Experienced Highland girls soccer team looking forward to breakout season

A strong junior class with experience will give the Highland girls soccer team a chance to have perhaps its best season in six years this spring.

Fourteen returning players are back for the Bulldog from last year’s 6-12-2 team and and nine of those players are juniors, giving the Bulldogs a junior-heavy roster.

“All 14 impacted the season greatly last year but our junior class as a whole, I’m just thrilled they came back, “ Highland coach Daniel Podwojski said.

Junior goalie Sophia Fleming. junior forward Peyton Frey, and junior forward Madison Emig are expected to help shape the core of the roster.

A newcomer that will also figure int the mix for Highland is freshman Madlyn Roach. Roach is expected to push for playing time early this season.

Podwoski believes that that the strengths of the club this year will be their experience and ability to lead younger players.

“I think one of our strong point is we have a good group of experienced players that have decided to have a mindset of positivity and be role models for these younger girls and they’ve played together for so long that they just know each other’s-play style and where they should be on the field,” Podwojski said.

Lack of depth may be the biggest challenge the Bulldogs will face during the season with just 18 players on the roster.

“I think it’s numbers game for us as we only have 18 girls this year, which means we only have a varsity (team), so I think one of our concerns making sure we stay healthy,” Podwojski said.

Frey (eight goals and eight assists), and Payton Beard (seven goals, and six assists), will be the top scoring options for HHS this spring. Sophomore Maddie Molitor ( six goals and three assists) should also be a key contributor as well.

“Most of these girls have been trained to go in both the offensive and defensive positions, so depending on what we’re seeing out there, they can be expected to play a variety of positions,” Podwojski said.

After hitting six wins for the first time time since 2018 last season, Podwojski believes this group is ready to take the next step and win more games and potentially go further on the postseason in 2024.

“I think they definitely have opportunity to grow and win some games and like I’ve always told my girls, continue to grow and excel win or lose. We want to take that feeling and put forth or best foot,” Podwojski said. “I would rather play our hardest and be proud of how we played than win or lose every single game without trying to make progress and I think we’ve instilled that value into this team.”

Highland opened the season on Monday with a road game at Greenville.