ST. MARYS – Lady Rider head coach Nick Wilson returns the largest roster to date for a St. Marys squad coming off of a 10-6-3 season.
“We are a young team with a large roster of players who are excited for the season to get started” stated Wilson.
26 freshmen and sophomores will help lead the blue and gold attack this year, with many expected to become significant cogs in the Rider machine during their careers.
Last season the Roughriders finished 6-1-2 in the always tough Western Buckeye League with their only setback coming to eventual league champion Ottawa Glandorf. “Our primary goal is to win the league which is always incredibly challenging. We expect this season to be no different with tough competition from top to bottom” remarked Wilson on the challenge his teams league schedule represents in 2024.
Missing from the roster this season are All-Ohioans Aerial Fast and Ella Jacobs, a duo currently playing college soccer at Wright State and Heidelberg respectively that pushed the Riders to a 58-21-5 mark in their time on the high school pitch.
Ten starters return from 2023, including 2nd team WBL and District selection Sophia Menker, 3rd team WBL choice Kendal Davis, and Honorable Mention league pick Kelly Holsigner.
Also returning for the Riders are midfielders Emma Freewalt, Claire Turner, and Reese Rable. Defenders Jillian Tomberlin, Lauren Jacobs, Piper Triplett, and Caitlin Liette dot an experienced backfield for St. Marys.
Friday night lights sees the Roughriders kick off the season on the road on August 16th as they battle Dublin Jerome. Visits from Liberty Benton and Botkins open the home portion of the schedule at Roughrider Field on August 22nd/August 24th while league play opens with Grand Lake rival Celina on the 27th.
“After our challenging regular season we will focus on making a deep tournament run and hope that we are playing our best soccer come tournament time”.
*Photo courtesy of Paula Ankerman of Vibe Photography: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078046861952 *