Local soccer teams prepared for season

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The high school soccer season kicks off on Monday in Alabama. As players prepare to take the pitch, here's a look at where the Briarwood, Chelsea and Oak Mountain varsity teams stand.

Briarwood Girls

Coach: Ryan Leib (14th season)

Area: Class 4A-5A, Area 7 with Indian Springs, John Carroll and Montevallo

Last season: The Lady Lions advanced to the 4A-5A state quarterfinals before falling 1-0 to Trinity Presbyterian, the eventual state champion. It was an encouraging result for a group that lost seven seniors from its 2017 state championship team.

Outlook: Briarwood returns a solid core from last season, but it will have to replace leading goal scorer Alex Broughton and goalkeeper Caroline Duffee. The team will need to develop offensive consistency and collective resiliency to compete in a tough area that now includes Indian Springs and John Carroll. Both have well-established soccer programs that will make earning a playoff spot an achievement in itself.

Players to watch: Ellie Sherrod (senior, midfielder), Carrie Kwarcinski (senior, defender), Anna Martin (sophomore, forward), Emily Scott (sophomore, forward)

Coach insight: “Those young kids from last year are now a year older and smarter, hopefully. We’re looking forward to seeing more improvement.” - Leib

Preseason ranking: 4A-5A No. 5

Chelsea Girls

Coach: Jonathan Hammett (11th season)

Area: Class 6A, Area 8 with Helena and Pelham

Last year: The Lady Hornets won their area and advanced to the state quarterfinals, where they fell to eventual state champion John Carroll Catholic 4-0.  

Outlook: Chelsea returns nine of 11 starters from its 2018 squad and appears poised for a strong season. Hammett said this is the first time in about five years that he won’t have to rely heavily on freshmen and sophomores. The Lady Hornets’ maturity and experience should aid them greatly as they pursue their second state championship in three years.

Players to watch: Lexie Duca (senior, midfielder), Claire Guillen (senior, midfielder), Megan Hurley (senior, defender), Carson Reeves (senior, defender), Kailey Littleford (junior, forward), Morgan Bright (junior, defender), Haley Duca (sophomore, forward), Devan Strazewski (sophomore, goalkeeper)

Coach insight: “If we control the mental side of ourselves, don’t get caught up in the noise...and play the style of soccer that we practice and know we can be successful at, I think we have a chance to make a really good playoff run.” - Hammett

Preseason ranking: 6A No. 1

Oak Mountain Girls

Coach: Chris Blight (3rd season)

Area: Class 7A, Area 5 with Hoover, Thompson and Tuscaloosa County

Last season: The Lady Eagles lost to eventual state champion Vestavia Hills in the first round of the 7A state playoffs.

Outlook: Oak Mountain graduated seven seniors from last year’s team, including Auburn signees Hailey Whitaker and Julia Pack, the former Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year. The large departure means that a host of younger players  — and a couple of veterans — will need to build chemistry. If they can fill the void in production, the Lady Eagles could make a postseason run. Blight said he’s optimistic his underclassmen will step up.

Players to watch: Nicole Payne (senior, forward), Emily Cruce (senior, defender), Emmi Long (junior, midfielder), Danielle Retief (junior, midfielder), Kaitlin Maynard (sophomore, midfielder), Lane Hope (freshman, midfielder), Kierson McDonald (eighth grade, defender)

Coach insight: “Something feels different this year than in previous years, and it’s very positive.” - Blight

Preseason ranking: 7A No. 4

Briarwood Boys

Coach: Shawn Brower (4th season)

Area: Class 4A-5A, Area 7 with Indian Springs, John Carroll and Montevallo

Last year: The Lions won 21 consecutive games and advanced to their second straight 4A-5A state final. But they fell to the Randolph School, the same opponent that tripped them up in the 2017 state championship game.

Outlook: Briarwood lost 11 players from last year’s team but returns 13 who have been to a pair of state finals. That experience should come in handy as the Lions navigate a tough schedule. This team has the personnel to make another postseason run.

Players to watch: Logan Frost (senior, striker), Hamilton Bowen (senior, midfielder), Sam Candler (senior, goalkeeper), Bailey Morman (junior, midfielder), Noah Nall (junior, defender)

Coach insight: “Right now, honestly, we’ve got to take care of area, and we know that it’s going to be a very difficult area. We’re going to try to focus there. If we can get through that, then we’ll look to what’s next.” - Brower

Preseason ranking: 4A-5A No. 1

Chelsea Boys

Coach: Lee Miller (12th season)

Area: Class 6A, Area 8 with Helena and Pelham

Last year: A young Hornets team arrived ahead of schedule and won the area title before falling to John Carroll 2-1 in the first round of the 6A state playoffs.

Outlook: Chelsea returns the majority of its starting lineup from last season, including its leaders in goals and assists. Expect the Hornets to build on their successful 2018 campaign and push deeper into the playoffs.

Players to watch: Lando Nichols (senior, striker), Tony Nettuno (senior, striker), Wilson Parker (senior, defender), Nicholas Ayers (senior, defender), Cooper Neal (junior, goalkeeper/midfielder)

Coach insight: “I think we can be very good. The problem we have is we’re having to face other good teams.” - Miller

Preseason ranking: 6A No. 7

Oak Mountain Boys

Coach: David Di Piazza (1st season)

Area: Class 7A, Area 5 with Hoover, Thompson and Tuscaloosa County

Last year: The Eagles had their hopes of a fourth consecutive state title dashed in the first round of the 7A state playoffs, when they lost to Vestavia Hills 3-2.

Outlook: Di Piazza inherits a program that former coach Dan DeMasters took to new heights, winning three consecutive state titles from 2015-17. The Eagles should continue to thrive under their new coach. He’s won state championships everywhere he’s been, including as the Oak Mountain girls coach in 2015. He’ll have a roster consisting of seasoned veterans and promising young talent that should be competitive.

Players to watch: Cody Wells (senior, midfielder), Ben O’Neil (senior, midfielder), John Long (senior, midfielder), Patrick Guffey (junior, midfielder), Ryan Webb (junior, defender), Haruki Hoshino (eighth grade, forward)

Coach insight: “Our seniors have ownership in the program. They know what it was like to be great, and they want it.” - Di Piazza

Preseason ranking: 7A No. 4

Rankings are according to the Alabama High School Coaches' Poll