Roster full of returning starters powers Hampton girls soccer

By: John Grupp
Sunday, August 25, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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The Hampton girls soccer team returns a loaded roster — and one bitter memory — for a 2024 season filled with expectations.

“It’s going to be a fun one,” said senior midfielder Gigi Rudy, one of 10 returning starters from a 15-4 team. “Right after the loss, we said ‘We’re not going to do that again.’”

“The loss” was a heartbreaking 2-0 setback to visiting No. 9 seed Elizabeth Forward in the first round of the 2023 WPIAL Class 3A playoffs, cutting short the Talbots’ season and giving the youthful roster something to think about for the next nine-plus months.

Hampton coach Bill Paholich said the loss, combined with the knowledge that every starting position player was returning, helped to forge a productive offseason.

“They all knew we weren’t losing anybody,” he said. “So all of the ones that were off-the-bench players for varsity last year have come back in better condition and better touches. It’s going to push everybody.”

Every player who scored a goal last season returns, including all-WPIAL midfielder Sara Kenst (18 goals) and all-section midfielders Olivia Hoffman (9 goals), a senior, and Molly Interthal, a junior.

The lone departure was goalie Isabella English, a four-year starter. Senior Olivia Graswick, who saw action in net last season as a reserve, will take over the starting job.

“I’m excited,” Graswick said. “I expect us to have good team chemistry and get as far as we can.”

Other returning starters are senior forward Kendall Hoolahan (12 goals), senior defenders Sydney Lewis and Maria Zebrine, junior forward Emma Langer (7 goals), junior center backs Adele Cole and Harper Struble and sophomore defender Kate Lewis.

The deep Talbots also welcome back senior midfielders Sophia Zebrine and Maggie Barnett, senior forward Alita Leone, juniors Maddie Ashford (MF) and Erin Baker (D) and sophomore Lexi Shane (MF).

“They know they have the makings of a solid team, if they play well together,” Paholich said. “We should be a good possession team. We should be able to knock the ball around, and we do have some speed.”

Paholich, entering his 12th season, said only one of his previous teams returned as many players — the ‘18 squad that ended up 18-6, reaching the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals.

This year’s Talbots saw their path to success become more difficult during the offseason. The WPIAL realignment dropped defending Class 4A champion Fox Chapel into Hampton’s section. Shaler, Penn Hills and Gateway also now call Section 1-3A home, along with perennial power Mars, a holdover. The four teams that left the section, meanwhile, combined to go 24-39-4 last season and none had a winning record.

The Talbots were set to open section play Aug. 28 at Mars.

“Our section is going to be brutal,” Paholich said. “Once we get to play Mars and we get to play Fox Chapel, we’ll see how we stand.”

The top four finishers will advance to the playoffs, something Hampton has done each of the past eight seasons.

“No. 1, you want to make the playoffs,” Paholich said. “Goal No. 2 is you want to last longer than just one game. … It should be interesting.”

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