The Wyalusing girls soccer team brings in a big class of freshmen, and it couldn't have come at a better time since they've been hit with some adversity early this year.

Injuries to returning seniors Callee Warner and Alysha Botts means the freshmen will have to be quickly brought up to speed.

"I feel like we're lucky to have this amount of girls," said Wyalusing coach Katie Fischer. "They put in a lot of work over the summer where the majority of them were at our open fields."

Even with those injuries they have over 20 girls, which allowed them to have full scrimmages.

"The majority of them were showing up, which is refreshing," Fischer said. "And as a coach, it's reassuring."

They also have to replace outgoing seniors like Addisyn Bly and Treanna Nickeson.

"It's going to be really difficult," senior Aleta O'Connor said. "I think we can find a good person to fill those spots. It'll be different, but I think we can make it work."

They do return one of their top goal scorers from a year ago in Vayda Rought. Though small in stature, she has a big impact on the field with her speed and shiftiness.

"I'm really excited," said Rought. "I think we have a really good group of girls, and we all get along. I think we're going to do really good this year."

Rought's been working on her footwork as she takes over the lead striker position.

"I am so impressed with Vayda, and the work that she's put in," said Fischer. "She has a goal, and she said what can I do to try to meet this goal that I have for myself. We were like, 'foot skills, and a quicker shot.' It's just so impressive. I wasn't coaching her when she was a freshman, but I still watched the games, and you can just see the difference in confidence."

Fischer has noted that Rought has grown more instinctive with her attacks towards the goal.

"She used to have to look up to see where the goal was before she took a shot," Fischer said. "Now she doesn't even bother, she just knows where it is, and she feels very confident that it's going in."

On the other end of the field Ava King will be helping to lead the defense.

"I like to be the last resort," King said. "Even though sometimes it's nerve racking, but I do like working together as a defense."

She'll be joined by Ellie Adams as the two of them work to take over from outgoing senior Treanna Nickeson.

"Ellie is a huge asset back on defense," Fischer said. "She's very confident, and very vocal with her teammates, and her team feels confident in her, so that's huge."

While O'Connor expects to be bouncing around the field a little bit.

"I like being able to kind of just go up to the top of the field, and be able to drop back if needed to help other teammates," O'Connor said. "I'm new to defense."

Also in the midfield will be Lia Fischer and Jenna Morningstar.

"A lot of these girls just have a great rapport with each other," said Fischer. "I think that's going to be really important."

Rought's hoping that bond will carry them through the season.

"I feel like the stronger bod you have, the better you play on the field all together," she said. 

The past few years Wyalusing has been knocking on the door of a league title but haven't been able to get over the hump. Troy's won the last seven, while Athens, Wellsboro, and Williamson have also given them fits at times.

They've had collected some district wins, but all these close calls leaves them hungry for more.

"It definitely makes me want to push harder to strive to their level," King said. "I definitely want to push myself this season."

ROSTER

Alysha Botts (12)

Ava King (12)

Aleta O'Connor (12)

Vayda Rought (12)

Alyssa Carter (11)

Callee Warner (11)

Ellie Adams (11)

Kate Trowbridge (11)

Neighia DeWitt (11)

Sierra Gromley (11)

Storey Newell (11)

Taydin Gardner (11)

Arya McKernan (10)

Hannah Girven (10)

Jenna Morningstar (10)

Kaylie Goodwin (10)

Lia Fischer (10)

Mya King (10)

Aria Askins (9)

Aubri Davis (9)

Charlie Muench (9)

Greta Bohn (9)

Maddy Clark (9)

Lacee Warner (9)

SCHEDULE

Aug 28 vs Meadowbrook Christian at Montgomery, 3:30 p.m.

Aug 29 at Montgomery Tournament

Sep 2 vs Wellsboro, 4 p.m.

Sep 4 at NEB, 4 p.m.

Sep 9 at NP-Mansfield, 4 p.m.

Sep 12 at Troy, 11 a.m.

Sep 16 vs Athens, 4 p.m.

Sep 18 vs Williamson, 4 p.m.

Sep 22 at Towanda, 6 p.m.

Sep 24 at Wellsboro, 5:30 p.m.

Sep 29 vs NEB, 4 p.m.

Oct 1 vs NP-Mansfield, 4 p.m.

Oct 6 vs Troy, 4 p.m.

Oct 8 at Williamson, 4 p.m.

Oct 13 at Athens, 5 p.m.

Oct. 20 vs Elk Lake, 4 p.m.

Oct. 24 at Sullivan County, 11 a.m.