The 2021 Ohio Wesleyan women's soccer team just missed a spot in the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament, and head coach Pat Ferguson and the Battling Bishops look to take the next step and qualify for the postseason in 2022.
"We have some upperclassmen leadership, and a really large group of underclassmen, and we're excited in the direction the program is taking," Ferguson said. "With 27 underclassmen, we'll take it a day at a time and get better each day."
The Bishops have an experienced defense, returning a pair of All-NCAC honorees in seniors Isabella Geiler (Cincinnati/Mercy McAuley) and Ellie Redman (Dublin/Coffman). Geiler was a second-team all-conference pick in 2021, and Redman is a 2-time honorable mention All-NCAC selection.
Sophomore Madison Cofer (New Albany) and sophomore Cami Womeldorf (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) also have starting experience on defense, and sophomore Katie Lucas (St. Marys/Memorial) also returns.
Sophomore Brynn Blackstone (Westerville/North) and sophomore Kaylee DeShong (Canal Winchester) are newcomers who transferred from Kent State and Tiffin respectively. Freshman Katie Adams (Lebanon) was an honorable mention all-district pick in high school, freshman Livi Hurst (Toledo/Central Catholic) won honorable mention all-state honors in high school, freshman Emma Schaefer (Lexington) was a 2-time all-conference honoree in high school, and freshman Isabel Truhey-Matzen (Durham, N.C./Durham Academy) was a 2-time all-region pick in high school.
Junior Abby Markley (Westerville/North) and senior Makayla Burzynski (Bexley) are back in goal. Markley saw action in 6 games last year, splitting 3 shutouts.
Freshman Natalie Ryan (Beavercreek/Dayton Carroll), a second-team all-state honoree in high school, will challenge for the starting spot.
In the midfield, sophomore Ryan O'Neill (Cincinnati/Maineville Little Miami) was an honorable mention All-NCAC choice in 2021 and sophomore Holly Counts (Canal Winchester) tied for third on the team with 3 goals -- including 2 game-winners -- last season.
Sophomores Emily Dunn (Hillsborough, N.J./The Hill (Pa.) School) and Mary James (Potomac, Md./Churchill) also are returning letterwinners, sophomore Ava Hurd (Grove City) is back as well, and sophomore Jaelyn Dodson (Cincinnati/West Clermont) looks to rebound from an injury-shortened season.
Sophomore Kayla Saikaly (Akron/New Franklin Manchester) transferred from Notre Dame (Ohio) College, freshman Maya Burlingame (Canton/GlenOak) was a first-team all-state selection in high school, freshman Avery Curtin (Galena/Olentangy Berlin) also looks to make an impact, freshman Halle Dacek (Middleburg Heights/Berea-Midpark) was a 2-time all-conference pick in high school, freshman Athena Kolettis (Northfield/Nordonia) was an all-district honoree in high school, freshman Paige Neal (Louisville, Ky./duPont Manual) was named her high school team's Most Valuable Player, freshman Tiffany Trinh (Dublin/Scioto) was a first-team all-district choice in high school, and freshman Emma Weber (Cincinnati/Walnut Hills) was a 3-time all-conference pick in high school.
Up front, sophomore Avery Maxeiner (Sunbury/Big Walnut) was second on the team in scoring with 4 goals and 2 assists and junior Ali Claus (Milford) tied for third on the team with 3 goals last season. Junior Ireland Nowak (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) moves forward from the midfield line.
Sophomore Morgan Scott (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) also returns, freshman Jaz Brooker (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) was an all-conference selection in high school, and freshman Mackenzie Smith (Westerville/North) also looks to contribute.
Ohio Wesleyan starts its season on Sept. 1 against Kalamazoo. The Bishops face Westminster, which ran the table in Presidents Athletic Conference regular-season play last season, on Sept. 4 in New Wilmington, Pa., followed by a date against defending Ohio Athletic Conference champion Otterbein. The non-conference slate also includes contests against 2021 NCAA Division III tournament team Trine and Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference runner-up Pitt-Greensburg. The NCAC schedule begins on Oct. 8 at Kenyon and includes matchups against defending champion Denison and 2021 NCAA tournament team Wittenberg. The NCAC tournament is scheduled for Nov. 2 and Nov. 5.
