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Girls soccer: Shalom Christian has tough act to follow


GIRLS SOCCER

Cumberland Valley Christian Blazers

Coach: Paul Lundy, second year.

Last year: 2-7 (2-6 Mason-Dixon Christian Conference).

Returning starters: Maddie Keck (sr., def, goalkeeper, 2 assists last year); Bri Miley (jr., mid); Loryn Sanders (sr., wing, 1 goal, 1 assist); Sophie Bland (so., stopper); Imani Harper (jr., def); Shelby Heckman (so., wing).

Other top players: Tori Stouffer (jr., for); Emily Bard (fr., mid); Isabelle Beard (fr., wing); Kaitlin Provard (fr., for); Hunter Timmons (fr., sweeper); Sofia Robinson (fr., goalkeeper, def); Won Kim (fr., def); Ashley Bae (jr., def).

Outlook: Lundy said, "We only have 14 on the team; we can't seem to get those numbers up. But the 12 who will be playing the most are all soccer players, and I think we can make some noise. Our middle school team won the (MDCC) championship last year and we have five of those players on varsity now. Some of them came up and got some varsity playing time last year, too. I think Emily Bard will help with her quickness, and if our defense can hold, we may move Bri Miley up."

Notes: The Blazers played only 9 games last year and totaled only 7 goals ... CVC played with only 13 players last year to start the season ... Keck may start in goal, but expects to see some time on defense, too.

Season opener: April 4, at home vs. Heritage Academy, 5:15.

Shalom Christian Flames

Coach: Bill Poe, first year.

Last year:  16-0 (8-0 Mason-Dixon Christian Conference); won MDCC championship.

Returning starters: Brooke Kuhns (sr., def); Lydia Harris (sr., mid, 1 goal, 5 assists); Lexy Poe (sr., for, 14, 11); Brooke Emge (so., for, 15, 6); Lindsey Stenger (jr., def).

Other top players: Emily Martin (jr., def); Lauren Stains (so., def); Kylie Eby (so., goalkeeper); Caley Eyler (so., goalkeeper); Bethany Blank (jr., mid, 3 assists); Sadie Bland (jr., 1 assist); Abbey Naylor (sr., def); Maggie Keller (fr., for); Cassie Oberholtzer (fr., for); Sarah Priest (so., for, 1, 3).

Outlook: Poe said, "We have a nice group of core players, so I think we should have a good starting lineup. We have a lot of girls playing (23), and that gives us depth. We hope to be competitive in the league games and do well in the playoffs. We want to be there at the end again."

Notes: The Flames are on a 23-game winning streak ... Shalom has won two consecutive MDCC crowns ... The Flames scored 105 goals last year (6.65 per game) and their closest win was 3-1 over Calvary in the playoff semifinals ... Tori Yoder ended her sterling career last spring with 115 career goals, breaking the school record of Brandon Crider (111).

Season opener: Tuesday, at Shenandoah Valley Christian, 5.