OTTAWA – While Ottawa Glandorf made a successful run to the district finals last season the voice they hear from the sidelines this season will sound a bit different.
First year head coach Michelle Maag takes over for Chris Podraski who led last years group to a 12-4-3 mark that featured a 5-1-3 mark in the always tough Western Buckeye League and to a pair of tournament wins that featured a 10-2 combined score in favor of OG.
Maag who herself was an All-WBL performer for the Lady Titans soccer program returns a squad that returns nine starters from last seasons run including 11 letter winners.
Senior starters Emilee Horstman (two assists), Ella Okuley (two goals), and Abby Warnecke are joined by classmate Chloe Schroeder and will be looked upon to provide veteran leadership as well as lead the blue and gold brand off the pitch as well as on it.
While the Lady Titans top scorer from a season ago Kelsey Erford has graduated, Ottawa Glandorf’s second leading scorer Lily Haselman, a third team WBL selection returns and looks to add to a strong sophomore campaign that resulted in a dozen goals and seven helpers.
Junior standout Clara Beach also returns for the Lady Titans who finished with 10 goals and 11 assists on her way to Honorable Mention honors in the Western Buckeye League.
Second team WBL pick and multiple sport standout Myka Aldrich totaled 10 goals and eight helpers during her freshman season and is joined in the sophomore class by teammates Brianna Douglas (five goals, three assists), Madelyn Hovest (one assist), and Makenzie Recker (five goals, two assists) as players who made an impact last season.
Alexa Fortman, a junior who competed in cross country as well as soccer during the fall of 2020 is back after an eight goal, four assist season as a sophomore and will be counted on to help the Lady Titans put the clamps on opposing scorers while herself leading a group that netted 80 goals a year ago.
Multiple year starting goaltender Abby Warnecke is also back for her senior season. Between the pipes the last two seasons Warnecke has turned away 92 and 124 opponent shots respectively.
“We love to create chances in the attacking half and play quickly but we need to work on holding possession and our defensive pressure” remarked Maag on what her Lady Titans do well and what they need to work on as a unit.
Promising newcomers for Ottawa Glandorf include junior Emma Brinkman and a strong sophomore class consisting of Emberleigh Cutlip, Colleen Diller, Lauren Siefker, and Ashlyn Siefker. Freshmen Kaelyn Grothause, Makenna Siefker, Carlie Brinkman, and Megan Horstman will also look to jump in and produce when given their chances.
Maag said of her teams possible outlook this season, “The Lady Titans have a good core of returning players and a promising group of newcomers. We have a few holes to fill from players graduating last year, but the team has worked hard this offseason to improve their game. We have the ability to create attacking chances in many different ways, but will need to continue to work on playing well together and defending as a team. I have high hopes for the season and am looking forward to great competition in WBL play.”
Ottawa Glandorf opens their 2021 season on Saturday, August 21st at 6:45 P.M. when they play host to Evergreen in a game that will be broadcast live on WZOQ Radio .