News Archive
Challenging Trio Awaits Girls Soccer In First Week Of 2018 Season
SETTING THE SCENE: The Milford High School girls soccer team, led by veteran head coach Patrick Winkler along with a five-member senior class are ready to kick off the 2018 campaign with three games over a six-day span. The Eagles are coming off a 6-8-4 finish to last season, but did win an OHSAA Tournament match for the fourth time in the last five years. The start to the campaign will be a challenge as the trio of first week opponents combined to win 44 matches one year ago.
THE UPCOMING DOCKET: A look at Milford’s schedule for the upcoming week:
- Friday, Aug. 17 vs. Springboro, 7:00 p.m.
- 2017 Record: 17-2-2, 7-0-1 GWOC
- Top Returning Player: Senior Olivia Page (31 G, 7 A, 69 pts)
- Last Meeting: 2017; Springboro 5, Milford 0
- Series History: Springboro leads 2-0-0
- Tuesday, Aug. 21 at Sycamore, 7:00 p.m.
- 2017 Record: 13-4-2, 5-2-2 GMC (8th Division I area coaches’ preseason poll)
- Top Returning Player: Senior Maddie Thiss (5 G, 8 A, 18 pts)
- Last Meeting: 2017; Sycamore 3, Milford 2
- Series History: Sycamore leads 30-20-7
- Thursday, Aug. 23 at Little Miami, 7:00 p.m.
- 2017 Record: 14-3-0, 6-0-0 SWOC (RV Division I area coaches’ preseason poll)
- Top Returning Player: Senior Eva Kiper (26 G, 6 A, 58 pts)
- Last Meeting: 2017; Little Miami 1, Milford 0
- Series History: Milford leads 3-1-0
A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: The Eagles’ roster for this fall features three returning all-conference performers, including two of the team’s top three scorers of last season. Defender Tori Kittrell anchored the defense last year as a sophomore and was a first team All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference choice. The high scoring duo of senior Ali Kirk and junior Ali Claus both earned second team honors last year after combining for 13 goals and 11 assists.
Other returnees to the roster include seniors Taylor Cassidy, Madison Chitwood, Emily Dominique and Hayden Moehring and juniors Ava Cook, Chloe Lorenz, Trina Manning, Mikayla Pulliam and Marley Smith. The balance of the team is made up of newcomers in juniors Kaitlyn Geis and Zoey McAninch and sophomores Beth Cook, Abby Nehlen and Ellie Redrow.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s returning statistical leaders:
Goals: Ali Claus (8), Ali Kirk (7), Madison Chitwood & Tori Kittrell (3)
Assists: Ali Claus (5), Ali Kirk (4), Tori Kittrell (3)
Points: Ali Claus (21), Ali Kirk (18), Tori Kittrell (9)
POLL WATCH: Milford is one of several teams, including two from the Eastern Cincinnati Conference, receiving votes in the initial Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll of 2018. Defending OHSAA State Champion Loveland is loaded again this fall and took the top spot, receiving 12 of 18 first place votes that were cast. The remainder of the No. 1 votes were shared among second place Mason (three), third place Fairfield (two) and eighth place Sycamore (one). The balance of the top-five is comprised of St. Ursula and Anderson from the ECC. The Eagles’ conference is also represented by Turpin in a tie for 10th, along with West Clermont joining Milford in others receiving votes. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.
