LAKES VALLEY CONFERENCE:
Below are the team capsules for the Lakes Valley Conference. Rounds of Emails were sent to the athletics departments and coaching staffs of every girls soccer program in the state where coaches emails were available in March. To submit information for missing schools, submit additional information, or to make corrections, please email Web and Content Editor Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or text to (248) 884-1051.
Teams – Milford, South Lyon, South Lyon East, Walled Lake Central, Walled Lake Northern, Walled Lake Western, Waterford Kettering, Waterford Mott, White Lake Lakeland
SCHOOL: Milford
HEAD COACH: Tommy Hipple, 10th season
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 7-5-4, 3-2-3 LVC (fifth)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Howell (5-0); lost to Hartland (2-1) in D-1 district semifinals
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Rylee Felton, jr. M (All-League); Leah Merriam, sr. D (All-League); Brynn Dudley, jr. D (All-League); Ava Warner, jr. F; Ashley Hughes, sr. M; Allison Deep, jr. D; Leah Giese, jr. F
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Riley Mitchell, jr. F; Tessa Wilson, jr. D; Allison Hooks, jr. D
KEY NEWCOMERS: Coco Drew, sr. M; Lauren Bradley, fr. F; Camryn Bladzik, fr. M; Lindsey Mitchell, fr. D
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: A 5-0-0 start is perhaps the best in program history, and it has the experienced Mavericks believing that they can contend for a league title this season and engage in some heated battles with the likes of South Lyon East, Walled Lake Northern, Walled Lake Central and South Lyon. With the five wins, Milford is well on its way of eclipsing last season’s win total. There is also a fine freshman class hoping to aid the title chase and help soften a blow to players lost to the Michigan Hawks or Michigan Jaguars.
SCHOOL: South Lyon
HEAD COACH: Brian Elliott
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 12-5-2, 5-3-0 LVC (fourth)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Brighton (3-2); def. Okemos (1-0); lost to Hartland (3-2) in D-1 district finals
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Rhianna Schermerhorn, sr. F (All-State Third Team; all-time leading scorer in school history); Sierra Newton, sr. M (All-League; Division I Swimming recruit having signed with Bowling Green); Caitlyn McBeth, sr. G (All-District); Gianna Spano, soph. F
KEY NEWCOMERS: Claire Boback, fr. M
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: There are only four returning starters, but that core is a good one with the school’s all-time leading scorer in that group along with a sturdy goalkeeper and a Division I recruit in swim and dive. There is also one standout freshman that hopes to keep the Lions in the top half of the league.
SCHOOL: South Lyon East
HEAD COACH: Pete Stayanovich
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 16-4-0, 7-1-0 LVC (first)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Carleton Airport (8-0); def. Pinckney (2-1, shootout, D-2 district finals); def. Linden (6-0); lost to Haslett (6-5, 2OT, SO) in D-2 regional finals.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Alyssa Melquist, sr. F/M (All-State Second Team); Kate Mazur, sr. M (All-League); Alexandra Armstrong, sr. D (All-League); Kaylie Samluk, sr. M; Reagan Koskela, sr. D
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Rylie Moss, sr. M; Ella Denndorf, sr. G; Kennedy Caiaro, sr. M; Luca Bially, jr. M; Kennedy Shea, jr. M; Sarah Marsac, soph. G; Reaganne Koskeld, sr. D; Lydia Wray, jr. G; Alayna Barone, sr. D; Hadley Booth, soph. D; Natalia Dilbone, soph. M
KEY NEWCOMERS: Olivia Jones, soph. F; Meredith Pagett, soph. D; Rylee Seach, sr. D
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: The Cougars were a little bit of an offensive juggernaut last season, outscoring the opposition 101-29 with nine shutouts. South Lyon East also pitched shutouts in seven of its final nine games last season. The Cougars reached the Division 2 regional finals (Elite Eight) last year for the second time following LVC league and district championships before bowing out against Haslett in a wild 6-5 affair that reached a shootout to decide the winner. Three of the team’s four All-State players graduated, but there is still over two-thirds of the roster back and expectations are still high. Some of that is curtailed as South Lyon East is now up in Division 1 enrollment-wise and will face a brutal road to make a similar postseason run this season.
SCHOOL: Walled Lake Central
HEAD COACH: Joel Sharpe, 24th season
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 9-7-1, 5-2-1 LVC (third)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. White Lake Lakeland (1-0); lost to Walled Lake Northern (1-0) in D-1 district semifinals
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Emily Wade, sr. M (All-League); Brianna Baiocco, jr. F; Izzy Renner, soph. G; Joanna Ugolnik, jr. F; Samantha Klenczar, jr. M; Marissa McClure, jr. D
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Eva Middleton, sr. D; Shelby Holyfield, sr. D
KEY NEWCOMERS: Brielee Phung, sr. F (played last season with Michigan Jaguars GA; was All-League First Team in 2021 with WLC); Anna Middleton, fr.; Addison Klenczar, fr.; HAiley Kassab, fr.
