HYDE - The Clearfield girls soccer team is under the tutelage of a new head coach entering the 2011 season. In fact the Lady Bisons have a pair of new faces running the team in co-head coaches Leslie Grice and Tom Mohney.
But while Grice and Mohney may be new to the job as varsity head soccer coach, they are certainly not new to the sport of soccer or to the 27 girls on the team.
Grice coached this year's freshmen last season as the Clearfield Middle School head coach and most of the other girls over the last five or six seasons during their sandlot careers in the Clearfield Soccer Association.
She is also familiar with coaching at the varsity level in a different sport after spending six years in the Clearfield track and field program.
Mohney grew up in the Clearfield Soccer Association and went on to play collegiate soccer at IUP. He then spent much of his time as a coach in both the Clearfield and Bradford Township Soccer Associations.
Mohney's daughters Ashleigh and Brooke both played for the Lady Bisons as well as for him during their sandlot days from U-8 all the way through U-19 and into the Classic Showcase Team.
He also recently earned a diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
So the pair bring a lot of soccer knowledge to the team, a team that is littered with talent and experience.
The Lady Bisons welcome back 11 letterwinners and have made the transition for the new coaches easier.
Senior letterwinners Julia Ammerman, Kristen Butler, Candice Morgan and Nichole Powers, junior letterwinners Taylor Dixon and Sabrina Schwartz and sophomore letterwinners McKenna Aleksivich, Lauren Conrad, Carlee Freeburg, Kelsey Greenland and Katie Powers have led by example and made sure every girl on the roster feels she is part of the team.
"We've been very impressed by the upperclassmen from Day 1," Grice said. "They are making every girl on this team feel important. There has been no separation. They've worked wonderfully together. Everybody seems very comfortable with each other."
That team unity is important, as Grice and Mohney look to instill the team concept in full force.
"Our theme is "a higher goal,' " Mohney said. "And that goal is to fulfill everyone's potential. Not just as an individual, but collectively as a team.
"I think we've created that climate with leadership. No matter what class you're in, you're leading by example. Whether you're helping the freshmen, or the freshmen are encouraging the sophomores ... it doesn't matter because we are all one team.
"We don't look for a player of the week. We look for a team of the week and that mentality. Fill everyone's potential and maximize our strength as a team."
With the change in the coaching staff also comes a bit of a strategic change as well.
"There is a new formation, so there is a learning curve for the girls this year," Mohney said. "But that's part of the climate and culture that we're trying to foster. Everyone is going to be strong and everyone is going to sharpen everyone."
As for who will play where this season, many of the positions are still up for grabs, but that is something that will be an ongoing theme throughout the season.
"There are still some positions open," Mohney said. "And any position on the team can be challenged at any time. I think that encourages everyone to work hard whether they're a freshman or a senior trying to hold their position.
"They are all sharpening each other by challenging each other constantly."
But as it stands now, there are some general ideas as to who will be challenging for playing time at different positions on the field.
Up top, Ammerman, Butler, Freeburg and sophomore Shannon Reinke will likely see much of the time.
Aleksivich, Dixon, Nichole Powers, freshman Tessa Munshower and sophomores Lauren Ammerman and Kara Thorp are all vying for time in the midfield, and Conrad, Morgan, Katie Powers and Schwartz are leading the way on defense.
"We are fortunate to have great depth in the attacking mids and a great defense," Mohney said.
Greenland returns to the keeper position, which has a new coach in Dan Mohney.
Many of the other girls on the team are also pushing for time, and that gives the team tremendous depth.
"We definitely have great depth," Grice said. "And from prior working with these girls I know that they have great versatility and will fill in nicely."
Clearfield will compete in the Mountain League for the second season in a row and will also play a few familiar District 9 foes.
Bradford, DuBois and St. Marys are all on the schedule, while District 6 powers Central Mountain and Huntingdon will both get two cracks at the Lady Bisons.
Clearfield will also play Progressland rival Philipsburg-Osceola twice, along with league foe Bellefonte.
"Our schedule is packed," Grice said. "With that in mind, we've been working hard on endurance and conditioning.
"The girls have done a great job. Their heart is into conditioning. They aren't just doing it because they have to. They are doing it because they want to."
Clearfield begins the season Sept. 6, making the trip to Huntingdon for a 7 p.m. start.
"I think we're impressed so far," Mohney said. "We're excited ... very excited."
*Julia Ammerman, *Kristen Butler, Briano Ianaro, *Candice Morgan, *Nichole Powers.
*Taylor Dixon, *Sabrina Schwartz.
*McKenna Aleksivich, Lauren Ammerman, Dorothy Celli, *Lauren Conrad, *Carlee Freeburg, *Kelsey Greenland, Alayna Null, *Katie Powers, Shannon Reinke, Brianna Spencer, Kara Thorp.
Dana Feight, Rachele Hale, Sarah Hazel, Haley McKendrick, Tessa Munshower, Jilli Neeper, Maggie Sopic, Janelle Wallace, Tessa Waring.
6-at Huntingdon, 7 p.m.; 7-at Bradford; 10-at St. Marys, 11 a.m.; 12-at Penns Valley, 7 p.m.; 13-Tyrone; 15-Philipsburg-Osceola; 17-at Brookville, 10 a.m.; 20-at Central Mountain, 7 p.m.; 27-at Bellefonte; 29-Mifflin County.
3-Bald Eagle Area; 5-at Juniata; 10-Huntingdon; 12-DuBois; 13-Bellefonte; 15-at Tyrone, 11 a.m.; 17-at Philipsburg-Osceola; 19-Central Mountain.
Games begin at 4 p.m. unless noted.
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