By JEREMY SELLEW
One of the messages echoing out of Belle Vernon Area girls soccer practice this preseason is that the Leopards are coming out hungry.
“This is our section and we want our section title back,” head coach Tracy Lovett said. “I have high expectations for this group, and there’s nothing wrong with that. We’ve made it to the playoffs for 18 straight seasons, we have a reputation for success and we want to be back at the top of the section.”
Despite losing the talents of Izzy Laurita, Jillian Butchki and starting keeper Grace Henderson to graduation, Lovett said she’s not worried about her team’s offensive prowess. She may actually like it more this season returning eight starters.
“Obviously we lost some pretty strong offensive players,” Lovett said. “I’m lucky enough to have a lot of talent. I think it’s really spread out pretty evenly among all classes, too. I think last year was a case of us having too many cooks in the kitchen offensively.”
This season, the Leopards – who finished 13-3 overall and 10-2 in Section 2-3A last season – will turn to senior Morgan Einodshofer and junior Farrah Reader to help carry the load offensively. The two were named captains along with senior Adeline Guess and sophomore Kataira Rhodes.
“It’s their turn to step up. We’ve been preparing all summer long and I really liked what I saw in our scrimmage against West Mifflin,” Lovett said. “Morgan, I expect a really big season from her. She finished with 19 goals and 22 assists last season. She’s one of the top players in 3A and is a leader on and off the field. Everything’s going to run through her because she’s so good at creating opportunities for herself and everyone else on the field.
“Farrah is going to be our forward in our 4-2-3-1 formation. I think it’s a formation that’s going to fit the players we have. Farrah’s so good up top because she’s so athletic, so strong and is a really physical player on and off the ball. She has 42 goals and 28 assists coming into her senior year, so we have girls that know how to score. Kataira is really going to take a step forward for us. She had a nice freshman season and I see nothing but her getting better.”
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