Marlette Varsity Girls Soccer

Coach: Dave Hayden
Team’s record last year: league 14-1; overall 14-1
Key returning players, with comments: Mackenzie Kelly: Mackenzie will be the leaders of this year’s team. Mackenzie is one of three seniors on the team and will be the main offensive threat. Kelly is a three-year starter and letterwinner, along with being captain of the team. I believe Mackenzie is among the top three players in the league this year and also led the team in scoring. Alissa Bradeen is a sophomore who will also be a significant threat offensively for us. Alissa will be running the middle of the field along with Mackenzie. Alissa and Mackenzie have gained valuable experience working together in the off season and should control the game. Julia Hohman and Hannah Byers will be returning as forwards for the team this year, with both having good experience playing together. Julia and Hannah are both strong players with good speed. Olivia Gierman, Taylor Mitchell and Caitlin Quade will be filling the rest of the midfield positions for the team. Olivia has great speed and has really grown as a ball handler. One aspect about Olivia is that she has the potential to be a good leader. Olivia is not afraid to instruct the rest of her teammates while on the field and create scoring opportunities because of her willingness to talk and be aggressive. Taylor will be playing outside midfield for us and has also showed good improvement, giving us good depth at the midfield position. Taylor continues to improve daily and where she lacks in size she makes up for in determination and smarts. Caitlin will be a strong player for us out in the midfield. Caitlin did a fine job at center midfield this year, but because of necessity, will be moving to the outside mid position. Taylor crosses the ball well and this along with having good strength and crossing power, will make her a valuable player on the outside. Defensively,we will be young and relatively inexperienced this year, but Victoria Howe, one of the seniors, should be able to hold the group in place. Victoria is the defender that is usually assigned to the other teams scoring threat and usually able to contain that person. Scottlynn Breezee will play stopper for the team and will be taking the place of Destiny Bruderick, which is a huge loss for us, but Scottlynn is aggressive and likes to attack offensively, along with being able to win the ball in the back. Hailey Byers will be playing outside defense this year and brings a great deal of soccer smarts to the position, along with a great deal of intensity. Taylor Harneck will play sweeper for the team this year. Taylor is a player that could play any position on the field because of her athletic ability, along with her intelligence for the game. Taylor is aggressive when she needs to be, but also knows when to lay back and contain when necessary. Taylor will be missed for this year at the offensive end, but has unselfishly decided to play sweeper for us.
Key losses to graduation: Destiny Bruderick (Stopper), Ashley Lucik (Sweeper), Stevie Johnson (Goalie), Connie Cumper (Midfield)
Top new prospects: Sydney Ladd (Midfield), Brenna Kelly (Forward), Jennifer Newland (Forward)
Comments on this year’s team (strengths, weaknesses, goals): Although this year’s team is young, I believe we will be able to compete for league. The entire league seems to be getting better every year, making it tough for any team to win back-to-back , but if the girls play to their potential I believe we can win the league again. The league is competitive and equal this year so any team can come out on top.