GREENFIELD — Even with graduation to players now competing at the collegiate level, and another player participating in a foreign-exchange student program, Greenfield-Central’s girls soccer program returns top talent from a team that went .500 overall during the 2022 season.
Paige McCarley, now a sophomore, was sixth in the Hoosier Heritage Conference in points (35) with 15 goals and five assists. It was tops among all league players from Hancock County.
Chaney Brown begins her junior season. She had seven goals and two assists in her return to the pitch after concentrating primarily on basketball.
“(McCarley is) going to be asked to do a lot as a sophomore. She loves it. She’s something special,” Greenfield-Central head coach Brandon Steeno said. “(Brown is) a top 100 basketball player, was away from soccer two or three years and I couldn’t pull her off the field. Having her back is awesome.”
Both earned All-HHC and all-county recognition along with senior back Kalyn Moss.
The Cougars went 8-8-1 a year ago and placed fifth in the HHC with a 3-4 mark. Of the four league losses, two were by one goal and another came on penalty kicks.
Five of the six seniors that graduated are playing collegiately. Courtney Vaughn is at Ursuline, an NCAA Division II school in Ohio. All-HHC player Sarah Contreraz (IU-Columbus) and last year’s assist leader and all-county player Cora Bishop (Mt. Vernon Nazarene) went the NAIA route. Meilyn Howe (Manchester) and Hannah Skene (Earlham) stayed in-state and are playing for NCAA Division III schools.
The Cougars will also miss junior Claire Davidson, who is studying in Brazil this year. Another key defender, she led the team in minutes a year ago with over 1,200.
Health will be a key for this year’s team, too.
Steeno welcomes back standout goalkeeper Jessica Merritt, who missed a number of games late in the season due to injury. She averaged 8.2 saves per match and had 18 saves, many of spectacular fashion, in a tough 2-1 loss to league-champion Mt. Vernon.
Alyssa Deckard is back after playing only minutes last year and suffering a knee injury. She plays club soccer with McCarley and is just a junior.
“Getting her back to pair up with Paige will be exciting,” Steeno said.
Moss, Merritt, Callie Means, who had three goals last season, Addison Bennett and Jorja Houston are seniors that should see big minutes. Steeno also expects frosh newcomer Ainsley Robinson to help contribute.
The bottom line, though, will be health. A year ago, Vaughn, Deckard, now-graduated Gladys Rodriguez Trujillo, Moss, Means and Merritt all missed significant time due to injury.
“If we can stay healthy it’s going to be a fun season, 100 percent, health is the key,” Steeno said. “They’ve put in the work. This group seems to be having more fun than any other team since I’ve been here.”
The Cougars are scheduled to open the season Wednesday, August 16, at home, against Roncalli.
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2023 Greenfield-Central girls soccer schedule
Date;Opponent;Time
Aug. 16;vs. Roncalli;7 p.m.
Aug. 21;at Mt. Vernon;7 p.m.
Aug. 23;at Yorktown;6 p.m.
Aug. 30;vs. Pendleton Heights;7 p.m.
Sept. 6;vs. Delta;7 p.m.
Sept. 9;at Columbus North;1:30 p.m.
Sept. 11;vs. Greenwood;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 13;vs. New Palestine;7 p.m.
Sept. 16;G-C Kickin’ Cancer Tournament;1:30 p.m.
Sept. 16;G-C Kickin’ Cancer Tournament;TBD
Sept. 19;at New Castle;6:30 p.m.
Sept. 21;vs. Shelbyville;7 p.m.
Sept. 23;at Oldenburg Academy;11:30 a.m.
Sept. 25;vs. Indian Creek;6 p.m.
Sept. 28;at Heritage Christian;7 p.m.
