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Barbara J. Perenic
Northwestern's Lauren Bischoff (3) and Cincinnati Madeira's Morgan Caesar compete for a ball during a Division II district championship game at Northmont High School's Good Samaritan Field last season. Staff Photo by Barbara J. Perenic
Warriors have tools to repeat 2010 success
Several top athletes from the area make-up Warrior squad.
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By David Jablonski,
Staff Writer
Updated 1:33 AM Saturday, August 20, 2011
SPRINGFIELD — No area girls soccer team suffered a more heartbreaking defeat in the tournament last fall than Northwestern.
The Warriors stayed with No. 1 state-ranked Madeira until the final 8 seconds when a direct kick from 30 yards away hit the back of the net in a Division II district championship game.
It was a tough way to go out, but the experience can only be a good thing for the Warriors this fall.
“It would have been a big upset,” said Northwestern coach Vicki Packard-Cooper, who was named the News-Sun All-Area Coach of the Year in her third season. “If nothing else, what we learned is we’re capable of more than we think we’re capable of.”
Northwestern returns 10 players, including News-Sun All-Area first team performers Lauren Bischoff, JoAnna Byrum and Jensen Kleis, from a team that finished 16-2-2 in 2010.
One day last week, when the Warriors didn’t have a scheduled practice, one of the players texted Packard-Cooper to let her know that 15 players had shown up on their own to run on the track.
“We’re fortunate to have such great athletes,” Packard-Cooper said. “The girls do have high expectations for themselves.”
One of the key players will be Bischoff, a senior defender who was the News-Sun All-Area Player of the Year last season.
“Lauren’s a smart player,” Packard-Cooper said. “She’s a hard worker. She has a great attitude.”
Bischoff underwent surgery in the spring after tearing ligaments in her ankle. Another starter, Allie Tenorio, also underwent offseason surgery. That’s one reason Northwestern has focused on conditioning in the preseason.
“They’re more physically fit than they’ve been since I started coaching,” Packard-Cooper said.
Three to watch
Individuals
Lauren Bischoff, Northwestern: She led a defense that limited opponents to 16 goals in 20 games last fall.
Alyssa Neff, West Liberty-Salem: The senior led the area with 24 goals in 2010.
Brooke Maletic, Catholic Central: As a sophomore, she ranked second in the area with 21 goals last season.
Teams
Northwestern: The Warriors return 10 players from a team that went 10-0-1 in the Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division last year.
West Liberty-Salem: The Tigers return 14 players from a team that set a school record with 10 wins in 2010.
Kenton Ridge: The Cougars return most of their players from a team that went 13-6 last season.
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