To say Butler County had a successful 2019 girls soccer season would not be doing the sport justice.

- Mars won the PIAA and WPIAL Class 3A championships.

- North Catholic won the WPIAL Class 2A crown.

- Karns City won its eighth straight District 9 title.

- Seneca Valley and Freeport reached the WPIAL Class 4A and 2A semifinals, respectively.

- Slippery Rock reached the District 10 semifinals.

That's not bad.

Plenty of talent returns to county teams this fall, but one only needs to look at the Mars and Karns City situations to realize it's a new season.

The Planets have nine starters back from their 22-0-1 team that outscored opponents 131-10. Topping that list is senior midfielder Ellie Coffield, an all-state player who tallied 31 goals and 28 assists. She picked up numerous postseason awards.

Also back are senior forward Caroline Wroblewski (17 goals-17 assists) and senior defender Gracie Dunaway (12 goals-7 assists). Courtney Lisman is a senior goalkeeper, Erin Rodgers and Ellie Howell senior defenders, Aly Cooper and Londynn Gonzalez junior forwards, Gwen Howell a sophomore defender.

“We have another senior, Grace Ingram, who missed last year with an injury. She's back and would have started last year,” veteran coach Blair Gerlach said.

And more players are coming. Ava Lewis and Piper Coffield are sophomores cracking the lineup. Leana Cuzzocrea is a junior forward looking to do the same.

“We've got a number of younger girls coming up who are good enough to start for us,” Gerlach said. “As much as they've done, our starters are always being pushed.

“That's what keeps those players hungry. That's what keeps our program thriving.”

Mars has won two state titles, five WPIAL championships and been to the WPIAL finals eight times in recent years.

While Karns City has won eight straight District 9 crowns, the Gremlins will be fielding a young team in 2020. Defender Jillian Morrow is the only senior on the roster.

McKenna Martin, who scored 38 goals as a freshman, is a returning forward. Sophomore forward Emma Dailey scored 19 goasls last year. Alyson Fennell (3 goals-15 assists) is a junior midfielder.

Other returnees are sophomore defender Paige Dodd and junior defender/goalkeeper Rossi McMillen.

“We had 28 players in the high school program last year and we're down to 18 this year,” seventh-year KC coach Tracy Dailey said. “We are very young this year.

“Emma is strong with the ball and McKenna is so fast. They complement each other perfectly. Aly distributes well ... we are very dynamic with the ball.”

Butler was 13-5-1 a year ago and brings back a pair of 13-goal scorers in senior forward Gabby Boden and junior forward Chloe Weiland. Maci Lineman, a senior who scored eight goals as a defender last year, also returns.

Sophomore forward Samantha Miller, senior defender Allison Altman, junior defender Sydney Shuster and senior goalkeeper Paige Miller round out Butler's returnees.

“We've got more experience and we're a deep team, so we can be versatile in how we play,” Golden Tornado coach Steve Perri said. “I'm excited for this season.”

Seneca Valley, 13-4-2 last year, has just three starters back in junior defender Olivia Kamarec, midfielder Zoe Simpson and forward Natalie Matthews.

Junior midfielder Liv Senff and center-midfielder Emma Maloberti are newcomers who should provide a boost.

“Young and inexperienced,” coach Mark Perry said. “But most of these kids play club soccer. It's just a matter of how we mesh.”

Slippery Rock is coming off a 16-3-1 season and has eight starters back. Junior midfielder Amanda Lewis (22 goals-7 assists) tops that group. Outside backer Ashley Shea, forwards Hannah Burtner and Isabell Willison are returning senior starters.

“It's a more challenging schedule this year,” third-year coach Sarah Vermilya said. “Hickory's in our region and playing them three times will be interesting.

“These kids know the system. We want more offensive possession time this year, for sure.”

Freeport has a new coach in Joe Treglia. He inherits some talent from last year's WPIAL semifinalist as junior forward and Yellowjackets Co-MVP Emma Check (13 goals-15 assists) returns along with sophomore forward Akina Boynton (10 goals-7 assists) and junior goalkeeper Maddy Zarichnak, who posted nine shutouts.

“This team will still need time to jell,” Treglia said. “We have some voids to fill and a new system. We need passion and patience and we have those things.”

Knoch won only one game last season, but coach Greg Hess has eight starters back, including senior backer Jenna Vasas, senior defender Ella Wilson and sophomore midfielder Megan Vasas.

Megan scored four goals her freshman season.

“We've got 28 players. Last year, we had 15 coming to games,” Hess said. “Our younger girls are doing well. There's 10 or 11 in the freshmen class.

“With more depth, I know we'll improve from last year and continue to build the program.”