GLANDORF – Each of the last three seasons have ended the same for the Ottawa Glandorf Lady Titans, a trip to the state finals.
This season things will start a bit differently for the defending Western Buckeye League champs as the recent reclassification of divisions will see the Titans slide from Division 3 to the newly comprised Division 4. Conference foes Bath, St. Marys, and Van Wert along with rival Liberty Benton will also be making the move with the team.
Last year the Titans ended with a 22-2 record, WBL title and a 1-0 setback in the Division 3 finals at Historic Crew Stadium to champion Cincinnati Country Day.
All-American Myka Aldrich and All-WBL picks Mackenzie Recker, Bri Douglass, and Madelyn Hovest are among a group of eight departed seniors that finished with a 63-6-2 mark while setting multiple school records.
“Last year’s senior class was a big class who did a great job building the foundation for our program going forward” said Titan fourth year head coach Michelle Maag.
Leading the high octane Titan offense again this season will be 2021 All-American and All-Ohioan Makenna Siefker. Through her first three campaigns the senior to be found herself in prime position to finish teammates leads as she racked up 82 goals and sits just 11 from tying the school record of 93 held by Brittany Kiracofe. Last season Siefker surpassed Jackie Inkrott for most goals in a season by connecting on 36 makes.
“We’ve got a handful of key pieces returning from last year’s team. Makenna is one of our key offensive pieces, she’s a competitor to her core and has a natural ability to score goals in a variety of ways”.
Adding to the squads returning offensive prowess are sophomore standout Emma Heringhaus (10 goals/3 assists), junior midfielder Liv Grothause (3 goals/6 assists), and midfielder Delaney Duling, a junior who leads returners with 16 assists a season ago in addition to eight goals.
Defense has always been the name of the game for fourth year head coach Michelle Maag who brings back a block of players integral to last year’s eight goals allowed. Senior defenders Carlie Brinkman (2nd team WBL), Megan Horstman (HM WBL), and junior Savannah Recker (3rd team WBL) who are all multiple year letterwinners for the Titans will all return to anchor the squad on the back side.
“We have the ability to be a tough defensive team all across the field with a variety of players who can provide attacking prowess on our front line” opined Maag. “For the last few years we have been a defensive minded team, and that will continue into this season. We’ve got the majority of our back line and our goal keeper back and those are big strengths for us moving forward”.
Continuing on the teams defense Maag remarked “The Lady Titans return a strong defensive core and some key offensive pieces. We will look to continue to play at a quick pace, pressure our opponents, and score in a variety of ways” said Maag. “The team will be working hard to improve our defensive organization and our ability to hold possession”.
Goal keeper Karsyn Erford (Jr, 3rd team WBL) tied a school record with 19 shutouts in between the pipes during her sophomore season with three different streaks of six or more consecutive games not allowing a goal. Erford sent away 60 shots while allowing more than a single goal in just one game last season.
“Karsyn is returning this season as a much more experienced keeper after playing a big role in her first season in net last year”.
Ottawa Glandorf has won 10 straight games in the Western Buckeye League and will enter 2024 as the reigning champions. “It looks like it will be another incredibly competitive year in the always tough WBL. We are excited for great competition within the league, and we know we have to bring out best effort every game to get results” says Maag of the conference this season.
“This season we’re expecting an always challenging schedule within WBL play as well as a very competitive non-conference slate. We’ve got high hopes for the year and the girls are working hard to get ready for the season to begin”.
2024 kicks off on August 17th as the Titans travel to Whitehouse for a 1pm varsity start against Anthony Wayne. The first time Ottawa Glandorf will host at their own field in Glandorf will be four days later when Findlay visits.
Every Titan game this season can be heard on https://player.cloudradionetwork.com/wzoq/