Head Coaches Ken Snage and Randy McCoy are planning another dynamite season for the Lake Orion High School Girls? Soccer team.
Finishing with a record of 18-4-2, they managed 4th place in the nine team league, finished 11th in the states, and earned the district championship runner-up position when they lost the game to Utica-Eisenhower High Schools, 3-2.
Yet with a returning roster composed of a lot of last years star players, Snage said the team is more than up for the challenge.
‘For the seventh year in a row, we were up there in the rankings, and living up to that is going to be a challenge for sure,? said Snage. ‘But I’m looking forward to it, and I think the team is looking forward to it.?
Returning players are seniors Megan Malloy, Shannon Inglis, Alyssa Wesley, juniors Katy Wagner, Maddie Hutchison, Katie Rohlfs, Dana Schraben, and sophomore Hannah Kish. Yet despite the solid core of players who remained from last year, the team lost both its goal tenders.
‘We’re going to end up with anywhere from 10 to 14 more kids on the squad, and picking from about 30 kids who are battling for the spots isn’t going to be easy,? said Snage. ‘Twelve players graduated last year, including some of our starters, so I would say our biggest challenge is going to be revamping the team and getting the them to work together.
‘We’re strong in a lot of ways, and we’re new in a lot of ways – we’re not going to be last year’s team, but getting something new is not always a bad thing.?
Snage said a number of the returning players, including Malloy, Wagner, Wesley, and Inglis have really stepped forward to help lead the team. He added that all of the team’s seniors are three year players, and that they have really been stepping up to set an example.
‘These girls are at every winter workout, and all of them have done very well in getting prepared for the upcoming season,? said Snage. ‘We look forward to them carrying the group and giving us another good season.?
Snage is in his thirty-ninth year coaching sports, and has taught ‘pretty much everything besides bowling and lacrosse.? He is currently in his ninth year as head coach of the girls? soccer team, but gave a great deal of credit to co-head coach Randy McCoy.