Gremlins program again in foes' crosshairs

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

September 05, 2009 Last Updated: September 05, 2009 03:05 PM High School

Can you say dynasty?

The Karns City girls soccer team won't use the word, but the Gremlins certainly recognize it. They've won the District 9 championship 10 times in the past 11 years.

"The girls feel the target on their backs, but they're used to that," coach Lisa Castiglione said. "Year in and year out, we just play the best soccer we can play."

Karns City will move on this year without team MVP and 11-goal scorer Cristen Futcher, who graduated last year. Defender Hannah Beck and goalkeeper Alaina Burns (117 saves and seven shutouts) also are gone.

Millie McKain, a 16-goal scorer, tops the Gremlins' returnees.

Here is a look at Butler County area girls soccer this fall:

• Coach: Sara Lettrich, second year• Last year: 7-10-1• Key returnees: Senior midfielder Nikki Hladik, senior defender Jamie Hilderbrand, senior Alison DeFurio, sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Troyan (154 saves), junior midfielder Mackenzie Hohn, junior defender Sam Rossi, junior defender Lisa Balestrino, senior forward Chelsey Rock (9 goals) and junior midfielder Christina Maticic• Key graduation losses: Ashley Oluschak (Gannon), Katie Wahl• Outstanding newcomers: Freshman defender-midfielder Tori Sawhney, freshman forward Alexa Gray• Lettrich says: "This team has been so much fun so far. Their attitude is tremendous."

• Coach: Blair Gantz, first year• Last year: 14-5-1• Key returnees: Junior center-midfielder Taylor Bombalski, junior center-midfielder Nikki Blake, junior center-midfielder Brittany Gaspersic (14 goals), junior outside midfielder Amy Cataldi and junior outside midfielder Kamri Brestensky• Key graduation losses: Kayla Eckman (Ohio State), Courtney Boroski, Sam Weber, Alyssa Blake• Outstanding newcomers: Sophomore defender Natalie DeFrancisis, sophomore forward Alyson Moore, junior goalkeeper Ali Mientus• Gantz says: "We looked good in our scrimmages, tying Knoch and beating Redbank (Valley) by 10 goals or so. We're passing the ball nicely and our midfielders look strong."

• Coach: Matt Nichols, third year• Last year: 10-6• Key returnees: Senior midfielder Shannon Bishop, senior forward Samantha Laurence (20 goals), senior midfielder Jamie Dillaman and senior goalkeeper Darcie Holmes• Key graduation loss: Elise Homan• Outstanding newcomers: Freshman defender Moriah Williamson and freshman forward Mariah Treiber• Nichols says: "Our seniors now were sophomores when I started. I put in a completely new system then and they're two years into it now. We have 11 seniors, so we've got plenty of depth."

• Coach: Lisa Castiglione, fourth year• Last year: 16-6, District 9 champion• Key returnees: Senior forward Millie McKain (16 goals), senior center-midfielder Emily Potchak, senior sweeper Erica Hillwig, senior stopper Emily Freiters, senior defender Kayce Grimm, senior midfielder Nicole Harmon, senior midfielder Chelsy Zabicki, senior goalkeeper Brooke Miller• Key graduation losses: Hannah Beck, Alaina Burns, Cristen Futcher• Outstanding newcomers: Junior midfielder Kaiclyn Lakin, junior forward Kara Yasika, junior midfielder-defender Kirstie Price, freshman outside back Alyssa King and freshman forward Emily Olszak• Castiglione says: "A lot of teams are positioned to make a competitive run at the District 9 title. Some teams have stepped up their game and we're going to have to respond to that."

• Coach: Frank Accetta, second year• Last year: 5-11-2• Key returnees: Sophomore midfielder Danielle Sharbaugh (10 goals), sophomore goalkeeper Liz Hallahan, junior midfielder Ashley Bartell• Key graduation losses: Casey Paul (Lock Haven), Amanda Bartell (Edinboro), Audrey Scott (Dickinson) and Aleisha King• Outstanding newcomers: Freshman midfielder Krista Burdett and freshman defender Melissa Spreng• Accetta says: "I'm starting two juniors, a senior, and the rest sophomores and freshmen. We're strong in terms of our starting lineup, but we're not deep. We only have 20 players on the roster. I'm trying to build a foundation for upcoming years."

• Coach: Blair Gerlach, third year• Last year: 13-5-2 overall and 9-4-1 in section, made the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs• Key returnees: Senior defenders Erica Sullivan, Sarah Williams and Erin Resosky; senior forward Lexie Mastro; senior midfielder Tina Paracca; junior midfielders Dana Wonderly and Alanna Haefner; junior goalkeeper Meghan Kelly; sophomore forwards Kristen McKenzie and Kristen Check; sophomore midfielder Mani Brueckner• Key graduation losses: forward Sarah Heckman and midfielder Samantha Barley• Outstanding newcomers: freshman defender Jordyn White• Gerlach says: "It's such a tough section. All of our opponents are quality teams. We're really looking to challenge ourselves this year."

• Coach: Dave Sylvester, ninth year• Last year: 17-3 overall and 13-1 in section play, reached WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinals• Key returnees: Senior forward Kate Kelly; senior forward-midfielder Mandy Cerminara; senior defender-midfielder Grace Emmerling; junior midfielder Shayna Elser; junior goalkeeper Keara Lydon; sophomore defender Raegan Dobbins • Key graduation losses: Midfielders Brianna Meurer, Aleisha Rees, Catherine Messmer, Marissa Accamando and Lauren Royal; forward Karisa Fernandez; defenders Jenny Jergel and Barbie Rohm• Outstanding newcomers: Sophomore midfielder Madison Kozlowski• Sylvester says: "We won a WPIAL title with (Keara Lydon) in net as a freshman and we won the section last year. She's gotten better each year. She has matured and is confident."

• Coach: Les Smith, third year• Last year: 11-9, second in District 10• Key returnees: Sophomore forward Danielle Wissinger (15 goals), senior midfielder Sarah Cessar (9 goals), senior right fullback Katie Cassidy, junior left fullback Molly Wintzer, senior stopper Adele Campbell, senior goalkeeper Ali Doyle• Key graduation loss: Elissa McCune• Outstanding newcomers: Sophomore defender Rachel Caldwell, sophomore midfielder Casey Dudek, freshman midfielder Cassie Hooper• Smith says: "We should have a very strong team. I don't even have a junior varsity team yet because any one of these players could jump into a varsity game and contribute to the team."Staff writer Derek Pyda contributed to this story