Soccer will be starting soon in Council Bluffs. Here, we take a team-by-team look at each team in the region ahead of the start of the women's season.
city team
CB Abraham Lincoln
coach: Kelsey Cheney. 2023: 13-6, lost to Valley in the 3A-2 championship.
return of starter: Liberty Bates, Ali Smith, Taylor Ferguson, Jillian Marsle, Savannah Vanderwerf, Sylvia Stott, Daisy Montenegro.
Outlook: The Lynx came one win away from last year's state tournament and are looking to get as far as they can. Des Moines and Cowney Park are always the end goal. First-year head coach Kelsey Cheney takes over from Robbie Miller. Chaney added that conference and city championships are also part of his mission. The Lynx are facing the graduation of their assist leader (Jazmin Martinez Rangel).
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Cheney: “Our team has felt high expectations and external pressure over the last few years. I think one of our biggest challenges is mindset. Overcoming the doubts that everyone would have. .”
CB Thomas Jefferson
coach: Mark Royer. 2023: Lost to ADM in the 2A-7 semifinals, 10-10.
return of starter: Taryn Gant, Makenna Kramer, Kamryn Hossick, Grace Strong, Demi Payne, Ricky Wirtz, Kaylee Driggers, Teryn Miner.
Outlook: The Yellow Jackets return their leading scorer (Kramer, 13 goals) and distributor (strong, 9 assists), as well as goalie Hosick (180 saves). TJ has won 10 games in two of the past three seasons. Can they get back to their 2017-20 level (11+ wins each year)?
Royer: “(Our) goal is always to get as deep into the postseason as possible. It's hard to predict what the region will be and it's very close to the 2A/3A line, so that will determine your goals. There is no doubt about that.”
lewes central
coach:Jesse Smith. 2023: Lost to Glenwood in the 2A-7 semifinals, 11-7.
return of starter: Jemi Cornelison, Makenzie Stevens, Tyler Tingley, Izzy McNeil, Haley Erickson, Eva Jensen, Maya Humlicek, Regan Lee, Kayla Allen.
Outlook: The Hawkeye 10 champion Titans lost 1-0 to the Rams in the semi-state semifinals, but losing just two seniors who started at least 17 games will ease their chances of returning to the regional finals. It's been six years since the Titans' 2018 state championship.
st albert
coach: Chris Hughes. 2023: 13-7, lost to Underwood in the 1A-5 championship.
return of starterStarring: Sophie Sheffield, Ella Klusman, Lily Krohn, Kristen Pikorski, Paige Sandberg, Caitlin Hendricks, Olivia Gardner, Kennedy Sanchez, Lili Denton, Ellie Monaghan.
Outlook: Seniors Landry Miller and Anna Helton are gone, but the Saints return Ella Klusman's 33 goals and Lily Krohn's seven goals and 12 assists. Sophie Sheffield also returned in net (165 saves). The Saints, who won one game in the state tournament last year, are gearing up for a trip to Des Moines this year.
Outside the city
AHSTW
coach: Beth Herbst. 2023: 0-12, lost to Missouri Valley in the 1A-5 first round.
return of starter: Ella Langer, Sadie Paulsen, Claire Mertz, Hal Goodman.
Outlook: It's never easy to go on a winless streak. The Vikings will be going back to basics this year.
“Some of the girls on our team have never played soccer before. My wish every year is for the girls to learn more about the sport. Let's improve our skills… We're a very small school, so we're going to play a lot against bigger schools that have girls that play together all year. Competing against an experienced team is just a challenge in itself. What we can do. It’s just a matter of learning from those games and coming back and fighting even harder.”
glenwood
coach: Amy Benson. 2023: 12 wins, 6 losses, lost to ADM in the 2A-7 championship.
return of starter: Jaylin Floyd, Eva Scott, Lydia Fuos, Audrey Neiman, Faith Weber, Hadley Carman, Julia Nightstar, Brielle Almon, Abby Hagens.
Outlook: The Rams had three straight seasons of double-digit wins (all 11 games or more), pulled off an elusive victory over Council Bluffs rival Lewis Central, and were on the verge of making it to the state tournament. Now, they look to take another step forward by winning the Hawkeye 10 and advancing to the state finals. Losing the volatile Nora Doherty, who led the team in goals (38) and assists (13), will be the Rams' biggest challenge.
benson: “Those are some lofty goals, but I know our team will do everything we can to achieve those goals… find a way to balance our offense and improve our performance in these categories.” We know finding new leaders can be difficult, but our team is up to the challenge.”
riverside
coach: Kayla Harris. 2023: No team. In 2021, they have 0 wins and 12 losses.
Return of starting pitcher: none.
Outlook: After three years without a program, the Riverside girls return to the field. The Bulldogs were winless in 2019, did not play in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and were 0-12 in 2021. It's been six years since Riverside won a game, but they have 22 players on the roster and their goal is to get 1 percent. Every day gets better.
Of those 22, seniors Carly Henderson, Jaden Bates, Chloe Roane and Becca Cody will lead the way. Henderson played as a freshman and sophomore Bailey Richardson was named to the WIC All-Conference first team as a freshman at Traynor University.
Harris: “All of the girls programs within Riverside have set the bar higher and higher over the past few years, competing and being successful. These 22 girls came in and just made the soccer team. Instead, they agreed to build a successful football program at Riverside.”
trainer
coach: Rachel Schott. 2023: 5-9, lost to Harlan in the 1A-5 quarterfinals.
Starter return: Mairi McEachern, Morgan Brown, Gabriel Blanchard, Kali Bach, Josey Lewis, Ellie Kinsella, Andyn White, Claire Schrage, Eva Kennedy, Allie Hauser.
Outlook: Of the 16 players who started at least four games last year, 13 return for Traynor this year. For the Cardinals, who are 5-9, this could mean parity or a significant improvement.
tri center
coach: Jeff Lefber. 2023: Lost to Kuemper Catholic in the 1A-5 quarterfinals, 9-9.
Return of starting pitcherStarring: Alexis Flaherty, Cassidy Cunningham, Angel Armstrong, Lucy Elsner, Jonnelly Hernandez-Goldup, Danica Howden.
Outlook: The Trojans lost six seniors who started at least 14 games last year, but their top two scorers (Cunningham, Elsner) return.
under the tree
coach:Tyler Nelson. 2023: Lost to Gilbert 11-3 in the 1A state quarterfinals.
Return of starting pitcher: Avery Honan, Haley Stangle, Mallory Reeders, Colin Trede, Laura Paulson, Georgia Paulson, Tealer Hull, Kaylee Opal, Macy Johnson, Holly Larson, Regan Ward.
Outlook: Possibly a year earlier than planned last year, the Eagles will return all 11 starters from the state qualifying team. Georgia Paulson scored a team-high 17 goals, and Regan Ward was the top passer with eight assists. The Eagles are favorites to return to Des Moines.