BY DAN STICKRADT
Communications Specialist | Web And Content Editor | Director of News |
Social Media Director | Interns and Freelance Coordinator
PH: (248) 884-1051
TW: @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
(Michigan Soccer Network Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt is compiling team capsules for over 460 girls soccer programs statewide. Email pertinent information to stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com. Follow on Twitter @msn_stickradt, @LocalSportsFans, or @MiSoccerNetwork and on numerous social media platforms.)
Competing Schools – Berkley, Birmingham Groves, Birmingham Seaholm, Clarkston, Farmington, Lake Orion, Royal Oak.
An asterisk* denotes the athlete may be playing Girls Academy of ECNL
SCHOOL: Berkley
HEAD COACH: Zach Hobson, fourth season
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 12-4-4, 4-1-2 OAA White Division (tied-third, 14 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Birmingham Groves (3-1); lost in D-1 district semifinals to Troy (4-1)
RETURNING STARTERS: Maeve Nolan, sr. M/F (All-League, All-District); Madeline Welsh, sr. G (All-League, All-District); Madi Bonsall, jr. M (All-District); Ava Sillars, sr. D; Danielle Nodler, jr. D; Hailey Kirkwood, jr. M; Jessie Burns, jr. M
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Addison Hambright, sr. F; Alana Horwitz, jr. M; Avery Weingarden, jr. M; Bryn Wightman, soph. D; Delaney Reed, jr. M; Isabelle Stephenson, soph. M; Nicole Charlton, soph. D; Noa Seeman, jr. M; Veah Green, jr. M
KEY NEWCOMERS: Addison Southwick, fr. D/M
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: With 18 returning letterwinners, Berkley has more players back in uniform than any other squad in the three-division Oakland Activities Association. The Bears should be in the hunt for the OAA-White crown this year and are seeking to climb up to the OAA-Red. Berkley tied its first game before the spring break, posting a 2-2 draw with defending MAC Blue Division champion St. Clair Shores Lakeview. … “I expect this to be a four-horse race between Berkley, Clarkston, Lake Orion and (Birmingham) Seaholm with Royal Oak not too far behind,” said coach Zach Hobson.
SCHOOL: Birmingham Groves
HEAD COACH: Reed Losee, first season.
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 9-10-2, 4-3-0 OAA White Division (fifth, 12 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost in D-1 pre-districts to Berkley (3-1)
RETURNING STARTERS: Morgan Perry, jr. D (All-League); Cabrey O’Gorman, sr. M (All-League); Camryn Pepper, sr. M/F (All-League); Delphine McLaughlin, sr. D; Lilia Chung, sr. M; Ava Brown, jr. M; Kendall Gaines, sr. F; Mikayla Benavides, jr. D/M (All-League)
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Ava Loiselle, jr. G; Sophie Bell, sr. M; Kate Nemeth, sr. M
KEY NEWCOMERS: Fanny Aixa, sr. G; Elise Everett, jr. M; Ellary Chung, fr. D; Jane Park, jr. M; Mallory Pepper, fr. M; Claire Pucko, jr. D; Waverly Schrauwen, jr. D; Juliette Shebib, soph. D; Irosha Takahashi, soph. M; Sophia Wilson, jr. F
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Coming off a rebuilding campaign and a middle-of-the-pack finish in the OAA White Division, Groves has a new coach in Lake Orion grad Reed Losee and former Northwestern University player Reed Losee. There has been a mixed bag of results early on, as the Falcons stand at 2-2-0 through April 9. Groves defeated South Lyon (8-0) and Lake Orion (2-1) but dropped decisions to Bloomfield Hills (2-0) and Clarkston (1-0). With 11 returnees including four All-OAA selections, Groves could very well be a sleeper pick here when all said and done.
SCHOOL: Birmingham Seaholm
HEAD COACH: Manuel Rodrigues
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 8-5-5, 4-0-3 OAA White Division (second, 15 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Royal Oak (2-0); lost in D-1 district semifinals to Bloomfield Hills (3-1)
RETURNING STARTERS: Camryn Geller, sr. F (All-District, All-League); Samantha Sickinger, sr. F (All-District, All-League); Taylor Hartwig, jr. D (All-District, All-League)
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: No names submitted.
