FROM THE PRESS BOX: A GLIMPSE INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL — A LOOK AHEAD TO THE 2025 SOCCER SEASON (2024-12-03)

It was quite a season for the three Valley girls soccer teams, while the three boys saw a few struggles.

Longtime coach Tara Hogan directed the Waverly girls to its first-ever Section IV title and a 13-5 record, while Athens posted an 11-8 record against a brutal schedule and reached the District 4 semifinals, and Tioga finished 9-6-1 after an 8-1-1 start.

On the boys side, Athens managed a 9-8-3 season and a trip to the District 4 finals in coach Jake Lezak's 21st and final season, while Waverly won its final two games of the season to finish at 3-13, and Tioga struggled to a 0-12-1 mark.

So what does all this mean as we look ahead to the 2025 season? Let's see what the crystal ball has to say:

GIRLS
Athens Wildcats: Athens graduates three key starters, but has a talented group returning for their junior and senior seasons.

Delanie Patton, Brinley Nichols, Brielle Mayo, Lizzie Gorsline, McKenna Jarvis, E.J. Denlinger, Olivia Thompson and Abby Burgess lead the returners.

The 'Cats lose two-year starter Carmelita Pomaquiza in the net, but Annika Lezak should fill that spot nicely.

Prediction: Defensively, the Wildcats are very good. It's pretty simple, if Athens can score more goals it will win more games, but finding the net consistently has been difficult recently. ... 2025 record: 13-5 against a brutal schedule.

Tioga Tigers: Tioga loses a couple seniors, including Erica Bradley, but returns Grace Howey for her freshman season, and Sophia Haney for her senior season.

The Tigers were 8-1-1 when Haney injured her knee. If she's fully healthy next year, it should be much of the same.

The progression of youngsters like Serenity Relyea and Kaylah Nelson will go a long way toward making up for the loss of Bradley.

Prediction: If the Tigers can find a replacement for Taliah Speer in net, and add numbers to its roster, there's no reason to think they won't return to the postseason, and improve on 2024. ... 2025 record: 13-4.

Waverly Wolverines: The Wolverines lose a few seniors, including Addison Westbrook, and Kiley Stillman, but have a deep and athletic roster set to return.

Makenzie Olmsted, Maci Wheeler, Kaitlyn Sutton, Ryleigh Judson, Haley Larrabee, Kendall Rockwell, Kaylin Twedt, Gianna Soprano, Lilly Boothby-Schoonover, and Claire Clonch are among those set to return and be major contributors next season.

Prediction: The STAC is a pretty good soccer league, so Waverly may not improve on its 13-5 record. Another Section IV title is not out of the question, but a bump up Class A and into Chenango Valley's realm will make things more difficult. ... 2025 record: 13-5.

BOYS
Athens Wildcats: The Wildcats lose a host of starters, as well as coach Jake Lezak, who is stepping down after 21 years on the Athens sidelines.

The Wildcats will have seven or eight starters to replace, so the first-year coach has his work cut out for him.

Athens was very good defensively once again this season, but only scored 24 goals in 20 games, and was shutout eight times.

For the first time in recent memory, the numbers were down for Athens in 2024. It will be interesting to see if that trend continues.  

Prediction: Athens is in transition heading into 2025. It will be interesting to see who takes the helm, and how much changes. ... 2025 record: 9-9.

Tioga Tigers: The Tigers graduate five from a roster of 13, so they'll need several youngsters to step up from the modified ranks in 2025.

There is some quality young talent returning after taking some serious lumps during an 0-12-1 season.

Prediction: The Tigers will need a few things to break in their favor, but there's really no place to go but up in 2025. ... 2025 record: 2-12.

Waverly Wolverines: The Wolverines will graduate just two seniors, so coach Jon Rankin will have pretty much the same team in 2025.

Jesse Lantz, Peyton Robinson, Logan Roskow, Porter Daddona, and Aiden Doherty lead Waverly's returners, and they'll need several of their young teammates to step up in 2025.

Prediction: The STAC is a good soccer conference, and Waverly has a ways to go to before it's a factor in the league. ... 2025 record: 2-14.

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