PENDLETON — A mix of veterans and youth will have to work together to find the right mix for the Pendleton Heights girls soccer team to be successful on the field.
Coach Mark Davy said he has 18 players with experience and 17 new players.
“It will be crucial for us to get the new players up to the right level,” Davy said.
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The Arabians’ opening two matches resulted in a win and a tie.
Megan Mills returns for her senior season. Mills is a forward, but last season she came in to play as a replacement goalie and had 80 saves for the Arabians.
This year she’s back at forward.
“We need her to take on the scoring,” Davy said.
Mills scored three goals in a 6-1 win against Lebanon Aug. 19.
Junior Macy Browning is a center-mid player and is the link between the defense and the forward. She’ll control much of the game and will connect with Mills. Browning picked up two goals in the Lebanon game.
Davy said the backbone of the Arabian defense will fall to the feet of senior Maddie Likens and junior Sarah Dix.
The mix of new and old has Davy excited for this season as well as looking to the future.
“Not to take anything away from our previous teams, but I think the opportunity for growth is larger than in the past,” Davy said. “The new ones are soaking up everything like a sponge.”
He believes with the right attitude and work ethic, anyone on this team has the potential to step up and make a real difference on the field.
“They’re good friends, and they push each other,” Davy said.
The Arabians were the Hoosier Heritage Conference champions two seasons ago, and Davy believes the team has a realistic chance of reclaiming the title.
New Palestine, Greenfield-Central and Mt. Vernon are the biggest threats, but those teams graduated several players from last year.
“We’re all kind of in the same boat,” Davy said. “This will be a fun challenge.”
As for the sectional, the Arabians proved last year they are competitors.
After playing to a 1-1 tie with Fishers in the sectional final game, the Arabians lost an 8-7 kick shootout.
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Pendleton Heights girls soccer roster
Seniors
Anna Childers MF
Maddie Likens D
Megan Mills F
Juniors
Emma Adams D
Macy Browning MF
Sydney Case D
Gracie Conkling GK
Anastasia Cotsoviles D
Dani Crehan MF
Kylie Davis MF
Sarah Dix D
Sadie Dodd MF
Rileigh Kartchner MF
Karla Mendoza MF
Emma Romine F
Sophomores
Kylea Lloyd GK
Shelby Goyer MF
Freshmen
Charlie Cannady MF
Alex Creel MF
Ellie Manchess D
Kaitlyn Prickett MF
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