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If you watched Montoursville's girls soccer team play over the last three years, then no doubt you witnessed Natalie Bennet and Emma Wood shutting down opposing forwards and midfielders.
It's what the duo did best. And unfortunately for opposing scorers, those two are both back again this year.
In other words, expect Montoursville to once again boast an outstanding defense.
"They will be crucial to bringing the defensive unit together," Montoursville coach Vic Gorini said. "Kenna Bennett started for us as a freshman in the defensive midfield last year and will also play a key role in our defensive unit this year."
Last year, Montoursville capped its fourth undefeated regular season in school history as the 2022 team joined the 2016, 2011 and 2008 Warriors as the only ones to do such. Montoursville also captured its first league title last year since 2017.
While Montoursville's offense was solid — it accounted for 73 goals — the defense was just as good as the back line and goalies allowed just six goals all season.
"We lost a couple four-year starters off our back line, but we do return some experienced and talented defensive players and our senior goalie Anna Baylor will be the starting keeper," Gorini said. "Anna has allowed very few goals over the past three years, so we are hopeful that another solid defensive unit will come together throughout the season."
Baylor was a wall in goal last year for Montoursville.
Offensively, Montoursville brings back Emma Cline, Bryn Jacopetti, Nyla Kutney and Jayden Phillips, all of whom are seniors who can open up the offense.
Gorini and the Warriors expect for another successful season.
"We expect to compete well with any opponent and plan to have another exciting season playing against some o the best teams in the state," Gorini said. "We will face Central Columbia to start the season and South Williamsport a couple days later in our tournament."
Central Columbia went 25-0 last fall and won the Class AA state championship and South Williamsport reached the Class A state semifinals, losing to eventual state champion Southern Columbia. Both will be huge tests for the Warriors early.
Williamsport lost a tough District 2-4 Class AAAA semifinal to Wyoming Valley West last year, 3-2, to come a game shy of vying for a district championship. Williamsport coach Beckham Sibiski expects his girls to rebound and once again compete.
"I am expecting to build off of a good year last year. With a lot of girls returning with varsity playing experience, as well as gaining a year of coaching experience myself, I do believe we are certainly in a position to compete for the district title," Sibiski said. "I hope to continuously grow as a team throughout the season, so that we are at our best come late October, early November."
Williamsport has plenty returning as well in senior Elizabeth Shultz, senior Ella Wilson, junior Nylah Ford and sophomore Jaelynn Helmrich.
Shultz led the team with 13 goals and six assists last year, Helmrich scored six goals and dished out six assists and Ford had four goals and six assists.
In other words, plenty of offensive weapons are back for the Millionaires. Williamsport will have to replace Sarah Spring, a standout goalie last year who averaged 7.4 saves per game and recorded 147 with six shutouts.
Last year, four freshmen started in just about every game for Williamsport in Adrianna Moyer, Adisyn Zangara, Helmrich and Deborah Shultz. And for Sibiski, he sees them improving their game this fall.
"I am expecting them to continue making strides to impact our team's performance, along with a multitude of other sophomores that will play bigger roles than last year, such as Emma Poole, Cali Reed and Kyna Varner," Sibiski said. "Additionally, freshmen Breah Phillips and Mylee Bennett have shown great upsides and versatility through the middle school season and throughout the preseason."
After four years coaching Lewisburg, Terry Gerlinski stepped down and Fernando Ortiz will take over this year. The Green Dragons are coming off a 13-8 season in which Lewisburg lost to eventual state champion Southern Columbia in the District 4 Class AA final.
Lewisburg had to run a gauntlet late in the year by winning seven consecutive road games in order to secure a district playoff spot. And while Lewisburg has plenty back from last year's team and valuable experience, nothing is given when it comes to the game of soccer.
"I don't like counting chickens before they hatch, but we definitely have the talent for a repeat of last season," Ortiz said. "If we come out swinging, we should do well. These girls are eager for the start to begin. The indications are there already, and we're only halfway through preseason week."
