Close-knit Rams return young nucleus

By JEFF OLIVER

MVI Sports

Even with the uncertainty of whether or not COVID-19 will effect the season, Ringgold girls soccer coach Olivia Wilkerson can’t hide her enthusiasm as she welcomes the Rams for her second season in charge.

She welcomes back nine returning starters from a team that went 8-11, including 7-5 in Section 2-3A, and made the WPIAL playoffs. And of those returning starters, six are entering their sophomore seasons.

“I’m super excited about this team,” Wilkerson said. “We were so young a year ago and we’re still young, but we are much improved.

“Plus, I’m getting back two players who missed the entire season a year ago because of injuries. They should help us a lot.”

Among Ringgold’s returning sophomores are leading scorers Carly Lutz (midfielder) and Katelynn Ferrence (striker), who scored 12 and eight goals.

Other sophomores back in the lineup include Morgan Walsh (defender), Abbey Whaley (defender), Ryan Wilson (midfielder) and Aubrey Esper (midfielder).

Other returning starters include senior midfielders Shannon Callihan and Maddi Bailey and junior defender Ryleigh Simco.

The two players who will rejoin the team this season are senior Faith Bobnar (midfielder) and junior Eleanor Bucchianeri (midfielder).

“They should really help us out, not only with depth, but leadership as well,” Wilkerson said.

Although Ringgold returns a bevy of young veteran players, all is not peaches and cream as the Rams have to find a way to replace keeper Kylee Pry. Pry was a four-year starter in the net for Ringgold and garnered all-section status in three of those seasons.

“We still have big shoes to fill in the net,” Wilkerson said. “Kylee was awfully dependable for us there.”

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