By Cort Reynolds
First-year varsity girls soccer head coach Doug DeWese looks to field a much improved Ada High School squad this fall.
"Our goals are achievable, it is just a matter of finishing off games," said Dewese of the team's potential. "We have got to have the confidence that we can win.
"Our goal is a 10-win season," he noted with optimism. That total would easily set a program record for wins in a season.
Nine letter winners and one senior return to the varsity roster in an attempt to achieve that lofty but reachable end. Ada fashioned a 2-10-1 overall record and went 0-5-1 in Northwest Conference action last fall.
The Bulldogs also finished 0-3 in an injury-shortened North Central Ohio Soccer Association slate.
The new coach says Ada will work out of a 4-3-3-1 formation mainly, and possibly utilize a 4-2-2-1 setup occasionally.
"We are heavy on juniors (eight) and freshmen (five)," noted the new coach.
Lone senior Ella Baderstscher is "the anchor to our defense," said Dewese. The quick center back earned honorable mention All-NWC notice in 2021.
Junior standouts Olivia Burkhart and Ella Marshall are the top two scorers returning.
Speedy forward Burkhart is very athletic and has a good nose for scoring. Standout forward/midfielder Ella Marshall was named first team All-NWC in 2021, while Burkhart was voted second team All-NWC in her first varsity soccer campaign.
In 2020, Marshall earned first team All-NWC and All-NCOSA honors.
"We will have a high-pressure, attacking offense," said DeWese, who served previously as an assistant coach at Bath and Kenton. "We don't want to sit on our heels. We want to push, push, push and keep the ball in the offensive third of the field.
"On defense, we will be centered around Ella Badertscher and junior Elsie Allen," said Dewese. "Our centers can stop the ball and turn it around into offense quickly."
Center-back/midfielder Allen joins the program after running cross country the past two seasons, so she has solid endurance.
Junior Karmen Hall (MF/F), power-kicking junior Kiah Hefner (OB/MF) and classmate Kailey Wagner (F/MF) are other key returning letter winners.
Athletic sophomore Karley Wagner (MF/CB) and junior Jillian Allison (OB) round out the returning letter winners.
Junior program newcomer Katie Sizemore will handle the all-important goalkeeping duties.
"Even though it is her first year in varsity soccer, Katie looks like she has been doing it for three or four years already," noted Dewese. Sizemore is a scrapper who plays with reckless abandon and enthusiasm.
Quick sophomore newcomer Lexi Poling will likely start at forward, and junior midfielder Jenna Rodrigues is expected to contribute heavily as a valuable 12th player, first off the bench.
Poling will also see action in goal.
Five freshmen round out the roster. Jordyn Smith (F/MF), Amelia Young (OB), Karlie Rockhill (OB/MF), Alysa Nau (MF) and Emma Lambdin (OB) are all expected to contribute.
Ada's major losses to graduation were injured Timber Blankenship and all-league striker Julia Kamatali.
Defending NWC champion Columbus Grove (6-0-0) and 2020 league champion Bluffton, who finished second last fall, are expected to be good again. Grove sophomore Lauren Auchmuty returns as the NWC Player of the Year.
"Bluffton is always strong, they have a good feeder program," Dewese noted. "I don't have a goal for where our team will finish, but I would like five players to make all-league."
Ada also competes in the tough North Central Ohio Soccer Association. "Riverdale is always strong, but we have the potential to pull off upsets in NCOSA play," said the coach.
Riverdale won the 2021 NCOSA crown at 4-0-1, just ahead of Liberty-Benton (3-0-2).
Ada kicks off the home portion of its season Aug. 20 vs. NCOSA foe Tiffin Columbian. The Lady Bulldogs whipped Lima Senior 9-0 in their opener on the road Aug. 12.
The Bulldog NWC lid-lifter is at home vs. backyard rival Allen East August 29.
Kori Lochard joins the staff as an assistant, along with returning coach Mike Hall.
"We have 17 players on the roster; we do not want the season-ending injuries which have plagued the team in the past," added Dewese.
If Ada stays healthy, the Bulldogs could surprise and post the best season in program annals this fall.
AT A GLANCE
- 2021 record: 2-10-1, 0-5-1 NWC (6th of 7), 0-3 NCOSA (6th/6)
- Head coach: Doug DeWese, 1st year
- Letter winners back/lost: 9/3
- Starters back/lost: 9/2
- Top returnees: Sr. Ella Badertscher, Jr. Olivia Burkhart, Jr. Ella Marshall, Jr. Karmen Wall, Jr. Kiah Hefner, So. Karley Wagner, So. Kailey Wagner.
- Key newcomer: Jr. Katie Sizemore, Jr. Elsie Allen.
PHOTOS
ABOVE: The Ada girls soccer team, from left, front: Ella Marshall, Olivia Burkhart, Kailey Wagner, Ella Badertscher, Katie Sizemore, Jenna Rodrigues, Elsie Allen.
Row 2: Amelia Young, Karley Wagner, Lexi Poling, Jillian Allison, Emma Lambdin, Kiah Hefner.
Row 3: head coach Doug Dewese, Jordyn Smith, Karmen Hall, Karlie ROckhill, Alyssa Nau, Kori Lochard, assistant coach Mike Hall.
Back: assistant coach Mike Hall, head coach Mike DeWeese, assistant coach Doug Poling.
BELOW 1
Returning Ada girls soccer letter winners, from left, front:
Ella Marshall, Olivia Burkhart, Kailey Wagner, Ella Badertscher, Jenna Rodrigues.
Back: Karmen Hall, Karley Wagner, Jillian Allison, Kiah Hefner.
BELOW 2
The Ada girls soccer coaching staff, l-r: assistant Mike Hall, head coach Doug Dewese, assistant Kori Lochard.
