HEATH ― Heath’s ever-expanding girls soccer preview featured 12 teams on Aug. 8, five of them from the Licking County League.
So coach Matthew Offers asked his Bulldogs, which played the first game at 9 a.m. and the last at 6:10 p.m. at Swank Field, to watch all of the teams on display and take one goal from each that they could apply to their program.
“We have seven brand new soccer players on the team, and no seniors, but 16 girls,” Offers said. “So it’s a building year. We’re working on our skills, working on connecting, and the bigger goal is next year. We could see the connection starting today.”
They proved to be quick learners. Talented junior midfielder Dakoda Dunlap went on a long run down the sideline, made a couple of moves and scored to put the Bulldogs up 1-0 barely five minutes in against West Muskingum. Although the Tornadoes rallied to win 3-1, assistant coach Kelly Bryan told them “that was the best effort as a team that we’ve had, and even when you got down, you kept fighting for each other.”
Sophomore Ayvah Evans had some nice saves in goal.
Observed junior Laityn Dennison, who earlier worked her way into position for a cross: “We got a run and it felt really good to get that goal. We worked hard for it. It was pretty exciting.”
It was a challenge for all the teams, playing back-to-back 40-minute games in 90-degree heat save for Heath, which met Bishop Ready in the morning. Northridge took on Ready and Sheridan, Granville faced Sheridan and Lancaster, while Watkins Memorial had Lancaster and Bishop Hartley.
Like Heath, Licking Valley is also building something under second-year coach Anthony Wedemeyer. The Panthers battled Hartley tough before falling 1-0, eventually wilting in the heat against Coshocton which was playing its first game.
“We also had a game last night against Maysville, so we were gassed,” said Wedemeyer, in his ninth year with the program. “But they beat us last year, and we played them to a tie. We have six seniors and 10 freshmen, and pretty small sophomore and junior classes in between. We’ll take some lumps, and it’s going to be a slow build. These early games are for our conditioning and getting our lungs to where they need to be.”
The talented freshman class gives them hope. They hold the school record for middle school wins and last year, went undefeated and won a championship in the fall.
One of the freshmen, Brinley Zimmerman, attacked the goal and delivered a nice cross into the box for a near goal against Coshocton. Another freshman, Claire Long, started in goal.
“They’re all so intelligent about the game, and they all played on a club team, which is unusual for Valley,” said senior defensive midfielder Allison Thoman, whose freshman sister Leeann Thoman is also on the team. “They’re going to lead the program to a good spot. I’m excited to see who becomes the leaders and captains. The future is bright.”
Dennison is likewise anxious to see how the new players catch on for Heath. She’s encouraged thus far.
“You can tell, they really want to learn,” she said. “All of them are really trying hard, and I can already see the difference.”
Like his program, Offers continues to grow the preview event. He also has taken over as president of the Central District Soccer Coaches Association.
“This is the fifth year for it, and as far as we can tell, it’s the biggest for girls in Central Ohio,” Offers said. “It’s important, because the girls haven’t always had something like this to play in. Lancaster is new, Bishop Hartley came back and it’s always good to have someone like Granville in it. As part of their entry fee, we provide game film to all of the teams from it.”
Added Dennison: “I was able to be a part of it my freshman and sophomore years, and we’ve always played the first and last games. It’s pretty fun, to be with friends all day and make new ones from the other teams. It’s good for our team bonding.”
The Bulldogs have another scrimmage against New Lexington on Aug. 13, before opening the season at home against Morgan at 10 a.m. Aug. 15. Watkins will host Westerville North in its opener at 7 p.m. April 14.
In other first games on Aug. 19, Granvile plays at Mount Vernon and Northridge is at Zanesville in the LCL, while Valley visits Lakewood on Aug. 20 in league play.
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Heath, Licking Valley girls soccer continue building at preview event
Reporting by Dave Weidig, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dave Weidig, Newark Advocate | USA TODAY Network
