The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1477088
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, August 24, 2022 C-3 Lady Chargers enter season with positive attitude, work ethic By Mike Sandifar Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net The 2022 edition of Pike Central High School Lady Charger Soccer may lack overall experience on the field and numbers on the roster, but they will not lack for ef- fort, hard work, and positive attitude. "We have 16 players on the roster," said Head Coach Chad Western, "and though we have nine seniors, we only have about seven or eight players who have any real soc- cer experience. "The others may have played in youth leagues years ago, but as for varsity playing experience, we are a young soccer team." "Each week, we are getting better, but we have a lot to learn. "Our effort is great, and we are working hard to make cer- tain we can compete each time we take the field. The attitude we have on the team is a big plus, and I do not believe we could be giving any more ef- fort than we are at this point." Western returns 11 letter winners from last year's 6-11 team that finished fifth in the 13-team Pocket Athletic Conference (PAC), includ- ing All-Conference perform- ers Kahle Young and Keena Young, twins and both seniors this year, and Kennedy Willis, also a senior. Other seniors on the 2022 roster are Lillian Thompson, Jaylynn Capehart, Lillian Nal- ley, Lainey Leighty, Autumn Seals, and Jasmine Leighty. Western, now in his fourth campaign as the head girls' soccer coach at Pike Central, has posted a 22-28 record in his three prior seasons at the controls of the Lady Charger Soccer Program. The fourth year PCHS Men- tor sees Washington, Heritage Hills, and Gibson Southern as the top three teams in the PAC for the coming season. "We have to win the match- es we are 'supposed' to win, and then, tr y to knock off some of the teams that are favored going into the match- es," believes Western, "If we can do that, we will have the opportunity to finish in the top half of the league, or even bet- ter, if we could catch a break here or there." Western sees the Lady Chargers' strength as defense, where his team will attempt to limit the offensive opportuni- ties of their opponents. He believes his team has gotten better each week with the effort each individual team member has given each time the team has taken the field, and he thinks that will pay dividends for his team as the season progresses. "As I have already said," said Western, "This team gives ever ything it has ever y day, and each girl is working ver y hard to compete. This team is giving such a great ef- fort, we are going to surprise some teams this year. "Again, our overall expe- rience is going to be our big- gest weakness," but with each match, I believe we are going to get better. "We lost senior Jasmine Leighty for the season with an injur y, and Kahle Young has sustained a ver y serious ankle injur y that will sideline her for at least two weeks—and that will really hurt. "We will miss her leader- ship, her skills on the field, and her experience in the worst, but we hope we can still compete on the field while she is on the sidelines". Chris Young and Brian Wil- lis will be the assistant coach- es for the Lady Chargers, and Western does not believe he could have any better staff. "Chris and Brian are abso- lutely great assistant coaches for this program. They do so much for us," confided West- ern. "Both of these men make us better, and they do a great job in working with our girls. I couldn't ask for a better staff". Fans can expect to see the Lady Chargers play hard each time out, and they will leave nothing on the field when each match is over. That will make for exciting and challenging soccer match- es throughout the 2022 soccer season for Pike Central faith- ful. Lana R. Hel ms, DDS , MSD, PC Making and sharing SMILES! Be a Winner! Stay in school, study hard and prepare for a great future. Board-Certified in Orthodontics for children, adolescents and adults Appointments Monday-Friday 812-254-4500 2116 State St., Washington • 2848 Ford Rd., Vincennes www.lanahelms.com Variable Thereafter* SHOW YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT and earn cash for the Pike Central Chargers with the German American Bank School Spirit Check Card * Each purchase you make will automatically earn your school $0.02, donated by German American Bank. Stop by any German American Bank office to request your School Spirit Check Card today! Visit germanamerican.com for a list of participating schools. *Check card requires a German American checking account and approval of check card application. VARSITY GIRLS' SOCCER SCHEDULE ❚ Thursday, Aug. 25 — North Knox — 5:30 p.m. at Old Petersburg Gym ❚ Tuesday, Aug. 30 — South Spencer — 6 p.m. at South Spencer ❚ Thursday, Sept. 1 — Boonville — 6 p.m. at Old Petersburg Gym ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 6 — Southridge — 6 p.m. at Old Petersburg Gym ❚ Thursday, Sept. 8 — Princeton — 6 p.m. at Princeton ❚ Saturday, Sept. 10 — Forest Park — 10 a.m. at Old Petersburg Gym ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 13 — South Knox — 5 p.m. at Old Petersburg Gym ❚ Thursday, Sept. 15 — Mount Vernon — 6:30 p.m. at Old Petersburg Gym ❚ Monday, Sept. 19 — Northeast Dubois — 5:30 p.m. at Old Petersburg Gym ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 20 — North Posey — 6:30 p.m. at North Posey ❚ Thursday, Sept. 22 — Gibson Southern — 6 p.m. at Gibson Southern ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 27 — Heritage Hills — 7:45 p.m. at Heritage Hills ❚ Thursday, Sept. 29 — Evansville Christian School — 6:30 p.m. at Old Petersburg Gym Pike Central's 2022 girls soccer team members are: front row (l to r) Alli Hardin, Lillian Thompson, Lillian Nalley, Emma Brock, Autumn Seals, Anna Whitehead, Ken- nedy Willis and Karly Morson; back row: Assistant coach Chris Young, Beth Edrington, Keena Young, JayLynn Capehart, Lainey Leighty, Kahle Young, Jasmine Leighty and assistant coach Brian Willis. Not pictured: Chad Western Head Coach, Wren Kabrick, Grace Robling and Neishia Smith. Lillian Thompson Kennedy Willis Keena Young Kahle Young Jaylynn Capehart Jasmine Leighty Beth Edrington Autumn Seals