KEY NEWCOMERS: No names submitted.
REMAINING ROSTER: Kate Drouillard, soph. M; Alexis Forina, sr. G; Maggie Graves, sr. M; Paige Green, jr. F; Clara Guffey, sr. M; Keira Kovach, jr. F; Brynlee Pratt, jr. F; Maggie Roble, soph. D; Sydney Ryan, sr. G; Avery Swartz, soph. D; Anoush Smith, sr. M; Ava Zimmer, soph. M
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Seaholm missed out on a league championship in the OAA White Division last season by one measly one point, finishing with 15 points and behind Oxford. The league race featured four teams that were mathematically in the hunt entering the final week of the league season. This year the Maples return three players that were All-League or All-District and several others that hope to help Seaholm contend for a league crown.
SCHOOL: Clarkston
HEAD COACH: Damian Huffer, seventh season
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 12-10-0, 1-5-0 OAA Red Division (seventh, three points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Swartz Creek (6-0); def. Oxford (6-2); lost in D-1 district finals to Grand Blanc (2-1)
RETURNING STARTERS: Emma Bradley, sr. M (All-District, All-League, signed with Saginaw Valley State); McKinlee Brumm, jr. D (D-III and NAIA recruit); Kennedy Mareches, sr. D (D-III and NAIA recruit); Macie Moscovic, sr. D/M (committed to NCAA Division III Baldwin-Wallace College); Izzy Shaw, sr. G; Nicole Lemker, sr. D/F
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Claire Thomas, jr. D/F; Emilia Cantinella, soph. F (12 goals, six assists as freshmen); Avery Eastman, sr. G; Channing Stoudt, sr. M; Ava Tereau, sr. F/M (injured last season; originally committed to Division I Delaware State but has reopened recruitment)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Sophie Winningham, jr. M; Alexa Knights, fr. F; Natalie Mora-Garcia, fr. M/F; Lana Sloan, jr. M (played Nationals Girls Academy last season); Avery Perkins, sr. M/F (played with Liverpool FC ECNL last season; NCAA Division I and Division II recruit); Ashley DeHassel, sr. M
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Clarkston finished last in the OAA Red Division last season and dropped down to the OAA-White. That was deceiving because the Wolves still had several college prospects on the roster and were in several close league games. Clarkston did however reach the district finals last season and should be a contender for a league title this season thanks to a large group of returnees and several more college prospects.
SCHOOL: Farmington
HEAD COACH: Tim Russell, 10th season
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 4-11-2, 1-6-0 OAA White Division (seventh, three points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost in D-1 pre-districts to Farmington Hills Mercy (6-0)
RETURNING STARTERS: Josie Puhl, sr. M (injured, out for season); Taylor Burney, sr.; Driana Johnson, sr.; Lydia Kamm, soph. M; Alessia Rroku, sr. F/M; Maddy Sypitkowski, sr. D; Teah Tremonti, sr. D/F; Alessia Smith, sr. D
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Leila Gjokaj, Sophia Koester, Anna Riley, Olivia West, sr. M
KEY NEWCOMERS: Lexi Capualungan, Bailey Judd, Sofia Pesci, Alexa Torres, Paige Williams
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: The rebuild will continue for Farmington and veteran coach Timothy Russell, who welcomes back a solid core plus welcomes a promising freshman class al who desire to record far more wins than four victories of last season and climb the standings. … “We will greatly miss Josie Puhl due to injury this season, but it is exciting to have so many eager freshmen on the team. Overall, we are young but we have some key senior leadership to help us learn and grow together.
SCHOOL: Lake Orion
HEAD COACH: Amanda Hutchinson, first season as full-time head coach
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 12-5-4, 4-1-2 OAA White Division (tied-third, 14 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Rochester Adams (1-0); lost in D-1 district semifinals to Rochester (4-0)
RETURNING STARTERS: Brooke Blackstock, sr. D/M (All-State Second Team; signed with NCAA Division I Oakland University); Erin Regalia, sr. D (signed with NCAA Division II University of South Carolina-Aiken); Kylie Kopitzki, jr. G; Kiera West, jr. D; Addie Verlinden, jr. D; Dylan Verlinden, jr. F
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Mackenzie Tabish, jr. F; Nadia Fedorinchik, soph. D; Katie Broth, sr. D (signed with Madonna University)
KEY NEWCOMERS:
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Amanda Hutchinson was a co-head coach with veteran Chris Corteg the last two years and now takes over the program. Corteg resigned back in December after coaching more than 45 years in Metro Detroit. The Dragons won a Division 1 district title in 2022 and were a respectable tied for third in the OAA White Division last season where the title chase went down to the final week of the league season. There is ample talent back this season and the Dragons should battle with Berkley, Clarkston and Seaholm in the league race this year. Lake Orion was also shuffled north to a different district this year, where they will compete with the likes of Oxford, Clarkston, Grand Blanc, Davison and flushing – all quality teams.