Sophie Kilbride and Mikayla Long both graduated, leaving the Green Dragons to replace two league all-stars who combined for 23 goals and 12 assists.
"Soph and Mika, no doubt, are big shoes to fill. I'm confident the players who are going to replace them will be ready to assume those responsibilities," Ortiz said. "I have a few options that I'm still working with and hope to finalize in the next two weeks."
The Green Dragons do have three players who had experience last year in goal in Izzy Wood (11 games, McKenna Meadows (13 games) and Emma Hopkinson (five games) who all saw significant minutes. It gives Lewisburg plenty of choices and options between the posts.
"Three very much so talented skill keepers. It's definitely a nice problem to have," Ortiz said. "I'm expecting to implement a modified keeper schedule that will afford each one an opportunity to accumulate some varsity time."
Central Mountain didn't have the best of seasons last year regarding wins but, for coach Ryan Veltri, he's trying to create a culture and build the program back up to heights it once was.
"We have been on the back foot the past two years, trying to rebuild the program and create a culture that resembles teams of our past. It doesn't help playing one of the toughest leagues in the state. The biggest takeaway from last year was the playing experience of the upperclassmen," Veltri said. "We graduated three from last year and returned 14 girls who had a lot of experience last season. We are hoping that will give them the confidence going into this year. The biggest factor the last two seasons were our numbers. They hindered our ability to compete."
Veltri noted that the program is growing with a larger roster this year, giving the Wildcats more players to step up and help the team excel.
The Wildcats' coach noted he wants to build a culture that encourages a family atmosphere, following the cor values of the program, making sure they are well led and playing for one another to put the program first.
"We hope to be more competitive this season, find ourselves mixing it up in the PHAC and turn some heads with our style of play," Veltri said. "Our expectations are to get enough wins to qualify for districts, a place that this program has a tradition of and we need to get back there."
Back for Central Mountain include Taylor Campbell, Lily Hendricks, Halle Lodek and Julia Smith. There's also Danica Kelly, Samiah Anderson, Jaz Anderson and Archie Walker that can step up and help the team.
"We also have a few freshmen who have really dedicated themselves to getting better." and had a great club year. We will hope to get them some minutes and prepare them for the future," Veltri said.
Sarah Eck will take over at Jersey Shore this fall and will look to continue building the Bulldogs program. Jersey Shore won just two games last year, but showed promise throughout games.
The Bulldogs do have some holes to fill, most notably in the graduation of three HAC-I all-star selections. Jersey Shore lost Devon Walker (second-team forward), Avery Maihle (second-team midfield) and honorable mention all-star Aliyah Neece to graduation. All three stepped up on the field.
Neece and Walker both led Jersey Shore last year with seven goals apiece. In addition to Neece, Walker and Maihle, Jersey Shore also lost senior Ella TenEyck to graduation. That foursome scored all of Jersey Shore's goals last year, meaning the Bulldogs will have to see others step up offensively and put goals on the board.
But while that trio has graduated, Jersey Shore does have a plenty back who saw time last year on the field. That includes second-team HAC-I defender Piper Wagner who will look to help solidify the defense as a junior this year. The Bulldogs also saw Rees Bierly step up last year as a freshman as she obtained HAC-I honorable mention all-star honors.
Also back from last year's roster is Rayne Herritt, Kate Butzler, Ali Sweeley and Leena Loomis.
Another hole that Jersey Shore will look to fill will be in goal, as Grace Welshans graduated last year after playing all year between the posts. However, the Bulldogs do bring back Bryanna Witt, a senior this season, who saw valuable time in a handful of games in goal.
