High school girls soccer watch list

PLAYERS TO WATCH

(in MF alphabeticalKati Druzina, order)Jr., Lake Catholic:about the kindIt’s funof statsto think the Notrecan put Dameup keying verbal a recruit promising young group around her as an attacking center mid. F Ashley Frank, Sr., Mentor: The Cardinals were juniorheavy in 2016 as they reached a district final, and as they seek to get over the hump again, this senior striker has the size and pace to play a big role. MF Laura Gorjanc, Jr., Hawken: After two years excelling as more of a wide player, this junior moves into a central midfield role for a good but predominantly young Hawks side and has the skill set to be a formidable threat. F Annie Greene, Jr., Gilmour: An attacking hammer in every sense, the rapid development of this dynamic junior striker, who had 18 goals and nine assists last year, was one of the most entertaining parts of Gilmour’s D-III state title run a year ago. MF-F Izzy Greene, Sr., Gilm

our: The 2016 News-Herald player of the year and Dayton recruit, who had 20 goals and 13 assists last year for the D-III state champions, is a joy to watch in the Lancers’ quick, pacey attack with her speed and skill set. MF Tyler Klika, Sr., Mayfield: There may not be a center mid in this area who can deliver better service for her strikers and outside mids than this senior, who had five goals and seven assists and was a second-team D-I all-Ohioan in 2016. D Megan Miller, Sr., Gilmour: Speaking of declarations of the best, sweepers in this area don’t come any better than this senior, with anticipation and workrate second to none. F Lidia Rodin, So., Kirtland: As a freshman, this Hornets’ standout showed the ability to be comfortable in pretty much any role Coach Ed Bradac has for her — center back, center mid, striker, she can do it all well. GK Kennedy Solymosi, Sr., Lake Catholic: With the Cougars’ back four getting younger than it’s been in recent memory, this experienced senior and returning second-team N-H all-star will help expedite jelling in the defensive third. MF Hannah Vouk, Sr., Kirtland: This playmaking senior mid has played a lot of meaningful soccer over the course of her career and returns to help lead what the Hornets hope will be a deep D-III tournament run.

MATCHES TO WATCH

Gilmour at Walsh Jesuit (Aug. 29), Hawken at NDCL (Aug. 30), Hathaway Brown at Lake Catholic (Aug. 31), Brush at Madison (Sept. 5), Lake Catholic at NDCL (Sept. 6), West Geauga at Kirtland (Sept. 7), Berkshire at Wickliffe (Sept. 7), Chagrin Falls at Mentor (Sept. 11), Kirtland at Geneva (Sept. 14), NDCL at Madison (Sept. 16), Mentor at Mayfield (Sept. 16), Kenston at Brush (Sept. 18), Lake Catholic at Gilmour (Sept. 25), West Geauga at Chagrin Falls (Sept. 27), Kirtland at Madison (Sept. 28), Lake Catholic at Chagrin Falls (Sept. 30), Madison at Mayfield (Oct. 3), Lake Catholic at Walsh Jesuit (Oct. 4), Mayfield at Kirtland (Oct. 7), Gilmour at Chagrin Falls (Oct. 9)

PENALTY KICKS

• Competitive balance has yielded an extremely deep Division II area district, as 2016 DIII state champion Gilmour and Hawken come into the mix to join Chagrin Falls, a D-II state finalist a year ago, and Lake Catholic. Simply put, someone is going home in late October who shouldn’t be that early. • Chagrin will build around sophomore Katie Schumacher, who impressed well beyond her years as a freshman center back in 2016 on a 22-2 side that posted 17 clean sheets. Getting a taste of big stages for as long as the Tigers did a year ago will only serve as a benefit to those seeking to build on that momentum. • Arguably the most technically skilled player in area history, three-time News-Herald player of the year Kori Chapic, has returned to her alma mater West Geauga as its coach. In her days with the Wolverines, Chapic was essentially a coach on the pitch with her knowledge and maturity, so seeing her find her way to the touchline as a coach is no surprise. • In the area’s CVC Valley ranks, Berkshire and Wickliffe have sides who appear poised to be ready to take another step this fall. The Badgers are paced by striker Lexi Boyk, who was the area’s leading scorer as a freshman with 24 goals and 19 assists. The Blue Devils’ roster numbers are as good as they’ve ever been, and a good, young attacking base is in place with Joelle Banks and Ana Stjepanovic up top. • Mentor hasn’t reached regional competition since 2013 — an unusually long time for the program — so Coach Amanda Hart’s side will be hungry to break that string. With some veteran leadership in the back and the aforementioned Frank and Kelly Colon leading the attack, the Cardinals should be able to play their usual short, quick combination game and be a factor come district time. • It’s encouraging to see sophomores pacing some area sides, including NDCL, which appears to be ready to be a tough district out amid its move to Division I, and Madison striker Mykayla Askew is emerging as a multi-versed threat as a 10th grader helping to lead the Blue Streaks in the offensive third. • For the first time, Cardinal will feature a girls side in 2017. Coach Elisabeth Robinson has 14 players out as the Huskies leave neighborhood rival Newbury as the lone remaining area coed squad.