Just four starters, all juniors, return to the starting lineup for the Pittston Area girls soccer team.
“This year, we have a number of positions to fill,” Lady Patriots coach Nicole Tieso said. “The girls have been working really hard to build our unity and connections on the field.
“Things have been coming together and the girls are working well as a team.”
Midfielders Brynne McGoff and Katelyn Wesp, forward Gia Innamorati and defender Aslyn Menendez are returning starters from a team that went 6-10 in the Wyoming Valley Conference to finish sixth out of nine teams in Division 1.
The Lady Patriots were 6-11 overall and fell short of qualifying for the District 2 Class 3A playoffs.
Several players gained varsity experience along the way.
Defender Sydney Copp is the only experienced senior.
Junior midfielder Rachel Deleo, junior midfielder/forward Kyleigh Shupp, sophomore midfielder/defender Rhiannon Okuniewski and sophomore forward Lauren Lopresto also return.
Kendall Tigue, a junior, has taken over in goal.
Sophomores Ryli Smith, a midfielder, and Aleni Alfano, a defender, are new additions to the lineup.
Pittston Area opened the season with a non-league win over Hanover Area. The Lady Patriots begin conference play Tuesday at home against Hazleton Area.
“We look to keep improving as the season goes on, be competitive in every game and ultimately qualify for districts,” Tieso said.