SCHOOL: Royal Oak
HEAD COACH: Melissa VanGorden, first season
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 5-14-0, 2-5-0 OAA White Division (sixth, six points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost in D-1 pre-districts to Birmingham Seaholm (2-0)
RETURNING STARTERS: Hailey Barnwell, jr. D; Grace Jagodzinski, jr. M; Kate Gooch, sr. D; Ceci Irwin, sr. F (Committed to Albion); Kat Malinich, sr. G.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Sophie Matthews, sr. D; Ryann Webster, sr. M (committed to Eureka College); Sarah Barnett, sr. D.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Hannah Spring, sr. G; Anna Waterstredt, sr. F (committed to Alma College)
Megan Haun, sr. M; Lucy Freytag, jr. M; Mary Coburn, jr. F; Reagan Mason, jr. F; Jordan Hills, jr. M
Kara Pickering, jr. F; Kaitlyn Eberhardt, jr. F; Caroline Bowman, soph. M/D.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Melissa VanGorden, a standout center back/sweeper at Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest in the late 1990s and a former coach with the Crusaders, takes over the Ravens program which are coming off a five-win season and has not been consistent since the merger of Kimball and Dondero in 2006. There is ample talent to work with, just someone to tie it all together. … “The Ravens, now more than ever, are focused on building a reputable program centered around the values of Respect Always, Vision of Excellence, Never Stop (RAVENS). The depth of talent and senior leadership combined with the renewed spirit and enthusiasm is sure to make a statement in terms of the direction the program is heading. The shift in mindset and playing style has already given the players more confidence. They are starting to see what happens when a group of athletes share a common goal while challenging and empowering one another every step of the way,” said coach Melissa Vangorden. “The OAA has had a lot of changes in terms of coaching and teams moving around, it should be a great year of competition and exciting games. Royal Oak is looking to make their mark and turn some heads along the way.”
2023 ALL-OAA WHITE DIVISION GIRLS SOCCER TEAM
(2023 grades and positions)
Korinne Ihrke, Oxford jr. G
Ella Boyd, Oxford jr. F
Ryan Walters, Oxford soph. F
Maddy Boyd, Oxford fr. M/F
Alexis Owens, Oxford sr. D
Alex Dawood, Oxford sr. M
Ava David, Birmingham Seaholm sr. D/M
Lexi Beckeman, Birmingham Seaholm sr.
Sam Sickinger, Birmingham Seaholm jr. F
Taylor Hartwig, Birmingham Seaholm soph. D
Eloise Roberts, Birmingham Seaholm sr. M
Maeve Nolan, Berkley jr. M/F
Alana Blatt, Berkley sr. D
Maddie Welsh, Berkley jr. G
Haley Stephenson, Berkley sr. D
Paige Charlton, Berkley sr. M
Grace Sullivan, Lake Orion sr. M
Momo Okuna, Lake Orion sr. D
Dillion Verlinden, Lake Orion soph. F
Erin Regalia, Lake Orion jr. D
Morgan Perry, Birmingham Groves soph. D
Camryn Pepper, Birmingham Groves jr. M/F
Mikayla Benavides, Birmingham Groves soph. D/M
Cabrey O’Gorman, Birmingham Groves jr. M
Jaiden Webster, Royal Oak sr.
Finja Moellenhoff, Royal Oak sr.
Gillian Iles, Royal Oak sr.
Mila Rustin, Farmington sr.
Caitlyn McLane, Farmington sr.
Leah Siskosky, Farmington sr.
(MSN will compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in results from high school varsity, club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
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