
Lyla Rehill, shown here in a district semifinal victory over Wyoming Seminary, is among eight returning starters on the Wyoming Area field hockey team, which seeks to repeat a division title.
File Photo
The Wyoming Area field hockey team is running out of new territory to cover.
The Lady Warriors, who broke new ground in each of the past two seasons, will look to continue that success behind a lineup that returns four players who received all-state recognition a year ago.
Senior midfielder Lyla Rehill led in assists and points last season when she had 18 goals and 21 assists on the team that won the first Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 title in school history. She was a first-team selection in Class A on the all-state team named by the Pennsylvania State Field Hockey Coaches Association.
Rehill had been an honorable mention, all-state choice the year before when Wyoming Area followed up a District 2 title by making its first appearance in a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state championship game.
Ella McKernan, Lucia Campenni and Ainsley Flynn also return.
McKernan, a senior forward, was a second-team choice after scoring eight goals and ranking second on the team with eight assists.
Junior forward Campenni and senior midfielder Flynn each received honorable mention. Campenni tied McKernan for third on the team in goals. Flynn added five goals and three assists.
Those players represent half the returning starters from a team that went 10-0 in the division and 16-2 overall, falling in the District 2 championship game to eventual state finalist Lackawanna Trail.
“We have very high expectations for the team this season,” coach Bree Bednarski said. “They just finished a great preseason and are ready to compete.”
Senior defenders Krea Bonita and Addyson Dragwa, senior midfielder Juliana Gonzales and junior goalie Rylee Muniz all return to the starting lineup.
Five players who gained varsity experience last season as freshmen are also back. They are: defenders Briana Dragwa and Ella Keefer, forwards Kayla Karcutskie, midfielder Ella Keefer and goalie Adriana Fanti.
The rest of the deep roster includes four seniors, four juniors, two sophomores and nine freshmen.
Forwards Sydney Baynes and Mia Piccolino and defenders Torin Smith and Kady Puterbaugh are the other seniors.