IAC GIRLS SOCCER: TIOGA'S INTERIM COACH HAPPY TO SEE ANOTHER SEASON OF SOLID NUMBERS (15 PHOTOS) (2026-08-27)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER — Former Tioga girls soccer coach Jim Walsh is making a return to the sidelines for the 2026 season, and is happy to see another season with solid numbers.

"Our numbers are good," said Walsh.

"It's a little scary sometimes, Tioga is a small school with four girls sports in the fall, but we have 14 this year," noted Walsh.

"For Tioga girls soccer; that's pretty good," added Walsh, who had several years with 11 girls.

Walsh returns on an interim basis, while head coach Emily Potter is on maternity leave.

"I'm very very happy to be back, especially at the varsity level," he said.

Walsh watched all the home games last season from the press box.

"I saw things from the booth that will help me, and I talked to coach Potter about a few individuals — some good things, some things that need work.

"It will help us, it will help me this year to work on those bad things and encourage the good things that they're doing," he added.

Walsh said conditioning is the main focus of the preseason.


"We had a good week last week," said Walsh. "We had an optional conditioning week, most of the girls attended, and we had some really hard workouts — in the pool and on the track.


"We're also working on developing team unity," added Walsh. "I think those are the two keys."

Tioga will participate in a four-team scrimmage at Waverly with SVEC and Horseheads also on hand.

The Tigers open the following day at home against Marathon.

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PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.