2021 high school girls soccer preview: Tri-favorites in Big South 3A while traditional powers favored in other leagues
By Richard Walker
Since the COVID pandemic ended the 2020 season after less than two weeks of play, area high school girls soccer teams are eager to get back on the diamonds.
League preseason favorites are Crest, Forestview and Kings Mountain in the Big South 3A Conference, South Point in the Southwestern 2A Conference, Lake Norman Charter in the South Fork 2A Conference and Lincoln Charter in the Southern Piedmont 1A Conference.
Here are the preview capsules, by conference, for the 2021 season with a composite schedule at bottom:
BIG SOUTH 3A CONFERENCE
Ashbrook
no information submitted
Comment: Green Wave seeks first playoff berth since 2014.
Cramer
Head coach: Heather Day (2nd year)
Assistant coach: Logan Pace
Returning players: F Aubree Baker, D Breanna Hux, D/M Meghan Kimbril, D Grace Haughton D, M/Wing Liya Porter, D Lauren Hartle, M/Wing Marley Accashian, M/Wing, Mallory Parrott, D Emily Parker, M/F Mang Cer Cin
Top newcomers: GK Brianna McGinnis, M Markayla Lawrence, D Savannah Powell, M Katelyn Marze, D Maddie Broome D Freshman
Comment: With five returning starters, Storm seeks sixth straight state playoff appearance.
Crest
Head coach: Zachary Wortman (13th year)
Assistant coach: Sydney Davis
Returning players: D O.C. Wall, M Jillian Hux, M Leslie Gonzalez, M Madison Setzer, F Cadance Walker, GK Emma Harriall
Top newcomers: F Alexis Marshall, M Kalee Varga
Comment: With six returning starters, Crest is eager to make its fourth straight postseason appearance.
Forestview
Head coach: Stanley Janik (3rd year)
Assistant coach: Eric Neely
Returning players: M Layne Maitra, M Payton Parker, C Back Bailey Hope, Back Amelia May Tuttle, GK Alexis Martin
Top newcomers: none listed
Comment: Jaguars have four returning starters and will pursue a 22nd straight playoff berth – or every year the school has been open.
Huss
Head coach: Cathy Rogers (1st year)
Assistant coach: Gina Smirz
Returning players: none listed
Top newcomers: none listed
Comment: With five returning starters, Huskies seek first postseason appearance since 2014.
Kings Mountain
no information submitted
Comment: Mountaineers have made the playoffs seven straight seasons.
North Gaston
Head coach: John Sullivan (6th year)
Assistant coaches: Bobby Cronland, Katie Sigmon
Returning players: MF Mallory Canup, MF Skylar Tomlin, D Addison White, MF Bailey Perry, D Autumn Adams
Top newcomers: F Angelina Diaz, GK Chloe Worley
Comment: Five returning starters are back for Wildcats, who look to make first playoff appearance since 2016.
SOUTHWESTERN 2A CONFERENCE
Burns
no information submitted
Comment: Bulldogs seek second straight state playoff berth and 11th in history.
East Gaston
Head coach: River Hawkins (2nd year)
Assistant coach: Jayce Bass
Returning players: MF Ava Stillwell, F/GK Sierra Soles F/GK, CDM Grace Doster
Top newcomers: MF Lydia Walls, MF Reagan Luckadoo
Comment: Warriors battling numbers crunch – 14 players – and seeking first playoff berth since 2014.
Shelby
no information submitted
Comment: Golden Lions have made state playoffs 21 straight times, a streak that began in 1999.
South Point
no information submitted
Comment: Red Raiders have made state playoffs 18 straight times, a streak that began in 2002.
SOUTH FORK 2A CONFERENCE
East Lincoln
Head coach: Jason Dragoon (20th year)
Assistant coaches: John Patterson, Brett Shanklin, Andrew Campbell, Brett Bowen, Christina McClain
Returning players: Center Back Cambell Vanderhaar, F Deana Poteat
Top newcomers: F Abbie Hege, Center Mid Grace Harpster
Comment: 10 returnees from last year will look for the Mustangs to extend their postseason streak to 17 years.
Lincolnton
no information submitted
Comment: Wolves have made five straight playoff appearances
North Lincoln
no information submitted
Comment: Knights are seeking second straight playoff berth and 11th overall.
West Lincoln
Head coach: Brad Newton (3rd year)
Assistant coaches: Lisa Taylor, John Markley
Top returning player: F Trista Primmer
Top newcomers: none listed
Comment: With 10 returning starters, Rebels are eager to pursue the school’s second state playoff berth.
