Northridge won the Northern Lakes Conference title last year for the third straight time, finishing 15-3-2 overall and 7-0 in conference play. Goshen pushed them hardest, going 6-1 in the NLC and 8-7-1 overall. Both programs return significant pieces heading into the new season, according to a report by The Elkhart Truth.
Northridge coach Chris Malott said competition at the top of the NLC is expected to be stiff again. "I feel the NLC will be tough again this year across the top," he said. "We return a seasoned core from last year. Goshen and Warsaw also return some very talented players. Concord and NorthWood have some talent and I feel they may surprise some people. Plymouth has a new coach (Lindsey Stiles) and I think she will bring some good things to the program."
The Raiders, ranked 14th in Class 3A, will lean on four players who earned all-conference honors last season: Adelynn Miller, who scored 12 goals and added seven assists; Anna Garber, who contributed three goals and one assist; Brylee Yoder, who had one goal and three assists and made the honorable mention All-State team; and Halle Moeller. Malott said the group brings the kind of experience that matters in close games.
"We have a great group of returning varsity players who are very seasoned and have played in some very big games over the past couple of seasons," he said.
The biggest question for Northridge is in goal. The Raiders lost Lily Vasil to graduation. Vasil finished last season with 69 saves, 13 shutouts, and allowed only eight goals. She was an honorable mention All-State selection. Junior Allie Garber is expected to step into that role this season.
Malott said the team believes it has players ready to fill the gaps. "We graduated a couple of key players from last year's team, but we feel that there are several girls more than ready to step into those positions," he said. "We hope to be fighting for another NLC championship at the end of the season and be playing some good, organized soccer come sectional time."
Goshen returns 12 letterwinners, including all three of its main attacking players and an experienced defensive line. Goshen coach Myron Bontreger pointed to the central midfield as the area that needs to be sorted out after losing Lourdes Baltazar and Nereida Arriaga, both of whom were all-conference selections. Arriaga finished last season with six goals and 13 assists. Baltazar added two goals.
"That's a good thing," Bontreger said about the 12 returning letterwinners. "We have an experienced defensive line, and we return all three of our main attacking players. The big question will be our central midfield where we lost Lourdes Baltazar and Nereida Arriaga."
Key returners for Goshen include Jiana Camacho, who had 12 goals and eight assists and was a first team All-District selection, along with Kaycee Martinez, who contributed eight goals and three assists and made honorable mention all-conference. Destiny Sanchez, a first team all-conference pick, added six goals and two assists. Sydney McLaughlin, also a first team all-conference selection, returns as well, along with goalkeeper Abby Snyder and several other veteran contributors.