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: After finishing third in the LVC last season, the Vikings will contend this season with six returning starters, one former Girls Academy player who was All-League with WLC two years ago, and three fine freshmen who could start. Sharpe is the dean of coaches within talent-laden Oakland County, as he took over the Walled Lake Central program in the late 1990s and is the longest-tenured coach within OC’s borders.
SCHOOL: Walled Lake Northern
HEAD COACH: Mitchell Thompson, first season
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 9-5-5, 5-1-2 LVC (second)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Waterford Kettering (8-1); def. Walled Lake Central (1-0); lost to Bloomfield Hills (2-0) in D-1 district finals
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Emily Gignac, sr. M (All-League); Kayla Budziak, jr. M (All-League); Mia Czarnowski, jr. D (All-League); Isabella Krause, soph. F
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Grace Vogt, sr. D; Addison Porter, sr. D; Sophia Lock, sr. D; Carly Santavy, sr. M
KEY NEWCOMERS:
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: For the first time since the school opened in 2002-03, the Knights have a new head coach. Drew Drummond retired from coaching and Mitchell Thompson takes over this season. Northern responded with a 3-0-1 start and should remain in contention for a league title this season after finishing second last year and reaching the district finals. There are only four returning starters and a small handful of returnees, so Thompson must mold a mostly new starting lineup and regular rotation.
SCHOOL: Walled Lake Western
HEAD COACH: Brian Bain, second season
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 3-11-1, 1-6-1 LVC (eighth)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost to Farmington (4-1) in D-2 pre-district
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Megan Rumija, sr. F (All-League); Sasha Lieberman, sr. M (All-League); Natalie Kosaian, jr. M; Izzy Geistler, soph. F; Keira McCarter, soph. G; Bella Yaldo, jr. D
OTHER KEY RETURNEES:
KEY NEWCOMERS:
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: With six regular starters back this season, the Warriors hope to improve upon a three-win season that kept them down in the bottom third of the LVC.
SCHOOL: Waterford Kettering
HEAD COACH: Emma Hughes, first season
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 5-12-1, 0-8-0 LVC (ninth)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost to Walled Lake Northern (8-1) in D-1 pre-district
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Isabel Nuttal, jr. F; Emily Medford, jr. G; Lexi Harrige, jr. F
OTHER KEY RETURNEES:
KEY NEWCOMERS:
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: Kettering won five games last season, but finished dead last in the LVC a year ago. Part of the Captains’ problem was scoring goals, as they totaled just 29 all season. Kettering must shore up its defense after yielding 49 goals last year and that was with a goalkeeper that was still honorable-mention all-league.
SCHOOL: Waterford Mott
HEAD COACH: Kevin Topcham, first season
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 13-7-1, 3-4-1 LVC (sixth)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. West Bloomfield (6-0); lost to Bloomfield Hills (8-0) in D-1 district semifinals
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Sophia Montgomery, sr. G; Sydney Stuart, sr. M; Karli Koskinen, soph. M; Morgan Rachel, jr. D
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Gillian Johnson, soph. D; Abby Ellis, soph. M; Kiara Bride, soph. M; Grace McKenzie, soph. M; Kailee Hundley, sr. D; McKenna Papenhagen, sr. D; Layla Carey, sr. M; Abbi Warner, sr. D; Lorna Kymla, soph. M; Arianna Campbell, jr. D; Lexi Her, jr. M; Summer LaDuc, soph. G
KEY NEWCOMERS: Mia Wright, fr. F; Morgan Koskinen, fr. M; Ava Lee, fr. D; Macie Bills, fr. F/G
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: With one of the better goalkeepers in all of Oakland County, Mott will remain in games again this season. The Corsairs were a respectable 13-7-1 last year but are also very young this season with three freshmen starters and only six seniors on the entire roster. There is also no junior-varsity program this year, so the Mott coaching staff will also try to develop some of the younger players as the season moves along.
SCHOOL: White Lake Lakeland
HEAD COACH: Shannon Samson
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 3-10-2, 2-4-2 LVC (seventh)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost to Walled Lake Central (1-0) in D-1 pre-district
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Jessica Forbis, jr. G (All-League); Molly Marino, jr. D; Emily Williamson, jr. D; Ella Drap, jr. F
OTHER KEY RETURNEES:
KEY NEWCOMERS:
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: Lakeland is off to another slow start after winning just three games last season. The Eagles are 0-2-2 to begin the campaign and being outscored 13-3. Lakeland was outscored 31-12 last season, so the Eagles must find a way to manufacture goals this year.
