Girls soccer preview: Highland has return to state as goal

Highland and returning Gazette MVP Vanessa Zufall highlight Medina County's girls soccer teams this fall after the Hornets were 12 seconds from taking the Division III state title game to overtime against Bay. Highland moves up to D-II this season to join Wadsworth, which went 8-2-1 over the final 11 games to reach the district finals. Cloverleaf and Medina return as league champions, though the Bees graduated significant numbers, while Buckeye and Brunswick are looking to bounce back after learning some tough lessons and injuries last season. Here's a closer look at the county's six teams: Brunswick Coach: Scott Ward (13th season at Brunswick, 137-57-32 record; 15th overall, 155-66-41) Last season: 4-11-3, 2-3-1 (4th Greater Cleveland Conference) Key letterwinners lost: Bri Bradbury (HM All-Gazette), Claire Landfried (HM All-Gazette). Letterwinners: Rylan Sheets (All-Gazette, D, jr.), Peighton Railey (D, sr.), Sydney Rice (D, sr.), Meredith Mucha (D, sr.), Lily Shorts (D, sr.), Camryn Petty (M, sr.), Abbie Burgess (G, jr.), Abby Morgan (D, jr.), Cam Sheets (D, jr.), Natalie Davis (M, jr.), Katie Callahan (F, jr.), Kate Hubbell (M, so.), Kaila Peterson (D, so.), Delaney Clarke (D, so.) Newcomers: Hailey Zielaskewicz (M, so.), Natalie Verlinden (F, fr.), Julia Duffala (D, fr.), Addison Petty (M, fr.) Noteworthy: Ward noted exceptional leadership and accountability led by seniors Railey, Rice, Mucha, Shorts and Camryn Petty. l Other than an injury to Addison Petty (knee), the Blue Devils are healthy and welcome back a number of players whose injuries hampered last season. Buckeye Coach: Peter Byrnes (2nd season, 7-9-2) Last season: 7-9-2, 2-4-1 (6th Cleveland West Conference) Key letterwinners lost: Ruby Hudak (HM All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Charlotte DiEgidio (F, sr.), Julia King (D, sr.), Kaylee Limbert (D/M, sr.), Aubrey Keenan (D, sr.), Katie Rupanovic (M, sr.), Lyndie Whitford (F/M, sr.), Isabelle Krakowski (M, jr.), Morgan Penny (M/D, jr.), Grace Pronik (D, jr.), Avery Deringer (F/M, jr.), Carlie Gunkelman (G, so.), Claire King (F/M, so.), Maddy Wilhelm (Util., so.) Newcomers: Brooklyn DiEgidio (F/M, fr.) Noteworthy: The Bucks have great experience with seven seniors and young players that have versatile skill sets as they seek league and district titles. l Charlotte DiEgidio returns after missing last season due to injury. She was honorable mention All-Gazette as a sophomore after tallying 11 goals and five assists. Cloverleaf Coach: Guillermo Porras (13th season, 121-77-12) Last season: 14-2-2, 7-0 (tied 1st Metro Athletic Conference) Key letterwinners lost: Kierston Campbell (All-Gazette), Brooklyn Cavey (HM All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Hannah Hopek (HM All-Gazette, M, sr.), Kayla Shook (M/F, sr.), Jayce Krieder (F, sr.), Addie Evans (D, sr.), Stella Bennett (G, jr.), Kiersyn Berry (D, jr.), Lainey Manns (D, jr.), Abby Plowman (F, jr.), Nora Bammerlin (M, jr.), Gracie Habart (D, jr.), Katie Wershing (M, so.), Taylor Munchik (F, so.), Cassie Bohner (D, so.), Jalyn Miracle (M, so.), Anna Naftzger (D, so.). Newcomers: Keeghan Whitman (D, fr.), Kelsey Hall (M, fr.), Evalyn White (M, fr.), Emma Maricic (M, fr.). Noteworthy: Cloverleaf graduated six players from a squad that won a share of the MAC for the second time in three years. l The Colts should be led by their defense but also return two of