Grant County girls soccer teams go through final tune-up at annual Jamboree

In an event that symbolizes the end of the summer and a new beginning filled with possibilities, all four Grant County girls soccer teams showcased their ability in the annual Grant County Girls Soccer Jamboree at Marion on Saturday afternoon.

Every team played a pair of 40-minute halves against two different area squads in an effort to test their readiness against other competition, reveal the areas in which they excel, and discover skills and aspects of the game in need of work going forward. Eastbrook went 2-0 with a pair of 5-0 shutouts, Oak Hill and Mississinewa each split their two contests, and host Marion finished 0-2.

Coming off their second straight regional final appearance, the Eastbrook Panthers look to be successful in 2020, despite suffering heavy losses on their defensive back line.

Sarah Foulk, heading into her senior year, is one of the best soccer players that Grant County has ever seen, scoring 103 goals in the past two seasons and several goals in each of Eastbrook’s scrimmages in the Jamboree. With players around her like Chloe McDaniel, Johwen McKim, and Naomi Diller, the Eastbrook offense will be lethal, especially in light of how well they move the ball around the formation.

“I would say the thing I have been most excited about and proud of the girls for is the fact that every single one of our players, all 28 of them, are controlled and very purposeful in their passing,” Hallis said. “That’s across the board. I think especially for this time of the year, to see that kind of play in an entire team is so encouraging.”

Hallis hopes that the Panthers will shoot for a deeper postseason run but believes that another sectional championship is well within their grasp.

“I think that a sectional is in reach,” Hallis said. “I’d be disappointed if we don’t get a sectional title this year, but these girls are awesome. They’ve been working so well together. As long as it’s beautiful soccer, I’m good with it.”

Of the four girls soccer teams in the area, Marion will have the biggest rebuild. Gone are program stalwarts like Ellie Vermilion and Taylor Kitts and in their place is a group of talented, but young players such as Kaylin Burke and Larielle Cox, who will be looking to make their mark.

“I think we worked hard and put in great effort,” Marion Head Coach Ben Hawk said. “But we still have a lot of work to do on some tactics and on placement. We’ve got a lot of new kids.”

However, Hawk has been pleased with the progress he has seen in the last month and wants them to continue to learn, have fun, and enjoy the game of soccer.

“I’m happy with the work that we have done over the preseason,” Hawk said. “I think we are pretty well on track with what was expected. My expectation is that they take the time to learn how to play the game.”

Much like the boys soccer team at Mississinewa, the Indians’ girls soccer team has a chance to be special. Seniors Alayna Webb and Taylor Ulerick, combined with rising sophomore Lia Luchetti, could form one of the most dynamic scoring lines this coming fall, and they showcased that potential throughout the afternoon.

“I am really excited,” Mississinewa Head Coach Andrea Wilson said. “Our top line is going to be really tough. They are going to be really fast. They are going to be tough to defend. We are going to see some serious goals from them.”

Savannah Herrera has made tremendous strides in net since taking the starting job in her freshman year, and Wilson expects her to keep growing throughout her sophomore campaign.

“I’m impressed with her, and I’m excited to see what the season continues to bring with her,” Wilson said. “She’s really been working hard and everything is starting to come together for her.”

All in all, the Indians will be a team to watch this fall.

“They just work hard, all the time,” Wilson said. “I think that as we got into our groove, you are really going to see big things from this team. I think this may be one of the better teams that has come through Mississinewa.”

Lastly, with a deadly combination up front in Carlee Biddle and Tegan Phillips, the Oak Hill Golden Eagles could surprise a lot of people. The two senior captains have combined on a plethora of goals over their high school careers, and the duo will look to continue that trend in 2020. Phillips was particularly impressive on Saturday, scoring a pair of stellar goals against Marion.

“They keep the motor running,” Oak Hill Alex Kenworthy said. “They don’t lose a lot of energy. They are girls who are extremely talented and can play anywhere on the field. I have to put them in a position that is going to be best for the team as a whole.”

Additionally, with key support pieces like Ruthie McDivitt, Melissa Kluevein, and Emily Scase, Kenworthy believes his team will take a major step forward.

“My expectations are high for this group,” Kenworthy said. “I think we have some extreme talent, and I think we have some girls that will really help us pretty quickly. That’s exciting to me.”

 

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