Southern Lehigh, Northwestern Lehigh remain favorites, but should be challenged
Cheyenne LaBarre’s third season as head coach of the Bangor Area High School began with a 2-1 win over Saucon Valley on Saturday. With eight starters back from a team that reached the District 11 Class 2A semifinals a year ago, LaBarre believes that her team might be on the precipice of reemerging as a Colonial League contender.
“I’m fully getting a grip on my vision for the program,” LaBarre said. “I knew there was going to be a couple years of rebuilding. This is one of those years that could be the start of something great. It could be another rebuilding year, but this might be something great with so many starters coming back.”
The road to the Colonial League championship still runs through one of two small towns: Center Valley or New Tripoli. Southern Lehigh is the two-time defending champion and Northwestern Lehigh, the 2022 silver medalist, won the D-11 Class A title.
Can Bangor, or Palmerton, or Wilson, or another upstart steal a gold medal from either the Spartans or Tigers? We will find out in mid-October.
The favorite
Southern Lehigh – The Spartans have won four of the past six CL titles, the last two in a row, and could very well do it again with eight returning starters. Seniors Reese Macintosh (forward), Macey Reese (goalkeeper) and Sara Teche (defender) give coach Adrienne Searfoss experience and leadership.
Top contenders
Northwestern Lehigh – If anyone can dethrone the Spartans, it’s the Tigers, who still field a young squad with only one senior starter. Two midfielders – junior Ella Dangellos and sophomore Hannah Gober, a Max Field Hockey Class of 2026 top 100 player – give Northwestern strength in the middle. Three juniors – defender Rylee McGinley, forward Cara Thomas and forward Carsyn Van Norman – are potential difference-makers.
“We have talent, but we have to play together as a team, so we have to figure out where people can go,” coach Lissa Opolsky said. “The good and bad thing is I have so many options and so many players who can play multiple places that it makes it hard in the first week and a half. We’re still in that figuring-out stage. We’re excited, though. We have a good amount of talent.”
Palmerton – The Blue Bombers lost in both the Colonial League and District 11 Class A semifinals last year. With only three seniors, that might be difficult to surpass, but one of them is Sydney Frantz, who enters the season on the verge of breaking Palmerton’s career records in goals scored and assists. Senior forward Celeste Hoffman, senior mid Skylar Kohler and sophomore Ruby Walters give Palmerton depth.
Moravian Academy – The Lions had a good regular season in 2022 but suffered one-goal losses in each of the Colonial League and District 11 Class A tournaments. A senior-laden team, especially in the midfield, may help alter Moravian’s fortunes. Megan Dadio, a Franklin and Marshall commit, is a clutch scorer and one of the better mids in the Lehigh Valley. Rylin Becker, another midfielder, is among several experienced starters.
Bangor – Labarre has to replace only two starters from last year’s team and welcomes center back Ana Jones, center mid Megan Engle and midfielder Emma Lautenbacher. “We have a really good group of seniors,” she said. “There’s definitely a lot of leadership. I’m optimistic for this season.”
Wilson – The Warriors made their first state tournament appearance last year, but substantial graduation losses will make a repeat difficult for this team. Still, coach Scott Horton can build around sophomore mid Payton Herncane and senior sweeper Abigail Sagrestano, “It’s going to be a challenge for us this year,” he said.
Next level of contenders
Salisbury – The Falcons have potential to return to the postseason with sophomore forward Kendra Morgan (14 goals) and midfielder Gwyn DeFazio, who led the team in assists. With only four starters returning, coach Jane Brennan will need help from more sources.
Saucon Valley – Senior defender Mallory Brown, junior center back Riley Lannon and senior midfielder Ashley Rostkowski give the Panthers hope that they can contend for a postseason playoff spot. “We have work to do yet,” coach MK Omdahl said. “I don’t think our transition game is there yet. We’re playing separate defense and offense.”
Pen Argyl – The numbers are up in coach Megan Kutzler’s third season. The next step is figuring out how to keep up the winning after a season-opening win over Palisades.
Palisades – Coach Kim DeNato is starting over in some ways, with 11 graduated players, but may have a good one in Abby O’Donnell, who should keep the Pirates close in many games.
Catasauqua – The Rough Riders have a new head coach in Amanda Freiler, who is familiar with the players because she coached several of them in Catty’s middle school program. Center forward Abby Antipas should be the centerpiece of the Rough Riders attack.
Northern Lehigh – In her second year as head coach, Kassandra Beller has senior midfielder Delaney Szwast, junior forward Addison Cieri and nine freshmen around whom to build.
Five players to watch
Megan Dadio, Moravian Academy, senior midfielder
Ella Dangellos, Northwestern, junior midfielder.
Sydney Frantz, Palmerton, midfield
Hannah Gober, Northwestern, sophomore midfielder
Reese Macintosh, Southern Lehigh, senior forward