The State College varsity girls’ soccer team has won 11 straight district championships, and it’s looking to make it an even dozen in 2019.
The 2018 squad was just one win away for competing in the PIAA tournament, however, an overtime loss to Erie McDowell closed out their season and they finished with an 11-8-1 record.
This season, head coach Doug Bates, now in his third year, has 12 letter winners returning in Jenny Mejia, Natalie Stewart, Olivia Noel, Jordan Fralick, Allison Johnston, Alison Houtz, Loren Torbic, Eliza Oesterling, Megan Stoltzfus, Savannah Schoonmaker, Tori Steward and Maya Bokunewicz.
Bates said he and the girls have already had preseason discussions about winning that 12th consecutive district title, as well as beating Erie McDowell in the state tournament play-in game and advancing past the first round of the PIAA tournament.
“My expectations are aligned with the team’s since we’ve set aside dedicated time to set these goals and the path to achieve them collectively,” said Bates.
He said the team’s strengths are on defense, and that they are a united group. He also mentioned their work rate as a strength and said the team is very coachable.
The weakness, he believes, is the lack of experience. The Lady Little Lions lost three key players to graduation, including Mackenzie Graham, who is playing for Virginia Tech; Erica Feese, who is playing at LaSalle; and Jessica Lingenfelter, who is playing at Lebanon Valley College.
State College starts the season Saturday at Peters Township High School near Pittsburgh for the South Hills Kickoff Classic. Following road matches Sept. 3 at Manheim Township and Sept. 5 at Cumberland Valley, the Lady Little Lions open the home schedule at 6 p.m. on Sept. 10 against Red Land at the State High North Field.
