By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
It appears that youth will be served this spring when it comes to the East Troy High School girls soccer team.
Ten freshmen earned varsity roster spots, but the Trojans also return nine letterwinners from a year ago, and that combination, along with other talented newcomers, could lead to some big things by the time the season comes to an end.
And that’s the hope, according to coach Ed Furey.
“We are young, but talented,” he said. “This is the deepest team we have had in the four years I have been here. If we can stay healthy, I expect them to compete for the top half of the conference.”
Seniors back for East Troy are Lauren Hunter (midfielder/forward), Anna Stephan (forward/defender) and Joy Salentine (defender). Also back are juniors Annabelle Verbeten (forward/midfielder), Jenna Gulig (defender), Megan Mast (midfielder) and Kyle Moker (midfielder/defender); and sophomores Caroline Christiansen (forward) and Sophie Donegan (defender/midfielder).
Stephen, Gulig and Moker will serve as tri-captains, Furey said.
Seeking their first varsity letter are senior Tuva Stokkeland (midfielder); junior Ashey Andrist (goalie); and freshmen Kiley Komperud (goalie), Laci Cesar (midfielder), Abbi Bruce (midfielder), Gracie Moker (midfielder/defender), Olivia Egle (midfielder), Aubrey Erdmann (forward), Maggie Donegan (defender), Natalie Bertschinger (defender), Jordyn Gulig (midfielder/defender) and Sierra Schroeder (defender/midfielder).
Furey has been pleased with the progress his team made through the first two weeks of the season.
“We have had two weeks of practice, and for the first year, it has all been outside,” he said. “Now, we are itching to get in some games. The girls want to prove that the work has been worth it, and the coaches want a better evaluation tool to see what is working and what we need to strengthen.”
A race to the title
East Troy is looking to improve from a 5-13-2 overall record and a 3-6 mark in the Rock Valley Conference a year ago. McFarland ran the table to a 9-0 record and the RVC title, while Evansville was second at 8-1.
Furey expects McFarland again to be a team to watch, but with the added enthusiasm with his team, said the Trojans have their eyes on making plenty of noise as well.
“This team has put in a lot of work in the offseason and is better than last year,” he said. “Our goal will be to compete for the conference championship and to get beyond the second round (of the WIAA tournament).”
Assisting Furey, who is entering his fourth year with the program, is Cheryl Bosko, who also is in her fourth year.
