Brittni Grenninger isn't about to allow her Freeport girls soccer team to rest on its accomplishments of last season.

The Yellowjackets won their section with an 11-0-1 record, advanced to the WPIAL Class AA championship match and made it to the PIAA quarterfinals before their magical season ended.

Grenninger wants more, and so does her talented team.

“As a team, we have set a goal of back-to-back section champs with hopes of returning to the WPIAL final,” Grenninger said. “We understand that we have a tremendous amount of demanding work and some grueling section games ahead of us, but we have the talent and numbers this year to make a great run if we stay disciplined and put the work in.”

There were some key losses from last year's team.

Gone is Kim Mixon, who was one of the best defenders in the WPIAL. Also gone is Cameron Lindsay and all-WPIAL performers Cassie Surran (goalkeeper) and Olivia Gaspersic.

But a solid group returns, highlighted by sophomore Sidney Shemanski, who led the team in goals scored, and Kaylee Comperatore, who was second on the team in finding the net.

“We have a large core of last year's team returning with significant playoff experience,” Grenninger said. “We have eight starters back and several players that have stepped up their game in the offseason.

Other teams to watch

Seneca Valley got off to a slow start last season, but finished strong.

With a loaded lineup returning, Raiders second-year coach Mark Perry is expecting big things.

“We have high expectations, but Seneca Valley always has high expectations,” Perry said. “We play in probably the best class of soccer in the state (in WPIAL 4A).”

That includes Norwin, the No. 2 ranked team in the country with nine players already committed to play in college.

But the Raiders have senior defenders Mary Sinan and Paige Brady, senior forward Jessica Frank, senior midfielders Jenna Pollaci, Becca Bayne and junior midfielder Julia Redilla returning to challenge the top teams in the WPIAL and the state.

Perry also has two standout goalkeepers in seniors Jessica Pollaci and Bella DeFabbo.

Perry is unsure how he's going to rotate the two. It's a good problem to have, however.

“Unfortunately, you can only play one goalie,” Perry said.

Karns City may have lost two-time Butler Eagle Girls Soccer Player of the Year Megan McCartney, but the Gremlins are still loaded.

Senior forward Haley Scherer and her 26 goals return. So does junior Hannah Knoll, a midfielder who was thrust into the role of goalkeeper last year because of a rash of injuries. Sophomore forward Lex Moore, coming off her own injury, is back as well and looking “very fluid, very dynamic,” according to coach Tracy Dailey.

Junior Hunter Dittman, senior Taylor Eckes and junior Sydnee Markle will man the back with junior Cambrie Powers returning to keeper.

“We have the talent,” Dailey said. “We just have to put it together. The first thing we have to do with win District 9 again and then we hope to get farther in the state playoffs again. They're all-in. They've been relentless and they don't like to lose.”

Knoch returns seven starters from a team that showed signs of making a leap last season.

Junior forward Lindsie Galbreath is back after scoring 15 goals and adding 11 assists last season. Senior defenders Maddie Holben and Liz Albert and senior forward Jenna Stallsmith round out a solid core.

“Our section is brutal with Franklin Regional, Gateway, Hampton and Mars,” said Knoch coach Kevin Wood. “It's going to be an uphill battle, but our goal is to make the playoffs. We're still relatively young. Last year we played a lot of sophomores and we missed the playoffs by one game.”

Don't Call It a Rebuild

Mars is accustomed to domination.

The Planets, decimated by graduation losses, may just have to settle for being competitive this season.

“This is not a prototypical Mars team,” said Planets' coach Blair Gerlach.

Mars does have senior Alison Scaletta at midfield, senior Maggie Williams at forward, senior Elise Tacik on defense and junior Kaitlyn Pietrusinski, also on defense, returning, but the rest of the lineup will be extremely inexperienced with as many as four freshmen starting.

“There's going to be a learning curve there,” Gerlach said. “We're going to make a fair share of mistakes early to hopefully get it out of their system. We're not going to be able to dominate the section or dominate games like we have in the past.”

But Gerlach saw some early signs in scrimmages that encouraged him.

“I saw some things when we played against teams other than ourselves that surprised me in a good way,” Gerlach said. “I'm excited for the girls. This could be the beginning of an upward trend.”

Players to Watch

Butler has a trio of standouts that could propel the Golden Tornado to another playoff berth.

Senior Brittnie Spithaler returns after scoring nine goals a season ago. Senior goalkeeper Anna Voelker is also back after recording seven shutouts and junior midfielder Liz Simms and her eight goals are also back.

Butler went 10-7-2 last season and lost to Upper St. Clair in the first round of the WPIAL 4A playoffs.

Slippery Rock junior Samantha Harriett is poised to have a big season after scoring 14 goals last season.

The Rockets will count on her and a strong defense led by junior Emily Sarver and sophomore Kayla Daugherty to overcome some key graduation losses.

“We lost 12 seniors and eight starters,” said Slippery Rock coach Melanie Cole.

A lot of pressure will be on freshman keeper Rebecca Grooms to fill the void left by Hannah Willison.

“Give her a couple of years,” Cole said, “and she's going to be a great keeper.”