The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Northern, Mountain Ridge and Allegany finished 1-2-3 in last season’s final area poll, with the Huskies capturing their first area championship since 2011, and all three debut new head coaches in 2025.
Northern and Allegany graduate a pair of record-setting goal scorers in Emma Hostetler, the 2024 Player of the Year, and Avery Miller.
Still, those three Western Maryland Athletic Conference squads are again 1-2-3, this time with Mountain Ridge first in the preseason area poll, receiving all five first-place votes, followed by Allegany (20 points) and Northern (14).
Fort Hill comes in fourth with 11 votes, and Hampshire, a model of consistency in recent memory, is fifth with three votes.
Frankfort and Southern both received a point each as the highest unranked vote-getters.
Here’s what to expect across the area girls soccer landscape this fall:
Allegany
Head coach: Andy Farrell (1st season)
Last year’s record: 9-5-2
Key losses: Avery Miller (1st-team All-Area/21 goals, 5 assists)
Key returners: Myia Miller (1st-team All-Area/5 goals, 13 assists), Elexa Mazuran (2nd-team All-Area), Ellena Nelson (2nd-team All-Area), Ella Shade
Coach’s quote: “After a season of big wins and hard losses, numerous coaching changes and a lot of uncertainty, we have focused on positivity and accountability. We hold each other accountable, knowing we will win as a team or lose as a team. No person is bigger than the next.
“We are fortunate enough to field a JV team this season, which allows some of our younger players to receive precious minutes in the build-up to their final years as student athletes. The future of Lady Campers soccer is as strong as it has ever been.”
Fort Hill
Head coach: Dave Neff (4th season)
Last year’s record: 7-7
Key losses: Nevaeh Bunbasi (2nd-team All-Area), Brenly Hershberger
Key returners: Alexis Litten, Myleigh Anderson, Sadie Hamilton, Lakyn Farris, Cady Neff, Allie Hipp, Jemma Stafford
Coach’s quote: “This team will rely on quick transitions and top-end speed to score as quickly as possible while creating constant chaos for our opponents. With multiple players capable of scoring from 30 yards and in, teams shouldn’t be able to key in on one player to slow us down.
“Defensively we will have four of five positions filled by seniors or returning starters, which should enable us to successfully handle anything thrown at us. Our biggest weakness is our roster size at 16, which doesn’t enable us to keep fresh legs on the field like the larger squads in our area. But as long as we stay healthy and come together as a team, our season should be very successful.”
Frankfort
Head coach: Chris Brooks (6th season)
Last year’s record: 1-15-1
Key losses: Kendall Kelly (2nd-team All-Area/10 goals, 4 assists), Clara Nash (5 goals), Lexy Lee
Key returners: Reagan Getz (Calvary transfer), Meghann Griffith, Niya Lantz
Hampshire
Head coach: Colby Nichols (1st season)
Last year’s record: 11-8-3
Key losses: Jaleigh Dixon (1st-team All-Area/20 goals), Nevaeh Church (2nd-team All-Area)
Key returners: Della Knight, Maggie Brake, Sarah Fagga (1st-team All-Area)
Coach’s quote: “Our goal is to get better every day. With three head coaches in three years, everyone needs to learn to trust in me and trust in the formation. First-year assistant (Kaelyn) Knight and I have told them over and over, know that we want success and have the strongest desire for success. Buy in and get on board.
“The five seniors we have along with those juniors who have experience must lead and trust the process. … We have talent. We have a strong junior class. The ultimate goal is to be the best version of ourselves come playoffs.”
Keyser
Head coach: Dan Dawson (27th season)
Last year’s record: 9-8-2
Key losses: Hadley Courtney (1st-team All-Area/104 saves), Abby Del Signore (1st-team All-Area)
Key returners: Carlee Staggs (2nd-team All-Area/19 goals)
Coach’s quote: “I really expect us to end up winning more matches this year than last year. … We’re a AAA school now, so we’re moving up against some better teams. It’s going to be tough.”
Mountain Ridge
Head coach: Jon Miller (1st season)
Last year’s record: 11-3-1
Key losses: Reese Rizzo (2024 Defensive Player of the Year/8 goals, 6 assists), Izzy Robison (1st-team All-Area/6 goals, 6 assists), Jazmyn White (5 goals, 5 assists)
Key returners: Fiona Ruddell (2024 Offensive Player of the Year/19 goals, 8 assists)), Allie Knieriem (1st-team All-Area/9 goals, 2 assists), Taylor Lamberson (2nd-team All-Area/52 saves), Norah Patterson (2nd-team All-Area/6 goals, 4 assists)
Coach’s quote: “The girls are working hard transitioning to the style of play we are teaching. Expectations are high from the coaching staff in the classroom and on the field. The quote for the season is one of my favorites as it goes hand and hand with everyday life: ‘You get what you work for. Earned never given.’”
Northern
Head coach: Nate Sorber (1st season)
Last year’s record: 14-3-1
Key losses: Emma Hostetler (2024 Player of the Year/44 goals, 9 assists), Ada White (2024 Goalkeeper of the Year/73 saves), Isabella Yoder (1st-team All-Area), Kaylee Bowser (1st-team All-Area/5 goals, 6 assists), Malea Fullerton (2nd-team All-Area), McKenzie Upole (2nd-team All-Area/7 goals, 4 assists)
Key returners: Ainsley McHenry-Sorber (1st-team All-Area/10 goals, area-record 26 assists), Abby Nelson (17 goals, 9 assists), Lyla Maust (5 goals), Jenna Bowser, Sophie Yoder
Coach’s quote: “While several aspects of our squad look different this fall, we bring the same championship mentality that carried us to last year’s regional title and state semifinal appearance. The girls are hungry to defend that crown and fight for another run at the state tournament.”
Southern
Head coach: Devin Smith (3rd season)
Last year’s record: 3-11-1
Key losses: Iris Dubansky, Ashlyn Leader
Key returners: Jayden Weaver (2nd-team All-Area/6 goals, 4 assists), Sydney Scott (4 goals, 5 assists)
Coach’s quote: “Our girls have brought a nice energy and competitiveness to practices during the preseason. We’re excited to keep building and prepare for the season ahead. Our goal is to work as hard as we can and improve ourselves each day.”