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Class 3A
Hazleton Area
Coach: Jim Paisley
2014 WVC record/finish: 3-12-1
2014 Postseason: Lost to Williamsport 2-0 in first round
Key returners: Seniors – Madison Polombo (2g-2a), Michelel Stojkov; Juniors – Summer Paisley (1a), Nancy Cruz (GK); Sophomore – Halene Yencha (1g)
Outlook: “I’m excited about the upcoming season. We lost 12 seniors last year, including six starters; however, we’ve got some great young talent coming up,” Paisley said. “There’s great potential to have an excellent campaign. We have faster team speed, quickness and ability than in previous seasons. This team is very disciplined and dedicated to working hard. We’ve been challenged to be selfless, team-first oriented.”
Pittston Area
Coach: Nicole Tieso
2014 WVC record/finish: 13-4-1
2014 Postseason: Lost to Central Bucks West 3-0 in PIAA first round. Beat Williamsport 2-0 in district championship. Beat Wyoming Valley West 3-2 in semi.
Key returners: Seniors – Maddy Mimnaugh (13g-7a), Sam Mayers, Tiffany Tubioli; Juniors – Taryn Ashby (GK), Kayla Hogan
Outlook: “The seniors and upperclassmen have been showing great leadership, hard work, and determination during our preseason training,” Tieso said. “We have graduated many starters from our team last year, so we will be a young team this year looking for the younger players to step up in many positions. As long as we mesh and continue to work hard, we feel that we should be competitive in all of our matches.”
Wyoming Valley West
Coach: Deb Stevens
2014 WVC record/finish: 9-8
2014 Postseason: Lost to Pittston Area 3-2 in semi. Beat Delaware Valley 2-0 in first round.
Key returners: Seniors – Emma Bakewell (1a), Megan Menzel (3g-3a), Audrey Williams; Junior – Lauren Thoryk; Sophomore –Tiffany Michalek (6a)
Outlook: “We graduated several key players but are confident we will fill these positions with competent athletes,” Stevens said. “Through a combination of new talent and senior leadership, we expect to improve with each match. The team is exhibiting good energy and teamwork at practice.”
Class 2A
Berwick
Coach: Paul DiPippa
2014 WVC record/finish: 12-3-2
2014 Postseason: Lost to Abington Heights 2-0 in quarterfinal. Beat Honesdale 6-2 in first round.
Key returners: Seniors – Karen Boone, Raina Goulstone
Outlook: “With 9 seniors graduating from last season all starters (15-4-2) and 10 incoming freshmen, we are looking to work hard, gel together as a team,” DiPippa said. “(We hope to) improve each week in order to be competitive in the conference.”
Coughlin
Coach: Joe Spagnuolo Jr.
2014 WVC record/finish: 15-2-1
2014 Postseason: Lost to Dallas 2-0 in semi. Beat Holy Redeemer 4-0 in quarterfinal. Beat Tunkhannock 6-0 in first round.
Key returners: Seniors – Bre Georgette (3g), Tiki Bonilla (1a), Hailee Dumont (6g-8a), Mary Tona (35g), Emma Sukowaski (6g-14a), Casey Lello, Cassidy Steligo (2g-1a), Emily Glycenfer (1g-1a); Juniors – Skyler Panattieri (2a), Paige Davis (GK); Sophomores – Megan Gurnari (2g-3a), Kendall Pearage (5g), Casey Salinas (1g-1a)
Outlook: “We only graduated two starters from last season, but replacing them will not be easy,” Spagnuolo said. “Our goal is to compete for league and district titles as it is every year. There are a lot of quality teams this year, but with the returning core from last season and the addition of bright newcomers we hope to be in that mix.”
Crestwood
Coach: Russ Kile
2014 WVC record/finish: 11-6
2014 Postseason: Lost to Scranton Prep 3-1 in quarterfinal. Beat Lake-Lehman 3-1 in first round.
Key returners: Seniors – McKenna Mera (GK), Bree Fetterman (7g-13a), Amy Loveless (1g); Juniors – Lexi Gaetano (1g-5a), Taylor Herron, Emily Traficante. Sophomores – Sam Brumagin (10g-4a), Taylor Tomalinas (4g-1a), Madison Krawontka (1a)
Outlook: “Once in a while the coaches get the keys to the Ferrari,” Kile said. “We’re hoping this is one of those years where the incoming freshmen work hard and elevate everyone’s ability.”
Dallas
Coach: Abe Lewis
2014 WVC record/finish: 21-1
2014 Postseason: Lost to Villa Marie 5-0 in PIAA quarterfinals. Beat Montoursville 1-0 in PIAA first round. Beat Scranton Prep 2-1 for district championship. Beat Coughlin 2-0 in district semi. Beat Valley View 10-0 in second round. Beat Western Wayne 11-0 in first round.
Key returners: Seniors – Tiffany Zukosky (5g-17a), Katie Snedeker (6g-10a), Ruby Mattson (23g-23a), Kyleigh Kravits. Sophomore – Samantha Mazula (3g-3a)
Outlook: “We will be an overall young team this season. It will take a few games to gel together and form a good understanding on the field,” Lewis said. “I expect there to be stiff competition for playing time this season as we have very talented players. Our goal is to improve each week and put ourselves in a good position to be successful for a run in the district playoffs.”
