NTL GIRLS SOCCER: ATHENS' PITTS EXCITED ABOUT WILDCATS IN 2024 (2024-08-27)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — The Wildcats are coming off an 8-11 season, and haven’t been in double-figures in wins in a few seasons, but Athens girls soccer coach Rich Pitts thinks that could change in 2024.

“We’re good on paper, we just have to put the ball in the net,” he said. “I thought we were good last year, too, but just couldn’t score goals.

“We’ve worked a lot more on our offense,” noted Pitts. “We’ve looked at the other teams in the league, and how they play us, and I think we’ll present match-up difficulties.

“Our athleticism in the front five is going to cause a lot of problems for our opponents.

“This team is exciting to me,” added Pitts. “We haven’t been this talented athletically since (Abby) Sindoni graduated.”

Senior Carmelita Pomaquiza will start in net for the Wildcats, and freshman Annika Lezak will serves as back-up.

“Carm has solidified herself in net the last couple years, but Lezak didn’t make it easy for her, she’s a talent,” said Pitts.

Sophomore Brinley Nichols, and junior Savannah Finan will man the center-back positions, and sophomore McKenna Jarvis, senior Savannah Persun will start at outside-back.

“Nichols plays travel ball, and is a good athlete. We’re lucky to have her,” said Pitts.

“Persun is under-rated and a very good 1v1 defender.

“I like our back four,” added Pitts. “I think they are quality all the way around.”

Junior Elizabeth (E.J.) Denlinger will start at defensive center-mid, but senior Chloe Ostrander will likely see a lot of time as well.

Senior Addy Wheeler will start at center-mid, with sophomore Delanie Patton at attacking center-mid.

“Delanie has been really good this preseason,” said Pitts. “She had great scrimmages, we’re pretty excited about her.

“She reminds me of a lot girls … she has a little Ally (Thoman) in her, a little bit of Emma Roe, a little bit of (Rachel) Hutchison — her feet are really good.”

“We think she’s a difference-maker for us, even as a sophomore,” added Pitts.

Junior Lizzie Gorsline will be outside mid on the right, and junior Olivia Thompson will be on the left side, with junior Abby Burgess at striker.

“Abby is a track star, so her running isn’t the problem, it’s all the other pieces,” said Pitts. “She has a super-positive attitude, is super-competitive, and works hard.

“I’ve never seen a kid, who probably hasn’t played since fifth grade, put in so much work in the preseason just on the technical piece, like how to hit a ball, how to trap a ball, how to strike a ball,” noted Pitts.

“We haven’t had her kind of speed since Ari (Gambrell) and Rachel (Hutchison) to stretch the field, so we’re pretty happy there,” he added.

Sophomore Brielle Mayo will be first off bench at outside mid and striker.

“Brielle is crafty and feisty for her size. She’s made it really difficult this preseason not to start her.”

Junior Danica May will see time at outside-mid, while senior Grace Galloway will see time at midfield and defense, and junior Penelope Grubb will see time at outside back.

Sophomore Seija Gorsline could also see minutes if needed.

“Seija is doing things to open our eyes,” said Pitts. “We’re going to let her progress in her own time, but she will definitely help us next year.”

Pitts notes he also has a couple freshman — Abby Ahern and Allie Kemp — who “could see time in a pinch.”

“I like our freshman, and our JV team,” said Pitts. “They’ve had good scrimmages. Several of them could come up and give us minutes if we needed them.”

Pitts definitely see his team’s athleticism as a strength in 2024.

“I think our athleticism is our biggest strength.

“The girls worked hard over the summer doing the fitness packet, so they came in and we were able to get into the technical piece,” he said.

“And, they are super locked-in,” noted Pitts. “We haven’t had any dips where I had to call them in, and call them out.

“I think they realize how good they can be, and I think they’re all very competitive,” he added.

His biggest concern heading into 2024?

“I don’t know if I have a concern about this team,” he said. “I think this team has as much talent athletically as we did the second time we won Districts.

“Do I have the soccer players? No, but our athleticism changes that a little bit,” he added.

Once again this year, Pitts has put a difficult non-league schedule in place. It includes Cicero-North Syracuse, Dallas, Williamsport, Bloomsburg, and Central Mountain.

“We need to play high-level competition,” said Pitts. “You can load your schedule with Sister Mary’s of the Blind and score 40 goals, but it’s not going to make you better when you go play Selinsgrove or Shik.

“My mentality is I’ll give up some losses for the greater good,” he added.

What are Pitts’ expectations for 2024?

“I think success is if we just play as well as we can every moment,” he said. “I always want to win … I look at the schedule and we could win 10 games, or we could win 12 games. We haven’t won double-digits in three years.

“Deep down, I just want this team to have a good experience,” noted Pitts. “This is a good group.

“I’m excited to see what happens this season,” he added.

AROUND THE NTL
“Troy has won four or five league titles in a row, and I think our girls are tired of it, but to be the champ you have to beat the champ, and Troy is still the champ.

“(Coach) Wayne Pratt does a great job,” said Pitts. “They still have Renzo, Renzi, and McRoberts — those are the big three. They play hard every single minute, and Troy is a tough place to play.

“Gary (Haley) and Mario do a great job at Wyalusing. They lose Olivia (Haley), but Chloe (Bennett) is just as much of a monster, and they have Bly in the middle. They have their entire defense, and keeper back … they’re for real. They also have that postage stamp field, and it’s hard to play on.

“Plus, Wyalusing whacked us twice last year, and I think that’s on our girls’ minds this year,” noted Pitts.

“Towanda has Anna Dunn, who had 50 goals last year. If the ball is at her feet, you’re in trouble.

“Williamson and Northeast Bradford have new coaches, so I’m not sure quite what to think there.

“I think we’ll compete,” added Pitts. “I don’t think there will be a day we can’t compete, it will just come down to the finishing piece.”

AROUND DISTRICT 4 CLASS 3A
“Shikellamy is the team to beat. They play at Troy this year, so we’ll get a better idea of how good they are.

Selinsgrove is well-coached and will be a factor, too,” said Pitts.

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IN PHOTO: Athens sophomore Delanie Patton. … VSR STOCK PHOTO.

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