The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Fall Sports Preview Wednesday, August 21, 2019 D-5 New head coach excited to put Chargers in best position to win By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net The Pike Central girls' soccer team begins its 2019 campaign with a new head coach — the Char- gers' fourth in the past four sea- sons — as Chad Western, who pre- viously served as the boys' varsi- ty coach for three seasons, takes over. "There has been a lot of change with the girls' coach, and we want to give them some help with that," Western said. "We want to have a very nice season, and we would like to beat a couple teams that the girls have not in the past." Western coached the boys' team from 2015 to 2017. He compiled a 41-11-4 overall record during his tenure and captured a PAC and a sectional championship. He also served as the boys' middle school coach for several seasons. The Chargers girls will lean on the senior leadership this season as the strength of team, but the team will have to improve at be- ing more physical and have better touches and skills. Western said the Lady Char- gers are still working on develop- ing their team chemistry and still figuring out what combination of players works best in what situa- tions. "We really haven't had them all together," Western said. "They turned out good in the summer for workouts, but it always seemed like each week, one or two of them were gone with all kinds of differ- ent committed. We are just excit- ed to get the whole team together." Pike Central's seniors are Jen- na Horrall, Chloe Roy, Shelby Vaughn, Morgan Houchins and Adair Kadrick. Horrall has great length, is ath- letic and experienced from playing years of travel soccer. She has all the tools to be s great goalkeep- er and will be counted on as one of the team's leaders this season. "She is one of taller girls at the school, so that's a big plus on be- ing a goalie," Western said. "She has played the position a lot over the years. She is ready to have a very good year." Horrall is also skilled enough to play many other positions around the field. "She's also good on the offense or defense end of the field, not just in front of the net" Western said. "She's a skilled player who can fit into the offense or defense." Roy is coming off a season missed by injury, and she is ex- pected to play offense this season. She can play both offense and de- fense, and she will likely see play- ing time at both this season. "She will be playing out of mid- dle a lot, but we are definitely go- ing to use her on offense," West- ern said. "She may play defense if we are up a goal because she is just one of our best players. She knows what it takes to make plays and win, and we definitely expect some offensive production out of here." Vaughn and Houchins are both coming off a good junior year, and will be counted on to be leaders. Vaughn is an unselfish player with a team-first mentality. She can play anywhere on the field, but will start at midfielder. Vaughn has incredible stamina, which can be contributed to her background running cross country. That al- lows her to be relentless because she rarely gets tired when out on the field. "Shelby is one of those girls that just doesn't get tired," Western said. "She's probably in as good of shape as anyone on the team. She is a player that I can just leave out there and not have to worry about her gassing out." Houchins is expected to be a strong midfielder for the team and a big part of the offense. "She has to enforce the middle of our defense and offense, and dis- tribute as well as score," Western said. "We will ask her to distrib- ute, score goals and do whatever is needed to get our offense going." Kabrick is another senior that played well last year, and will play on defense, at the wing positions and on offense. "She can really play anywhere, which is a big asset for us," West- ern said. "She could play a lot of different places, but she will prob- ably end up as a midfielder or a de- fensive midfielder." Pike Central also has several ju- niors and sophomores who will be a big part of the team. Lauren Young is expected to mostly play defense. The athletic junior has great stamina and will likely start at center back or stop- per "She's another one of the girls who can really go for long periods of time on the field," Western said. "Lauren Young and [sophomore] Albany Ashley will anchor our de- fense." Junior Grace Brandle will like- ly be a striker, wing or midfielder. "She's in the right spot at the right time a lot," Western said. "She benefits from being where she needs to be on the field." Brandle also has solid offensive attributes. Junior Halli Fair will probably be a striker, but can play anywhere on offense. Sophomore Alli Holder can al- so play a lot of positions, but will likely settle in at striker, wing or midfielder. She's a skilled offen- sive player. "She can really score," Western said. "She will be playing in many offensive spots." Sophomore Abigail Skelton will mostly play offense, but has the ability to play other positions if needed. Sophomore Hanna Wood- ford will be at right back most of the time. "She does a good job with her timing and knowing when to get rid of the ball," Western said. "She's also pretty solid defensively, so we don't worry much about that right side when she's in there." The Chargers also have a good freshmen class that continues to progress and impress Western. Kennedy Willis is expected to play major minutes this season. The freshman has played a lot of travel soccer and is very expe- rienced. She is capable of play- ing anywhere on the field and is skilled with her left and right. "She's going to be a big time contributor," Western said. "She will help us right away and proba- bly always be where the action is on the field." Twins Kahle and Kenna Young each have a lot of experience from playing travel soccer and are skilled player who can play any- where on the field. Kahle Young is the team's goal- ie of the future and will fill into the position when Horrall is at other positions, and Kenna Young will play at left back most of time. Both are ready to contribute right away to the varsity squad. Lillian Thompson is probably the team's smallest player, but al- so the most fearless. She's really active and a defen- sive specialist. "She will play at stopper, wing- back or just anywhere she can disrupt the other team's offense," Western said. Jasmine Leighty will be used mostly on defense, but she could also play anywhere on the back de- fensive line. "She likes defense," Western said. "That's what she's used to and she's comfortable playing mostly defense." Jaylynn Capehart is another ver- satile freshman with a lot of travel soccer experience. Western said Pike Central will try to take advantage right away on offense and speed up play when it's to their benefit. "I want the girls to take the first good opportunity," Western said. "We have worked on playing more freely and looser on offense. We want to take more shots and more good shots because that will cre- ate our best opportunities for suc- cess." Defensively, the team will run a few different formations, but will start with a 3-1-5 -1. "We will be a defense first team a lot of the year," Western said. "We want to really try to slow our opponents down. That's what it's all about; creating advantages." Western will be assisted by Chris Young and Brian Willis. "They have been at everything all summer, and it has helped so much to have them out there," Western said. "They both have girls on the team and have been around the game for a long time. I feel really good about the three of us working together. We are going to work hard to give this team its best chance to compete every game." Western said he's confident the girls can improve from their 5 -10 finish in 2018. "These girls want to have a good season, so they do whatever we ask of them," he said. "We're ready to have a solid year." Pike Central opened its season on Tuesday, Aug. 20, by hosting Tell City. GIRLS' SOCCER These girls want to have a good season, so they do whatever we ask of them. We're ready to have a solid year." -Coach Chad Western Chargers! Locally Owned and Operated Dr. Clint Shoultz 715 S. 9th Street, Petersburg • (812) 354-9400 Mon. 8am-7pm, Tues. 8am-noon, Wed. 10am-7pm, Thurs-Fri. 8am-5pm call for an appointment or come in and check out our selection. 12TH & MAIN STREETS, PETERSBURG 812-354-6000 FICKLIN AUTO SUPPLY GOOD LUCK CHARGERS! WE WISH YOU A VERY SUCCESSFUL SEASON! WE HAVE QUALITY PARTS FOR DOMESTIC VEHICLES AND IMPORTS, TOO! NOW YOUR AREA'S EXCLUSIVE NAPA DEALER! Pictured above is the 2019 Pike Central girls' soccer team. They are, front row (l to r): Morgan Houchins, Adair Kabrick, Chloe Roy, Jenna Horrall and Shel- by Vaughn; second row: Alli Holder, Grace Brandle, Lauren Young, Kennedy Willis, Abigail Skelton and Albany Ashley; third row: assistant coach Brian Willis, Hanna Woodford, Kahle Young, Lillian Thompson, Halli Fair, Keena Young, Jasmine Leighty, Jaylynn Capehart and head coach Chad Western. Not pictured: assistant coaches Chris Young and Sydney Brooks.