From: John Group

Sunday, August 25, 2024 | 11:01 a.m.

The Hampton girls soccer team returns with a full roster — and a bitter memory — for a season full of expectations in 2024.

“It’s going to be a fun game,” said veteran midfielder Gigi Rudy, one of 10 returning starters on a team with a 15-4 record. “Right after the loss, we said, ‘We’re not doing that again.'”

“The loss” was a heartbreaking 2-0 setback for visiting No. 9 seed Elizabeth Forward in the first round of the 2023 WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. It ended the Talbots’ season prematurely and the young squad will have a lot to think about over the next nine-plus months.

Hampton coach Bill Paholich said the loss and the knowledge that all of his starting players were back contributed to a productive offseason.

“They all knew we weren’t going to lose anybody,” he said. “So everyone who was a substitute on the varsity team last year came back in better shape and with better ball control. That will motivate everyone.”

All players who scored a goal last season are back, including All-WPIAL midfielder Sara Kenst (18 goals) and All-Section midfielders Olivia Hoffman (9 goals), a senior, and Molly Interthal, a junior.

The only graduate was goalkeeper Isabella English, who was a starter for four years. Senior Olivia Graswick, who was a substitute in goal last season, will take over the starting position.

“I’m excited,” Graswick said. “I expect us to have good team chemistry and go as far as we can.”

Other returning regulars include experienced striker Kendall Hoolahan (12 goals), experienced defenders Sydney Lewis and Maria Zebrine, young striker Emma Langer (7 goals), young center backs Adele Cole and Harper Struble and young defender Kate Lewis.

The Talbots also welcome back senior midfielders Sophia Zebrine and Maggie Barnett, senior forward Alita Leone, juniors Maddie Ashford (MF) and Erin Baker (D), and sophomore Lexi Shane (MF).

“They know they have the ability to be a solid team if they play well together,” Paholich said. “We should be a good possession team. We should be able to pass the ball around and we actually have some speed.”

Paholich, entering his 12th season, said only one of his previous teams brought back as many players – the 2018 team that finished 18-6 and reached the WPIAL semifinals and the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals.

The road to success for this year’s Talbots got more difficult in the offseason. WPIAL realignment moved defending Class 4A champion Fox Chapel to Hampton’s section. Shaler, Penn Hills and Gateway also now call Section 1-3A home, as does perennial contender Mars, which remains. The four teams that left the section combined to go 24-39-4 last season, and none had a winning record.

The Talbots were scheduled to play their first regular season game at Mars on August 28.

“Our section is going to be brutal,” said Paholich. “When we play against Mars and Fox Chapel, we’ll see how we do.”

The top four players qualify for the playoffs, which Hampton has done every year for the past eight seasons.

“Goal number one is to make the playoffs,” Paholich said. “Goal number two is to last longer than just one game. … It should be interesting.”

Tags: Hampton