BY DAN STICKRADT
Communications Specialist | Web And Content Editor | Director of News |
Social Media Director | Interns and Freelance Coordinator
PH: (248) 884-1051
TW: @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
(Michigan Soccer Network Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt compiles team capsules for over 460 girls soccer programs statewide. Email pertinent information to stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com. Follow on Twitter @msn_stickradt, @LocalSportsFans, or @MiSoccerNetwork and on numerous social media platforms.)
Tri-Valley Conference-Red Division Competing Teams – Alma, Bay City John Glenn, Birch Run, Essesville-Garber, Freeland, Frankenmuth, Saginaw Swan Valley
Tri-Valley Conference-Blue Division Competing Teams – Hemlock, Ithaca, Midland Bullock Creek, Millington, Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central, Saginaw Valley Lutheran, Standish-Sterling
No Soccer Teams – Bridgeport, Carrolton, St. Louis, Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary
TRI-VALLEY CONFERENCE-BLUE DIVISION GIRLS SOCCER TEAM CAPSULES 2024
SCHOOL: Hemlock
HEAD COACH: Joe Wardlow, 10th season.
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD/ FINISH: 14-5-2, 9-2-1 Tri-Valley Conference-Blue Division (second, 28 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Byron (4-0); def. Laingsburg (3-2, 2OT, SO, district finals); lost in D-4 regional semifinals to Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (3-1)
RETURNING STARTERS: Isabella Curry, jr. M/F (All-State Second Team); Avery Ross, sr. G/M (All-State Third Team); Isabella Krueger, sr. F (All-State Honorable Mention); Brianna Weaver, sr. D/M; Emma Streich, sr. M/F; Hope Watson, sr. D/M; Lexie Rump, jr. D.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Logann Clayton, sr. M/F; Maddie Wenzel, jr. G/M; Mallory Dinninger, sr. F/G; Mya Wunsch, sr. D; Natalie Bodziachowski, sr. F/M; Ava Graham, jr. M; Stephanie Olaria, sr. F; Emily Premo, jr. M; Megan Tilot, jr. D; Sara Tejerina-Sastre, sr. D/F; Sophie Zacche, sr. M/F.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Grace Murtha, fr. M; Khloe Rump, fr. D; Lia Hoffmann, fr. D.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: There are three returning All-State players for Hemlock, which hopes top compete with Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central in the TVC-Blue Division again this year. The Huskies were second to Nouvel last season before winning a Division 4 district. Nouvel knocked Hemlock out of the state tournament in the regional semifinals. The Huskies outscored the opposition 75-24 last season with seven shutouts. So far this season, Hemlock is a perfect 6-0-0 through April 16, scoring 27 goals, conceding only four goals and registering three more clean sheets.
SCHOOL: Ithaca
HEAD COACH: Paige Beracy, xx season
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 4-15-3, 1-9-2 TVC-Blue (seventh, five points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Carson City-Crystal (4-0); lost in D-3 district semifinals to Laingsburg (2-0)
RETURNING STARTERS: Emily Ahearn, sr. M/F (signed with NCAA Division III Alma College; three-time All-League, Team MVP and All-District; two-time All-Region and All-State Honorable Mention); Brynnen Lamey, sr. D (three-time All-District; All-League Honorable Mention); Kayla Hindall, sr. M (All-League Honorable Mention); Jenna Cantu, sr. M (All-District)
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Allie Clore, soph. D.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Sage Lamey, fr. M/D.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Like many other rural programs in the central part of the state, Ithaca does not inherit numerous high-level club soccer players, so when the Yellowjackets face off with the powers in the two-division Tri-Valley Conference or larger Division 1 or Division 2 schools the lack of high-level experience hurts. The Yellowjackets do have a small core of club players and some key players with a lot of varsity experience, including one who will play in college next year. Ithaca struggled to a 4-15-3 record last year and landed in seventh in the TVC-Blue Division. The Yellowjackets were outscored 83-29 and only registered three shutouts on the campaign. The 2024 season has again started slow for Ithaca, which stands at 0-5-0 through April 16 and has been outscored 22-3. … “We’re optimistic about this season with one of the most experienced rosters I’ve had since coaching. We’re looking to improve our placement from last year and hoping for a middle to top finish,” said coach Paige Beracy.
SCHOOL: Midland Bullock Creek
HEAD COACH: Bob Linton, first season
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 4-13-1, 3-8-1 TVC-Blue (fifth, 10 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Gladwin (2-1); lost in D-3 district semifinals to Freeland (8-0)
RETURNING STARTERS: Brooke Frankland, sr. M; Jenna Nelson, jr. F/M; Claudia Moses, jr. D.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Katie Vauhkonen, jr.; Aubrey Bulson, sr.; Clare Pelli, jr. M; Ella White, jr.; Jaylyn Holzinger, jr.; Miraya Hunter, soph.; Vilet Ritter, sr.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Audra Stoltenberg, fr. G; no other players specified.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Bob Linton takes over the program which captured only four wins last season and finished in fifth in the Tri-Valley Conference blue Division. The Lancers were outscored 66-17 in a major rebuilding season in2023, where they were shut out 11 times and recorded just two clean sheets. Bullock Creek has started slow, as through April 16 the Lancers are 0-5-1. … “There’s lots of room to grow with this team with three players that have never played before, including at keeper. Our goal is to play better every game,” said coach Bob Linton. “we hope to finish in the middle (of the pack).”
SCHOOL: Millington
HEAD COACH: Danyel Dormire, third season.