SOUTHERN PIEDMONT 1A CONFERENCE
Bessemer City
no information submitted
Comment: Yellow Jackets are seeking first playoff berth since 2017.
Cherryville
no information submitted
Comment: Ironmen seek first playoff berth since 2016 and eighth overall.
Highland Tech
no information submitted
Comment: Rams have made six straight postseason appearances.
Lincoln Charter
no information submitted
Comment: Eagles have made eight straight postseason appearances.
Piedmont Community Charter
no information submitted
Comment: Patriots advanced to the playoffs in 2019.
PAC 7 1A CONFERENCE
Mountain Island Charter
no information submitted
Comment: Raptors look to extend playoff streak to five years.
METROLINA
Gaston Christian
Head coach: John Hoover (11th year)
Assistant coaches: Jamie Rodriguez, Keith Gunter
Returning players: GK Sara Plyler, M Ayden Main, M Izzy Hoover, D Liana Mattera, D AnnaVella Ramsey, F Julia Ramsey, M Cat Rudisill
Top newcomers: M Merrin Gunter, M Ryanne Owens
Comment: Eagles return eight starters in hopes of making a second straight state playoff appearance.
Gaston Day
no information submitted
Comment: Spartans have made the playoffs five straight seasons.
Day-by-day high school girls soccer schedule:
Friday, Feb. 26
Woodlawn at Gaston Day
Monday, March 1
Gaston Christian at Gaston Day
Friday, March 5
Concord Academy at Gaston Day
SouthLake Christian at Gaston Christian
Tuesday, March 9
Charlotte Christian at Gaston Christian
Gaston Day at Davidson Day
Thursday, March 11
Westminster Catawba at Gaston Christian
Friday, March 12
Gaston Day at High Point Westchester
Monday, March 15
Ashbrook at Berry Academy
Cramer at Kings Mountain
Forestview at Crest
Gaston Christian at SouthLake Christian
Lake Norman Charter at East Lincoln
Lincolnton at Newton-Conover
Mountain Island Charter at Bradford Prep
North Gaston at Huss
Shelby at East Gaston
South Point at Burns
West Lincoln at North Lincoln
Tuesday, March 16
Lincoln Charter at Highland Tech
Piedmont CC at Cherryville
Wednesday, March 17
Ashbrook at Forestview
Chase at Burns
Crest at Cramer
East Gaston at South Point
East Lincoln at Lincolnton
Hickory at Huss
Kings Mountain at North Gaston
Maiden at West Lincoln
Mountain Island Charter at Langtree Charter
North Lincoln at Lake Norman Charter
R-S Central at Shelby
Thursday, March 18
Cherryville at Thomas Jefferson
Piedmont CC at Lincoln Charter
Friday, March 19
Gaston Christian at Hickory Grove Christian
Monday, March 22
Ashbrook at Crest
Bandys at Lincolnton
Burns at East Rutherford
East Gaston at R-S Central
East Lincoln at North Lincoln
Huss at Kings Mountain
Newton-Conover at West Lincoln
North Gaston at Forestview
Queen’s Grant at Mountain Island Charter
Shelby at Chase
South Point at Cramer
Tuesday, March 23
Gaston Christian at Arborcreek Christian
Gaston Day at Metrolina Christian
Thomas Jefferson at Lincoln Charter
Wednesday, March 24
Ashbrook at Kings Mountain
Bandys at East Lincoln
Burns at Shelby
Chase at East Gaston
Cherryville at Highland Tech
Cramer at North Gaston
Crest at Huss
East Rutherford at South Point
Lincolnton at West Lincoln
Mountain Island Charter at Union Academy
North Lincoln at Maiden
Thursday, March 25
Concord Academy at Gaston Christian
Lincoln Charter at Cherryville
Thomas Jefferson at Bessemer City
Friday, March 26
Asheville Christian at Gaston Christian
Hickory Christian at Gaston Day
Monday, March 29
Burns at East Gaston
Cramer at Ashbrook
East Lincoln at Maiden
Forestview at Huss
Gaston Day at Statesville Christian
Lake Norman Charter at Lincolnton
North Gaston at Crest
North Lincoln at Newton-Conover
South Point at R-S Central
West Lincoln at Bandys
Tuesday, March 30
Bessemer City at Lincoln Charter
