EXETER – Nikki Sipkowski is looking for improvement from the Wyoming Area girls soccer team in her second season as coach.
“I have a nice core group of returning varsity players,” Sipkowski said. “I have big expectations for them.
“We have some experience. We have some quality newcomers to the program. We’ve practiced really hard; we’ve been conditioning for a long time.”
The Warriors, who went 3-11-1 in Sipkowski’s first season, face a tough start with Tuesday’s home game against Coughlin, the WVC’s second-best team with a 13-1-1 record last year.
“We have a tough schedule ahead of us, but I definitely think we’ll hold our own this year,” Sipkowski said. “We’ll be most consistent and competitive on the field.”
While there is experience returning at many of the starting positions, Sipkowski is still challenged to build the team’s depth.
“As years go by, we’re going to get more and more girls as long as we stay consistent,” she said. “We still have a relatively small team. I have 23 girls and I have several that have never played before.”
Senior Claudia Waltz and sophomore Erica Gallagher return to the forward line.
Junior Kara Dooner and sophomore newcomer Bella Waltz are trying to land the other spot in the three-forward alignment.
Senior Alee Petit returns as a defensive-minded midfielder. Daniela Vigueras also has some experience at midfield. They may be joined by freshman Aleah Kranson.
Seniors Jordan Kelly and sophomore Casey McNew have the middle taken care of in the four-defender backline.
Vicki Remley, a senior, is likely to handle one of the outside spots along with either juniors Ariana Pamias and Leah Moore or freshman Sydni Johnson.
Junior Caitlin Butchko returns in goal.