CENTRAL MOUNTAIN
Coach: Ryan Veltri
Assistants: Courtney Yourchak, Laurne Heimer, Rebecca Leuthold, Kylie Auman
League: HAC-I
Last year: 1-15-1 (0-5 HAC-I)
Roster: Seniors: Samiah Anderson, Taylor Campbell, Paige Coner, Elise Cygan, Madison Hardy, Lily Hendricks, Danica Kelly, Halle Lodek, Haleigh Peters, Julia Smith, Morgan Temple. Juniors: Archie Walker, Rhys Grubb, Jaslyn Anderson. Sophomores: Kaelynn Braun, Sarah Hall, Sophia Hoy, Remington Veltri, Sarah Levelle. Freshmen: Avery Wagner, Cara Seyler, Eva Mitchell, Kaylie McCLoskey, Camry McCann, Emme Madigan, Leah Karstetter, Cayman Hill, Leah Feerrar, Harper Conklin.
JERSEY SHORE
Coach: Sarah Eck
Assistants: (not available)
League: HAC-I
Last year: 2-13-1 (0-5 HAC-I)
Roster: (not available)
LEWISBURG
Coach: Fernando Ortiz
Assistants: Jeremy Lauver, Emaleigh Greb, Lisa Boden
League: HAC-I
Last year: 13-8 (5-1 HAC-I) (def. Bloomsbug 2-1 OT in District 4 Class AA quarterfinals; def. Montoursville 2-1 2 OT in semifnials; lost to Central Columbia 3-0 in championship; lost to Wyomissing 2-1 in first round of states)
Roster: Seniors: Isabelle Wood, Mckenna Meadows, Ella Koontz, Kara Brazier, Addison Altoft. Juniors: Madison Vanbuskirk, Faridah Aboueid, Alyssa Rivera, Caroline Blakeslee, Maria Bozella. Sophomores: Kate Batkowski, Alivia Kohl, Ava Satteson, Laurel Boyer, McKenna Eardley, Teagan Osunde, Emma Bolton, Julia Monaco, Madeline Lesher, Jillian Kostic, Katie Houtz, Emma HOpkinson. Freshmen: Ava Faust, Adreeyana Ren, Jasmine Erickson, Nora Hockenbrock, Ava Roupp, Brynn Lauver, Claire Driver, Haley Hakes.
MONTOURSVILLE
Coach: Vic Gorini
Assistants: (not available)
League: HAC-I
Last year: 19-1 (8-0 HAC-I) (league champs; def. Milton 4-2 (SO) in District 4 Class AA quarterfinals; lost to Lewisburg 2-1 2 OT in semifinals)
Roster: Seniors: Emma Cline, Reese Bainbridge, Jillian Irion, Nyla Kutney, Carlie Bryant, Ava Lilley, Bryn Jacopetti, Marissa Hartland, Emma Wood, Natalie Bennett, Jayden Phillips, Emily Carson, Anna Baylor. Juniors: Paige Boyle, Sidney Boyle, Leah Kaufman, Avery Selleck, Madelyn Metzger, Hannah Means. Sophomores: Kenna Bennett, Mylie Herr, Ava Edmonds, Raigan Fredericks, Becca Teffeteller, Rowan Fortin, Ellyse Boyle, Julia Breon, Faith Berwanger, Sydney Kuntz, Margo Steinbacher, Tori McKenna, Taryn Jacopetti, Adele Dunkleberger.
WILLIAMSPORT
Coach: Beckham Sibiski
Assistants: Macy McCarthy
League: HAC-I
Last year: 10-10 (3-5 HAC-I) (def. Scranton 5-0 in District 2-4 Class AAAA quarterfinals; lost to Wyoming Valley West 3-2 in semifinals)
Roster: Seniors: Natani Wright, Kyasia Ruff, Ella Wilson, Abby Mahon, Elizabeth Shultz, Lillyana Sponhouse. Juniors: Nylah Ford, Maci Shirey, Eleanor Macdonald, Marissa DiMarco. Sophomores: Deborah Shultz, Katerine Pena, Elliana Hayward, Linah van Emrik, Emma Poole, Adisyn Zangara, Adrianna Moyer, Kyna Varner, Samantha Davis, Grace Hale, Calissa Reed, Olivia Godfrey, McKylee Vollman. Freshmen: Hannah Baird, Mylee Bennett, Breah Phillips.