury). As long as she stays healthy, she'll fit right in as a starter.”
Another key senior returning is Olivia Haas, a First Team All-NLL Cardinal selection, who also excels as a softball student-athlete.
“We can put her anywhere on the field,” Hess said. “She's good. She’s a utility type of player, but she'll probably be in the midfield somewhere.”
A third senior is Paige Kidd, who Hess said will play somewhere on the back line.
Goalkeeper Rily Chambers and forward Koren Stevens, who were both named Second Team All-NLL Cardinal last year, also return. Hess said Stevens could potentially help fill the role that Cuttaia had.
Jaelyn Rowe, a junior forward, is also back.
While the team’s scrimmages will help decide officially, Hess said there’s a potential that several freshmen could see starting roles, as well.
“We have some returning experience for sure, and then we have some young (talent),” Hess said. “Our goal is to win the Cardinal Division. We should compete for that championship.”