GAR
Coach: Roberto Colin
2014 WVC record/finish: 3-13
2014 Postseason: Lost to Hanover Area 6-1 in play-in game.
Key returners: Juniors – Rachael Stucker, Ashley Banos (1g-1a)
Outlook: GAR struggled in its first season since the rebirth of its program. Losing All-WVC player Paige Elmy to graduation, the Grenadiers will rest their offense on her younger sister Skylar to improve upon their three-win season.
Hanover Area
Coach: Brian Bannon
2014 WVC record/finish: 4-14
2014 Postseason: Lost to Scranton Prep 7-1 in first round. Beat GAR 6-1 in play-in game.
Key returners: Seniors – Amelia Hossage (4g), Michelle MacNair. Juniors – Gillian Barber (1g), Shannon Keating. Sophomores – Nadia Lamoureaux (3g-2a)
Outlook: The Hawkeyes bring experience to the fold this year. Hanover Area returns the majority of its offense from a year ago. Replacing Alyssa Konetski and Larissa Bannon will be a deciding factor whether or not the Hawkeyes jump to the middle of the table.
Holy Redeemer
Coach: Robert Hughes
2014 WVC record/finish: 11-4-2
2014 Postseason: Lost to Coughlin 4-0 in quarterfinal. Beat Nanticoke 4-0 in first round.
Key returners: Seniors – Lydia Lawson (30g-12a), Leann Wasiakowski, Sarah Flannelly, Gabby Tomasura (GK), Alyssa Christian (1g-1a). Juniors – Nicole Cavanaugh (8g-7a), Autumn Kaminski (5g-14a), Julia Adams. Sophomores – Emily Bush, Nicole Kerestes (3a), Morgan Luksic (1g-1a)
Outlook: “We are looking to build upon last season, we have a few starting spots open this year due to graduation and there has been good competition for those spots,” Hughes said. “We are hoping that as the season progresses we can gel as a team and make a run in the district playoffs.”
Lake-Lehman
Coach: Kelly Adamshick
2014 WVC record/finish: 9-7
2014 Postseason: Lost to Crestwood 3-1 in first round.
Key returners: Seniors – Julia Hutsko (4g-7a), Kaitlin Sutton (2g-2a), Kaylee Kishbaugh (GK). Sophomores – Kyra Apalski (2g-4a), Amanda Ayers (4g-5a), Mackenzie Love (16g-8a), Kait Premus (1g-1a)
Outlook: No team had a strong set of young players last year than Lake-Lehman. The Black Knights started last season on top of the standings before coming back to earth down the stretch. Lake-Lehman shocked Pittston Area with eight goals last year, surely a preview of the offensive onslaught to come in 2015.
Nanticoke
Coach: Rich Compton
2014 WVC record/finish: 8-8
2014 Postseason: Lost to Holy Redeemer 4-0 in first round.
Key returners: Senior – Lexi Seery (GK). Junior – Riley Klepadlo (14g-3a). Sophomore – Katie Butczynski (3g-3a)
Outlook: Perennial cellar dweller Nanticoke were the surprise team of 2014, finishing with a .500 record. Riley Klepadlo has quietly been an offensive force for two years. The Trojans picked up a big 2-1 victory over Tunkhannock to start the season.
Tunkhannock
Coach: Bill Melan
2014 WVC record/finish: 3-12-1
2014 Postseason: Lost to Coughlin 6-0 in first round
Key returners: Senior – Hailee Melan; Juniors – Kailee Davies, Nicole Macko (1g)
Outlook: “We lost nine seniors last year, eight of whom were starters,” Melan said. “It will be a very tough year, basically a rebuilding year. My returning sophomores fill in their roles, most didn’t see a lot of varsity experience.”
Wyoming Area
Coach: Nikki Sitkowski
2014 WVC record/finish: 3-12-1
2014 Postseason: Lost to Abington Heights 3-0 in first round
Key returners: Seniors – Alee Petit (4g), Daniela Vigueras, Claudia Waltz (1g), Jordan Kelly, Vicki Remley; Juniors – Caitlin Butchko (GK), Ariana Pamias, Eden Stella, Leah Moore (1a); Sophomores – Erica Gallagher (8g), Casey McNew
Outlook: “I have high expectations for this group of girls this year,” Sitkowski said. “We have brought back a solid core group of girls with varsity experience. With the addition of several new key players I feel we will be much more competitive and consistent on the pitch than in recent years.”
Class A
Meyers
Coach: Brynn Nargoski
2014 WVC record/finish: 0-13-1
2014 Postseason: Lost 2-1 to Holy Cross in first round
Key returners: Senior – Alexis Yanora. Junior – Kayley Nilon (5g). Sophomores – Maria Franckiewitz (1g), Erin Morris (1g-1a)
Outlook: The Mohawks failed to get a win in 2014, despite coming ever-so-close in their playoff game at Holy Cross. Brynn Nargoski takes over for Thomas Leighton Jr. as head coach.
Wyoming Seminary
Coach: Erin Griffin
2014 WVC record/finish: 3-11
2014 Postseason: Loss 2-1 (OT) to Holy Cross in second round
Key returners: Seniors – Natalie Meagher, Katie Paglia; Junior – Alyssa Kristeller
Outlook: “We have very good numbers and some skilled players, both returning and new,” Griffin said. “While we have work to do with all players and in all positions, we are looking forward to the upcoming season as we continue to build a solid fall program.”