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 5-14-2, 3-9-1 (sixth, 10 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost in D-4 pre-districts to Burton Genesee Christian (7-0)
RETURNING STARTERS: Charlotte Ratza, sr. M; Kendra Peterson, jr. G/D; Erin Ertmann, sr. M.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Emma Stewart, jr. M; Naomi Williams, sr. M; Alexis Berry, jr. F/M; Addi Coleman, jr.; Savanna Bemiss, soph.; Mariah Jesme, jr.; Ella Narruhn, jr.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Emily Peters, fr.; Mariah Ellis, sr.; Aurora Hibner, sr.; Madilyn Draper, fr.; Makayla France, fr.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Millington’s program is less than a decade old and the Cardinals, like many of the rural schools in the two-division Tri-Valley Conference, do not inherit tons of high-level club soccer players. Millington struggled last season with a young and inexperienced roster, being shut out 14 times while being outscored 79-12 with three shutouts of its own. Any improvement from those numbers will be welcome. So far this season the Cardinals have started 2-2-0 through April 16 with 10 goals scored against 10 conceded. Those are signals of improvement.
SCHOOL: Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central
HEAD COACH: Matthew Solek, xx season
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 15-5-1, 10-1-1 TVC-Blue (first, 31 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Montrose (7-1); def. Saginaw Valley Lutheran (2-0); def. Bad Axe (3-1, district finals); def. Hemlock (3-1, regional semifinals); lost in D-4 regional finals to Clarkston Everest Collegiate/Bloomfield Hills Sacred Heart Unified (2-0).
RETURNING STARTERS: Kaitlyn Miros, jr. D (All-League, All-District); Kelsey Berthiaume, jr. M (All-League); Abigail Hart, jr. CB; Julia Hamilton, jr. G; Isabella Dobis, sr. M; Madeline Werner, sr. D; Hallie Beck, jr. M; Sydney Leslie, jr. M; Lucy Jacobs, soph. F/M; Savannah Garcia, jr. D.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Anna Lang, soph.; Ava Schroeder, jr.; Ella Wolinski, jr. D; Isabelle Zamora, jr. M;
Elaina Jimenez, sr.; Adysan Kuebler, jr.; Rachel LeFevre, jr.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Skylar Bruske, fr. CB; Claire Long, fr. F; Rheese Chaacon, fr.; Lillian Collison, fr.; Anna Lang, soph.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Simply put, the 2023 campaign was one of the best in school history for the Panthers. Nouvel Catholic Central outscored the opposition 96-26 with eight shutouts, captured the Tri-Valley Conference-Blue Division and Division 4 district championships, and reached the regional finals before a 2-0 setback to Clarkston Everest Collegiate. So far this season the Panthers started 2-1-0 with an 18-3 scoring edge, two more clean sheets and a top-15 Division 4 ranking. Lydia Jacobs played one season with Nouvel before departing for NCAA Division II Ferris State and her absence will be felt as she was a key cog in that offensive machine. But the Panthers bring back 17 players from that side and figure to be a threat to repeat as conference and district champions and make another deep run into the postseason.
SCHOOL: Saginaw Valley Lutheran
HEAD COACH: Doug Guenther, xx season
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 13-3-3, 9-1-2 TVC-Blue (second, 29 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port-Laker (4-0); lost in D-4 district semifinals to Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (2-0).
RETURNING STARTERS: Ella Buckholz, jr. M (All-League, All-State Honorable Mention); Grace Hall, jr. D; no other players specified.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: No players specified.
KEY NEWCOMERS: no other players specified.
ROSTER: No list submitted.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Two years ago, Valley Lutheran carried a No. 1 ranking and unbeaten record into the postseason. The school did win a league and district championship that season only to lose to unranked Laingsburg 2-0 in the regional semifinal. In 2023, the Chargers were ranked all season before they finished second in the TVC-Blue Division and lost to eventual regional finalist and TVC-Blue champion Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (2-0) in just the district semifinals. The Chargers outscored their opposition 69-12 with 10 shutouts last year. This year through April 15, Valley Lutheran is 1-1-0 and played only two goals. The Chargers have been outscored 7-4, as they are trying to replace back-to-back large classes that departed via graduation.
SCHOOL: Standish-Sterling-Au Gres-Sims Unified
HEAD COACH: Kacey Bentley, xx season
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 5-15-2, 3-7-2 TVC-Blue (fourth, 11 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost in D-3 pre-districts to Essexville-Garber (8-1)
RETURNING STARTERS: No players specified.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: No players specified.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Kaitlyn Jean, fr. M/F.
ROSTER: Addison Ryan, sr. F; Analeis Ming, soph. F; Chloe Haskins, sr. D; Chloe Krappitz, jr. D; Emily Jackson, sr. D; Jessie Rottmann, sr. D; Jozlynne Soule, jr. F; Karlie Buckler, soph. F; Kaylee Bell, sr. F/M; LeeAnn White, jr. F/M; Lily Thurlow, jr. M; Lydia Arbuckle, jr. G/D; Miranda Chaffin, jr. D; Renae Bentley, jr. M; Selah Anthony, soph. D; Taylor Chaffin, soph. D/M; Dannika Christie, jr. D/G.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Last season featured a major rebuilding campaign for the Panthers, who finished seventh in the TVC-Blue and were outscored 103-30. So far this season Standish-Serling is 1-40 through April 16 being outscored again 26-6. Can Standish-Sterling find a way to shore up its defense over the remainder of the season, especially against the better teams?
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
