Area girls’ soccer teams face tough region challengers in quest for state playoffs

Today, we take a look at the local girls’ high school soccer teams that are looking to find their way into the GHSA state playoffs later this spring, starting with a club who entered the week already with a solid 5-1 record on the new season.

Heritage Lady Generals

New coaches Lauren Peters and Marina Kugler and some talented returning players have the Navy-and-Red feeling optimistic about the 2019 season, despite some heavy graduation losses from last year’s 16-win squad that advanced to the state playoffs.

Most of the senior class, Selah Giles, Sophie Roberts, Emily Shoenborn and Sophia Venable, will play in the midfield. Roberts can and will play some at forward, while Shoenborn will also split time on defense to assist senior keeper Lexi Besh.

Also back in the fold is 2018 Catoosa County Co-Player of the Year Anna Boley. The junior is coming off a big sophomore campaign that saw her boot 28 goals and add 12 assists. The rest of juniors include Ansley Peeler, Haleigh Nichols, Alyssa Boley, Lucy Hicks, Lauren Gray, Olivia Malone, Gracie Scott and Sidney Wilson.

“Our team looked determined in the preseason,” Kugler said. “All of them are excited, energetic and ready to play. We have a great group of young ladies who have bought into the program. They are confident in their ability to play, as well as (being) talented soccer players. We play a team sport and everyone’s role is important.”

LaFayette Lady Ramblers

Despite some of the players getting a late start due to basketball, head coach Whitney Brown said her veterans have looked solid in the early goings.

“I have a strong senior class who are great leaders and role models,” said Brown, who said her team’s goal is to finish in the top four of 6-AAAA and earn a state berth after eight wins in 2018. “I need some players to step up and give us some depth and my older girls need to control the game and play at 100 percent every day.”

Those senior are led by 2018 Walker County Girls’ Player of the Year Bailey Tarvin (9 goals, 8 assists), who will continue to play all over the field. The rest of the seniors include Shelby Adkins (keeper), Callie Payne and Darsey Shields (outside midfield) and Ashton Stalling (center midfield/ center back).

Other names to know include Megan Wilson and Kailee Queen, two outstanding all-around players that possess plenty of soccer knowledge.

LFO Lady Warriors

Head coach Justin Butler says the strength of his team lies on offense this year and he believes his Lady Warriors have the talent to compete for a Region 6-AAA title and qualify for state.

“Our team has looked on pace for where they need to be in the early season,” he explained. “We have a lot of holes to fill, but we also have a lot of returning talent and several new freshmen who will compete for playing time.”

Five seniors, including midfielders Sydney Moss and Faith Jones, defenders Jordan Carver and Shelby Lolley and fourth-year keeper Rebecca Leggett, will provide the leadership and veteran experience. Sydnee Brown is back after a 20-goal season last year, while Butler thinks that incoming freshman Emma Leverrett can help give LFO a potent offense. On defense, expect sophomore Bailey Sul-

livan to assume a big role.

“We have two young, but very talented goal scorers and when you add that to all our returning players we have on defense, I think we will be much improved in both areas,” Butler added. “The key is: can we play well enough as a team to better limit shots on our goal and possess the ball better? Becca will always be big for us in goal and I have no doubt that several games this season will come down to her ability to make a big save.”

Ridgeland Lady Panthers

The Lady Panthers are looking to overcome some key graduation losses and get the program back toward playoff contention in always-tough Region 6-AAAA and head coach Corey Lee said that his team has been focusing quite a bit on communication this year.

Ridgeland will be a fairly young team with eight sophomores this season, which means Lee will be counting on his seniors for leadership. This year’s group features Katie Davis, Nayeli Leon, Marina Mosgrove and Brittney Reed. Davis, the team’s second-leading scorer as a striker two seasons ago, is taking on a new defensive role as this year’s sweeper.

Other names to keep an eye on this season include Kaitlyn Durham, Macie Boren, Anna Jenkins, Jade Ransom, Angelica Crowe and Michelle Thomason, while the Lady Panthers will also be hoping for a big season from returning keeper Riley McBee.

Ringgold Lady Tigers

The Lady Tigers are set to begin their second season under second-year head coach Chuck Harris and looking to rebound after a tough 2018 season. Ringgold went winless in Region 6-AAA play, though they did pick up a tie against Haralson County.

Ringgold graduated a small senior class a year ago and are hoping that last year’s experiences will allow them to retool with a new set of upperclassmen.

The Lady Tigers’ numbers should be strengthened by a solid group of incoming freshmen. Ringgold Middle School’s girls’ team advanced all the way to the semifinals of last spring’s North Georgia Athletic Conference tournament.