Expectations high for Hampton girls soccer

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, August 27, 2017 | 11:00 PM

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Hampton girls soccer coach Bill Paholich had a problem last year. There were two girls with broken noses, another with a rolled ankle and inexperienced freshmen starting everywhere.

Paholich also had a solution. Let the seniors lead and the talented underclassmen showcase their skills. It led to the Talbots' first playoff appearance in Paholich's five-year tenure.

This year, he will be disappointed if there isn't a repeat postseason trip.

“We have a lot of young kids playing,” Paholich said. “We are focused this year on getting into midseason form, so for this group it was different. It's been a lot of fun.”

There are only two senior starters but lots of young talent.

The Talbots (9-8-1 in Section 3A-1) won't be surprising anyone this year, and expectations are as high as they've been in Paholich's tenure.

“I wouldn't say we feel pressure,” senior captain Hannah Syglowski said. “We are just excited to go in and see if we can do better than last year. It's not pressure to fulfill what we did last year. It's just how we can do better as a team.”

Last year's team-first mentality has carried over.

“A lot of times on different teams, some players just don't like each other,” Paholich said. “Not here. These players are looking out for each other and buying into the team concept.”

It helps to have success and get contributions all over the field. Many of the girls starting this year were on the bench at the beginning of last season, including senior goalie and captain Lauren Duderstadt, who became a starter midseason last year.

“Once she got the job last year, she just never let it go,” Paholich said. “She didn't make small mistakes. She's one of the hardest workers we have and continually wants to get better.”

Eight other starters return, including Syglowski, junior Abby Wolfe and sophomore Lanie McLaughlin on defense. Sophomore Maddie Dietrich will be the new face of the unit.

The strength of the Talbots will be at midfield. Amanda Moser and Sammy Joyce, both of whom suffered broken noses last year, return.

After making all-section last year, midfielder Courtney Coholich helped the Pittsburgh Riverhounds U19 team win a championship at the U.S. Club National Soccer Cup.

“Courtney may be small in stature but she's got a big game,” Paholich said. “She's very creative and makes things happen.”

Valerie Fischer will run the flank along with Joyce, and Emily Felitsky rounds out a group of junior midfielders with starting experience.

It gets younger up top with Logan Nicklas, who made an impact last year as a freshman.

“We're expecting her to just keep growing with the position,” said Paholich. “What's more important is she matched her goals with seven assists and led the team. She's a team player, not an ‘I have to score the goals' type.”

Suitable for a team that doesn't seem to care who's scoring the goals so long as the score for Hampton is more than its opponent.

“I think it all goes back to being team players on and off the field,” said Syglowski. “We're really close in school. Just being around each other all the time makes us feel really comfortable.”

Devon Moore is a freelance writer.

Tags: Hampton