ROSCOMMON – Only three players are gone from last year’s team, two seniors and one who transferred to a different school, and the Roscommon varsity girls soccer team is heavy with seniors and juniors this spring.
With nine seniors and seven juniors, the Bucks are heavy with upperclassmen leadership and that will prove invaluable as coach John Sinnaeve breaks in the new players that include five freshmen and two sophomores that need seasoning.
“I think overall we’re a good, solid team,” coach John Sinnaeve said. “I expect to finish with a winning season.”
The Bucks are bringing back everybody on defense from last year, anchored by senior center back Emma Tussey with junior Lindsay Lewandowski on her right and junior Ashley DeSmith over on the left. Playing up top as the stopper will be senior Alyssa Ostling. Filling out the defense will be senior Madison Roediger and junior Kaitlyn Seames.
Sinnaeve is high on first-year players freshman Zoey Cauley and sophomore Claira Brewer. Anchoring the midfield this year is going to be junior Peyton Church, with senior Caroline Schultz manning the right side and senior Morgan Thomas, who’s also running track, on the other side. The Bucks also have junior Abbie Harrison coming off an injury who should be able to play the left side in the midfield.
Backing up on the midfield will be seniors Charli Peterson, Elaine Murray, Hannah Yost and Erika Hull. The attackers are senior Maleah Wooten, who was injured and didn’t play last year, and Marissa Janisse. Platooning up front will be freshman Veronica Alyas. Sophomore attacker Taryan Pace is out with injury right now and may need a cast on her foot. The new goalkeeper is freshman Raven Lewandowski. Rounding out the roster are Chloe Lyons, Raynee Thornton and Autumn Goodman.
Houghton Lake and Cheboygan are expected to be the Bucks’ top competition in the Northern Michigan Soccer Alliance.
