Sep 15, 2009 3 min read

At Waynesburg Central High School, girls soccer coach Herb Thompson is looking at a roster representing the perfect example of blending the old – four senior captains who provide “senior leadership, lead by example and do a terrific job in setting the tone of the team” – and the new, with seven freshmen on the varsity roster, with several projected in the starting lineup. “This is the youngest team I’ve had,” said Thompson, in his fifth year with the Lady Raiders, “but it is an excellent combination of upper- and under-classmen, and our eight letterwinners (four seniors, one junior, three sophomores) give us a good blend of returning experience. Our freshmen are skilled and have responded well. They have not shown their age.”

With three playoff appearances in four years, that combination could be the ticket to another post-season berth.

But Waynesburg Central, 11-8 overall last season, 10-4 in Section 6-AAA, is no standard soccer program: it is one of three co-operative soccer programs, the only one in Class AAA. In the co-op program with the Lady Raiders are West Greene (four players), Carmichaels (one), and Jefferson-Morgan (no players this year).

“Without a co-op program, some of these kids wouldn’t have an opportunity to play,” noted Thompson. “More kids also gives us the opportunity to have a junior varsity program.”

West Greene’s lone senior on the team is center midfielder Mary Burns, “a gamer who lives for competition,” Thompson said. “That attitude permeates throughout the entire team. Her competitive spirit gets the team in a game frame of mind. She has excellent ball skills, vision and is effective on offense and defense.”

Senior forward Taylor Augustine is the leading returning scorer, having averaged 13-15 goals each year. Deceptively fast, Augustine dribbles well and shoots with either foot.

Besides being the Raiders’ center defensive back, Jesse Kisner, good with balls in the air, is the backup goalkeeper. Along with Kisner in the backfield is senior fullback Julie Phillips, described by Thompson as “ridiculously fast and a tenacious defender.”

Burns, Augustine, Kisner, Phillips are all team captains.

Thompson will also rely on a pair of sophomores in central midfielder Niki Augustine and Rebecca Simpson.

Like Burns, Augustine “has a game mentality and is the motor of the team,” Thompson noted. “She is a catalyst between the offense and defense and has a cannon for a leg.”

Simpson has the athletic ability to play anywhere, defense, midfield, or forward, and is good with both feet. “She is tenacious on defense and never gives up,” Thompson noted.