Cherryville at Christ the King
East Gaston at East Rutherford
Gaston Christian at Hickory Grove
Highland Tech at Thomas Jefferson
Wednesday, March 31
Ashbrook at North Gaston
Community School of Davidson at Mountain Island Charter
Cramer at Huss
Kings Mountain at Forestview
Lincolnton at North Lincoln
South Point at Shelby
West Lincoln at East Lincoln
Thursday, April 1
Christ the King at Lincoln Charter
Metrolina Christian at Gaston Christian
Piedmont CC at Thomas Jefferson
Shelby at Crest
SouthLake Christian at Gaston Day
Monday, April 5
Bandys at North Lincoln
Crest at Kings Mountain
East Rutherford at Shelby
Forestview at Cramer
Huss at Ashbrook
Lake Norman Charter at West Lincoln
Maiden at Lincolnton
Mountain Island Charter at Pine Lake Prep
North Gaston at East Gaston
R-S Central at Burns
South Point at Chase
Tuesday, April 6
East Lincoln at Newton-Conover
Lincoln Charter at Thomas Jefferson
University Christian at Gaston Day
Wednesday, April 7
Bradford Prep at Mountain Island Charter
Burns at South Point
Crest at Forestview
East Gaston at Shelby
East Lincoln at Lake Norman Charter
Huss at North Gaston
Kings Mountain at Cramer
Newton-Conover at Lincolnton
North Lincoln at West Lincoln
Thursday, April 8
Cherryville at Piedmont CC
Highland Tech at Lincoln Charter
Friday, April 9
Asheville Christian at Gaston Day
Monday, April 12
Burns at Chase
Cramer at Crest
Forestview at Ashbrook
Lake Norman Charter at North Lincoln
Langtree Charter at Mountain Island Charter
Lincolnton at East Lincoln
North Gaston at Kings Mountain
Shelby at R-S Central
South Point at East Gaston
West Lincoln at Maiden
Tuesday, April 13
Cherryville at Bessemer City
Gaston Day at Westminster Catawba
Wednesday, April 14
Chase at Shelby
Cramer at South Point
Crest at Ashbrook
East Rutherford at Burns
Forestview at North Gaston
Kings Mountain at Huss
Lincolnton at Bandys
Mountain Island Charter at Queen’s Grant
North Lincoln at East Lincoln
R-S Central at East Gaston
West Lincoln at Newton-Conover
Thursday, April 15
Lincoln Charter at Piedmont CC
Thomas Jefferson at Cherryville
Monday, April 19
East Gaston at Chase
East Lincoln at Bandys
Hickory Grove Christian at Gaston Christian
Huss at Crest
Kings Mountain at Ashbrook
North Gaston at Cramer
North Lincoln at Maiden
Shelby at Burns
South Point at East Rutherford
Union Academy at Mountain Island Charter
West Lincoln at Lincolnton
Tuesday, April 20
Bessemer City at Thomas Jefferson
Cherryville at Lincoln Charter
Hickory Grove Christian at Gaston Day
Wednesday, April 21
Bandys at West Lincoln
Cramer at Ashbrook
Crest at North Gaston
East Gaston at Burns
Gaston Christian at Concord Academy
Huss at Forestview
Kings Mountain at Shelby
Lincolnton at Lake Norman Charter
Maiden at East Lincoln
Newton-Conover at North Lincoln
R-S Central at South Point
Thursday, April 22
Christ the King at Cherryville
Lincoln Charter at Bessemer City
Thomas Jefferson at Highland Tech
Friday, April 23
Northside Christian at Gaston Day
Monday, April 26
East Lincoln at West Lincoln
East Rutherford at East Gaston
Forestview at Kings Mountain
Huss at Cramer
Mountain Island Charter at Community School is Davidson
North Gaston at Ashbrook
North Lincoln at Lincolnton
Piedmont CC at Thomas Jefferson
Shelby at South Point
Tuesday, April 27
Highland Tech at Cherryville
Lincoln Charter at Christ the King
Wednesday, April 28
Ashbrook at Huss
Bandys at North Lincoln
Burns at R-S Central
Chase at South Point
Cramer at Forestview
East Gaston at North Gaston
Kings Mountain at Crest
Lincolnton at Maiden
Newton-Conover at East Lincoln
Pine Lake Prep at Mountain Island Charter
Shelby at East Rutherford
West Lincoln at Lake Norman Charter
Thursday, April 29
Bessemer City at Cherryville