last season's top three scorers in Hopek (16 goals, 13 assists) and Shook (13, 1). Highland Coach: Bill Zufall (8th season at Highland, 87-37-15; 14th overall, 161-64-32) Last season: 21-2-1, 7-0 (1st Suburban League American Conference), Division III state runner-up Key letterwinners lost: Grace Madison (All-Gazette), Marit McLaughlin (All-Gazette), Luisa Fragnoli (HM All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Vanessa Zufall (Gazette MVP, M/F, sr.), Hailey Trzaska (All-Gazette, G, sr.), Grace Shondel (All-Gazette, M/F, sr.), Jessica Sherman (HM All-Gazette, D/M, sr.), Emma Price (D/M, sr.), Avalynn Price (M/F, sr.), Abby Moore (M/D, sr.), Julia Madison (D/M, sr.), Morgan Hemming (D, sr.), Heather Hardesty (D/M, sr.), Katie Wetzel (D/M, jr.), Addison Helmlinger (G, jr.), Penny Dykeman (M/F, jr.), Jordyn Caples (F/M, jr.). Newcomers: Sophia Madison (F/M, so.), Amelia Price (D/M, fr.), Annie Howard (D/M, fr.). Noteworthy: While the Hornets are working to fill the gaps left by some significant graduation losses, they should be strong again and led by Zufall (19, 20), All-Gazette player Shondel (16, 11), Bowling Green commit Trzaska and honorable mention choice Sherman. l The Hornets are versatile and will be able to employ a number of looks. Medina Coach: Jason Rutkowski (5th season at Medina, 63-10-6; 13th overall, 137-55-30) Last season: 14-4-1, 6-0 (1st Greater Cleveland Conference) Key letterwinners lost: Caroline Schork (All-Gazette), Cara Petry (All-Gazette), Audrey Johnson (All-Gazette), Kellyn Miller (All-Gazette), Myiah Parente (HM All-Gazette), Larissa Eaton (HM All-Gazette), Letterwinners: Brianna McCashin (G, sr.), Caitlin Taylor (D, sr.), Ella Wilgor (M, sr.), Sydney Atkinson (F, sr.). Newcomers: Ashleigh Walburn (G, sr.), Becca Keserich (D, sr.), Ella Heinz (D, sr.), Whitney Howington (M, sr.), Ella Kautzman (F, sr.), Maggie Wolny (F, sr.), Alanya Yanmaz (D, jr.), Madison Kautzman (D, jr.), Holland Roller (M, jr.), Emma Carlson (D, so.), Nadya Clarke (M, so.), Sophia Lazar (F, so.), Annaliese Ebert (M, fr.), Emma McTigue (M, fr.), Naomi Sundermeier (M, fr.), Alexa Donze (M, fr.), Avery Atkinson (M, fr.), Olivia Saksa (M, fr.), Tallia Masternak (M, fr.), Noteworthy: With four returning varsity players and four freshmen, the Bees are going through a youth movement. l Sydney Atkinson (6, 1) is the top returning scorer from a team that scored 68 goals in 19 games last season. Wadsworth Coach: Paul Williford (16th season, 110-87-20) Last season: 10-7-2, 2-4-1 (6th Suburban League National Conference) Key letterwinners lost: Cece Craig (All-Gazette), Korrine Braunlich (HM All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Cameron Halleck (HM All-Gazette, D, sr.), Korrine Braunlich (HM All-Gazette, F, sr.), Athena Craig (HM All-Gazette, M, jr.), Reese Hassinger (M, sr.), Abby Wypasek (M, sr.), Natalie Moser (M, jr.), Lilly Haller (D, jr.), Leah Blake (D, jr.), Corrine Hinkle (F, jr.), Leah Gambaccini (D, so.), Piper Chadbourne (M, so.), Newcomers: Daniella Ripplinger (M, jr.), Ashley Valatka (M, jr.), Faith Rains (G, jr.), Lilly Gaeckle (G, so.), Kennedy Kavanaugh (M/F, So.), Cara Reedy (G, fr.). Noteworthy: The Grizzlies return eight starters from a team that won 10 games and reached the district finals for the first time since 2018. l Among the veterans are two of the three highest scorers in Braunlich (12, 6) and Athena Craig (11, 7). Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.