IAC GIRLS SOCCER: TIOGA'S POTTER HAS 'HIGH HOPES' FOR TIGERS IN 2025 (2025-08-27)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER — Second-year Tioga girls soccer Emily Potter has some good experience returning from a playoff team, and much of it is still young, which gives her "high hopes" for 2025.

"I have really high hopes for this team. 

"The girls have put in the work in the offseason and have the drive to be very competitive this season," said Potter. 

"They are ready to do the work for the overall outcome. They want to be here and to me that is a key step in having a strong season," Potter added.

Potter has two goals this season, and believes the sky is the limit if they can achieve them.

"Our goals this season are to get everyone on the same page and to work to be a unit. 

"Our overall goal is to go the farthest that Tioga girls soccer has ever gone," added Potter. "We want to have a very successful and healthy season."

Tioga won its first-ever postseason game in 2023.

Potter is also excited to have a new member joining her coaching staff this season.

"We have a new assistant coach who is joining in Billy Schanbacher," said Potter. "He comes from Spencer-VanEtten, where he played in high school. 

"He played on an IAC championship team, three teams that qualified for Sectionals, and went on to play at Wells College.

"He is a great asset to our team and coaching staff," added Potter.

Junior Marcy Moniz will start at goalkeeper for the Tigers, with seniors Emily Zwierlein, Raegan Foley, and Izzy Carter, and junior Amelia Toomey starting in the defensive backfield.

Senior Sophia Haney, freshmen Grace Howey and Natalie Kemp, and 8th-grader Kaylah Nelson will start in the midfield.

Junior Serenity Relyea will start at forward with freshman Carolina Rapp and 8th-grader Addison Landmesser are battling for the other starting forward spot.

Haney (18 goals and 7 assists) became the program's all-time leading scorer last season, but missed the end of the regular season and postseason with a knee injury, and Howey (21 goals and 14 assists) led the team in scoring, so Potter doesn't expect scoring to be an issue in 2025.

"The biggest strengths of our team is that our center is strong, we have defensive leadership, and a positive attitude all around," said Potter.

"My biggest concern will be our fundamentals, and technical work," added Potter.

Tioga has a handful of newcomers in Rapp, Landmesser, freshman Emily Moniz, Toomey, and junior Skyla Jankowski.

"The newcomer to keep an eye on is Amelia Toomey," said Potter. "She joined us from volleyball and has a very strong work ethic and is well-rounded in learning and listening to new instructions and skills being taught."

Tioga opens the 2025 campaign Thursday at Marathon.



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