SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE—WHITE DIVISION:
Below are the team capsules for the Southeastern Conference-White Division. 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 – Adrian, Chelsea, Jackson, Pinckney, Tecumseh, Ypsilanti Community
SCHOOL: Adrian
HEAD COACH: Rangariro Matatu
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 4-13-1, 2-8-0 SEC-White (fifth)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Ypsilanti (2-0); lost to South Lyon East (7-0) in D-2 district semifinals match.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Ashley Klann, sr. D; Lilly Hassan, sr. G; Helayna Nieto, soph. M; Sophy Skeels, soph. M; Raquel Gonzales, soph. D; Ella Marlatt, soph. D; Sydney Hunter, soph. M; Edan Palmani, jr. D
KEY NEWCOMERS: Ayla Tindall, fr. F; Sienna Gauna, fr. M
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: The Maples are more than standing tall and quietly becoming one of the state’s grand turnaround stories after a four-win season in 2022. And the sophomore and freshman classes are leading the way as new infused talent. Not only has Adrian won the Onsted Invitational during the season’s first month, but they have started 7-1-0, outscored the opposition 37-10 and posted three shutouts. Lilly Hassan is a sure-handed goalkeeper while several ninth and 10th-grade prospects, led by freshman sensation and ODP Midwest regional player Ayla Tindall, have joined up to pace an explosive offense. Tindall already has 20 goals on the campaign and is one course to shatter the single-season school record for goals. Adrian also returns most of its starting lineup. The Maples will no longer be an easy out and could challenge Pinckney, Tecumseh and Chelsea in the conference race, or at least have a say of who wins it and who doesn’t.
SCHOOL: Chelsea
HEAD COACH: Giorgi Nozadze
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 10-5-3, 7-1-2 SEC-White (second)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Tecumseh (3-0); lost to Pinckney (2-1) in D-2 districts semifinals match.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Airanna Griecci, jr. G; May Malik, sr.; Addison Sinkwitts, sr. M; Grace Ratliff, sr. F; Katherine Krugh, sr. M; Maya Valik, sr. D
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Ava Hoffman, jr. M; Kyli Millikin, jr. M; Caroline Knight, sr. D; Ella Ray, sr. D
KEY NEWCOMERS: Christina Roberts, soph. D/M; Sasha French, jr. M
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: Chelsea, always one of the league leaders, started the campaign 4-2-0 after graduating a solid core of starters from last season’s unit that won 12 games and finished second in the league. The Bulldogs do have a quality keeper and several holdover players who now have expanded roles and should contend with Pinckney, Tecumseh and Adrian in the league this season.
SCHOOL: Jackson
HEAD COACH: Travis Baker
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 8-7-1, 4-5-1 SEC-White (fourth)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost to Battle Creek Lakeview (6-4) in D-1 pre-districts match.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Sydney Langley, sr. F (All-League); Anna Selby, sr. D; Rylie DuBois, sr. M/D; Trystin Cline, soph. D/M; Rylee DeMann, jr. G
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Marilu Guardarrama, jr.; Alaina Martindale, soph.; Maleeya Mathis, soph.; Sienna Tovar, soph.; Ellie Weed, sr.; Maria Velazquez, soph.
KEY NEWCOMERS: London Brown, fr.; Jayla Estelle, fr.; Mackenzie Glaspie, fr.; Ingrid Hesslau, fr.; Anaya Selby, fr.; Gillian Snyder, fr.
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: The Vikings started the campaign 3-3-0- with a 26-14 scoring edge after finishing fifth in the league last season., Jackson already has some losses to the league leaders but by no means in a pushover. Sydney Langley (F) and Rylee DeMann (G) are great bookends and are two of the top players in the league. Jackson likely won’t win the league but could spring and upset or two and wreck another school’s league standing or postseason.
SCHOOL: Pinckney
HEAD COACH: Sean Grace
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 13-4-2, 8-0-2 SEC-White (first)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Chelsea (2-1); lost to South Lyon East (2-1, 2OT, SO) in a D-2 district finals match.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Kailey Lambert, sr. D (All-League, All-District, All-State Honorable Mention; 10 goals, 10 assists last season; long list of club soccer accolades including MSYSA Midwest Conference Best XI in 2021); Peyton Delongchamp, jr. G (All-League, All-District, All-State Honorable Mention; 10 shutouts last season and already holds several school records); Zaryah Griffin, jr. M G (All-League, All-District, All-State Honorable Mention; 13 goals, seven assists last year); Claire Denton, sr. F G (All-League, All-District, All-State Honorable Mention); Natalie Graves, sr. M/CB (All-League, All-District); Valerie Graves, jr. D; Alex Hanselmen, jr. D; lexis Altizer, jr. M/F; Mackenna Prince, soph. M; Ella Swiderski, jr. M/F
KEY NEWCOMERS: Julia Garcia, fr. CB/M
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: The defending SEC-White champions return a bevy of talent and are the favorites, but also play in a league with five quality teams so defending the crown will not be an easy task. The Pirates started the campaign 5-1-0 with the sole loss to Division 1 top-ranked Rochester. Pinckney has outscored the opposition 27-7 with three shutouts and expect the Pirates to be ranked soon or at least honorable mention in the Division 2 polls. This could possibly be Pinckney’s best season yet when all is said and done. Pinckney has 10 players back that started games last season and welcomes one new freshman starter.
SCHOOL: Tecumseh
HEAD COACH: Matthew Twiss
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 12-6-3, 5-2-3 SEC-White (third)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost to Chelsea (3-0) in a D-2 pre-districts match.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Chelsey Wilke, sr. M (All-League; four-sport athlete); Kennedy Konz, sr. D; Kylie Trevino, soph. F/M; Shaylynn Drouillard, jr. F; Vera Denison, sr. G; Ashley Chinavare, sr. D (originally committed to Finlandia University but that school is closing this summer; recruitment back open)
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Gianna Broussard, jr.; Lani Cameron, jr.; Madeline McRoberts, sr.; Allie Norden, jr.; Bailee Romanowski, sr.; Grace Slusarski, sr.; Jocelyn Yape, sr.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Ava Snyder, fr.; Brook Stark, fr.
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: Tecumseh finished third in the league and began the season 6-1-2 overall and 2-1-0 in league play and those totals include six shutouts. The Indians’ schedule will get tougher in late April and early May. Tecumseh has never won a conference title in girls soccer and with five quality teams calling the SEC-White home it will be a dogfight to see who ends up on top of the heap.
SCHOOL: Ypsilanti Community
HEAD COACH: Nick Suarez
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 6-12-0, 0-10-0 SEC-White (sixth)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost to Adrian (2-0) in a D-2 pre-districts match.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Anika Naik, sr. F; Yasmeen Nimer, sr. D; Jillian Farmer, sr. D/G; Nina Arnett, jr. M; Dema Gazal, jr. F
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Aneeya Walker, jr. D; Ruby Go, sr. D
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: Much like Ypsilanti Lincoln in the SEC-Red and several other urban schools across the state, Ypsilanti doesn’t benefit from a roster of mostly club soccer kids Inside a two-division, 14-school league Ypsilanti often struggles against stiff competition. Outside of the league, Ypsilanti has had some recent success against school’s of similar talent levels and even recorded six non-league wins last season.
