By Chuck Landis, Marion Chronicle-Tribune
8/21/2008
Last year, Grant County’s two girls’ soccer teams combined for a 32-4-3 record, staged a memorable sectional championship shootout, and Oak Hill went on to nearly pull off a big regional victory.
The new season has as much — maybe even greater — promise. Both Marion and Oak Hill return strong nuclei and have high expectations.
“We’re fired up to see what the season brings us,” Golden Eagles coach Alex Kenworthy said. “The girls know the other teams have marked us, and we’re ready to face them.”
In their second year under IHSAA sanction, the Eagles had an unbeaten regular season and dethroned Marion as the sectional champions. Their first loss came against Fort Wayne Snider 2-1 in the regional tournament.
First-year coach Kenworthy guided the Eagles to a 15-1-2 season, and he lost four starters to graduation. Yet, he can build around 12 letterwinners, including junior Courtney Moses, the state’s third-leading scorer with 44 goals.
If the Eagles and Moses caught more established teams off guard, Kenworthy knows that element of surprise is gone. Moses especially will see more double-teams this season.
“(Teams) would be stupid not to mark (Moses), and she’s going to be challenged big-time this year,” Kenworthy said. “But she’s an amazing athlete.”
Goalkeeper Kristen Hicks also returns, and the senior allowed seven goals last year to rank among the state’s stingiest. Bethany Thompson is the Eagles’ other forward, and mid-fielders Lauren Meese and Hilary Wickes are scoring threats.
Offensive movement and defense were the Eagles’ strengths last year. Kenworthy said they must have better tactical play to match last year’s achievements.
“We are going to play some better schools, and we will need to have better movement on the ball and be more creative,” Kenworthy said. “Soccer is such a creative sport, and the girls are starting to grasp the concepts.”
Marion had won three consecutive sectional titles until losing the overtime shootout to the Eagles in last year’s final. The Giants and Eagles had played to a tie in the regular season.
Eighth-year coach Idowu Ikudabo lost only one starter from a 17-3-1 team with Ellen Callecod’s transfer. The Giants have 10 seniors, many of whom are beginning their fourth seasons on the varsity.
“I told the seniors this is the last time they will play together as a team and they’re never going to cross this path again,” Ikudabo said. “So, you have got to accomplish something.”
Besides regaining the sectional, the Giants seek a North Central Conference championship. The Giants came close to their first NCC title last year, finishing 5-2 and in a second-place tie.
Ikudabo hopes moving Alex Lester to forward will generate more offense. Midfielder Tamara Barrett is another offensive threat. Exchange student Camilla Laursen, Denmark, will start out in the backfield but eventually could join Lester at forward.
“She is a soccer player, and she will have a huge impact on the team,” Ikudabo said of Laursen.
Ikudabo always emphasizes defense, and he’s implementing a new offensive set this season. Ramie Harris returns at goalkeeper, and seniors Jackie Roorbach, Maddie and Molly Kuczora and Paige Clegg are fourth year standouts.
Marion and Oak Hill get together Sept. 3 at the refurbished Indiana Wesleyan University soccer field, and the match will be televised on WIWU-Channel 54.
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