PENNS VALLEY GIRLS' SOCCER PREVIEW

Head coach: Jeff Wiest (seventh season)

CDT photo/Gordon Brunskill

Returning letterwinners for the Penns Valley girls’ soccer team are, from left, front row, Tessa Deardorff, Alicia Lindsay. Back row, Brooke Lindsay, Liz Ventura, Robin Siegenthaler, Katie Deardorff, Jeanne Case.

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Assistant coaches: Jeff Smucker, Tom Deardorff, Michele Glasgow, Robert Sauerwein

Last season: 15-6-1, lost to Richland in District 6 Class AA final, lost to South Park in PIAA first round

Key losses: Greta Baier, Stacey Bryant, Kala Fultz, Alison Geesey, Katie Kreisher, Alicia Leitch, Ally Lush, Susan Randolph, Alyssa Araujo, Rachel Zerby

Returning letterwinners: Jeanne Case, Katie Deardorff, Tessa Deardorff, Alicia Lindsay, Brooke Lindsay, Robin Siegenthaler, Liz Ventura

The skinny: The Lady Rams are coming off two straight appearances in the district title match. ... They also experienced their first PIAA appearance last year. ... The team will have some major holes to fill with the graduation of 10 players, including seven starters, from last year’s team. ... Always producing strong turnouts at Penns Valley, the program has only 24 girls on the roster this year. Some may be forced to play in both the JV and varsity matches. ... Robin Siegenthaler, who saw some action in goal last season, figures to be the main keeper this year. ... Defense has experience with Alicia Lindsay, Tessa Deardorff, Jeanne Case, Leah Senator and Grace Gover. ... There may be movement through the season among midfielders and forwards as the team tries to find scoring with Liz Ventura, Katie Deardorff, Brooke Lindsay, Emily Jepson, Emily Holmes, Kerry Snyder, Leah Mothersbaugh and Katie Darr. ... Ventura is the leading returning scorer with nine goals. Katie Deardorff led the team last year with 12 assists.

Coach Wiest says: “I think if we can find out what we’re good at, what we’re capable of, we can be a solid team. I do think there are teams in the league that are much improved. We may be in some different situations than in the past. We’re a blue-collar team as long as we continue to do that, as long as we don’t have to deal with the injury bug, I think we’ll be fine. The injury bug has the potential to make us stumble this year.”