St. Mary’s Springs and Lourdes/Valley Christian shared the conference crown last spring and both programs appear strong heading into this season as well.
Just three players from last year’s all-conference first team are back this year and two of them are from Springs and Lourdes/VC. The Ledgers bring back junior Anna Willis, who led the league with 33 goals, and the Knights return midfielder Charley Mullen. Mullen is the only returning player voted unanimous first team.
Also back for the Ledgers are juniors Emily Taylor and Lucie Rathke and seniors Ellie Judkins, Annie Barr and Mollie Diedrich. Judkins scored 13 goals and had 17 assists last year, finishing second in the conference in assists. Barr allowed just 21 goals in 20 matches last year in the net for Springs.
The Ledgers lost in the D4 Sectional Final 4-0 to the eventual runners-up Cedar Grove-Belgium.
The Knights’ Delaney Ruedinger is the top offensive returner. She is a junior that scored 13 times and had 11 assists. Lourdes/VC also has Alish Mains back for her senior year, she is one of the conference’s top returning defenders.
Lourdes/VC also made it one game from the state tournament. They fell 5-0 to state champion, Kiel.
Perennial contender Hustisford/Dodgeland got a tremendous freshman season from Addy Raue. She finished second in the conference in scoring with 25 goals. She was the only freshman first-teamer. The other four all conference players for H/D were seniors.
Omro finished third in the league a season ago, but will not have first-teamers Lindi Boeck, who was unanimous, or Alessandra Villalobos back. They also lose midfielder Ava Stachura and Brooklyn Duchatschek. Senior Holly Beck and junior Makenna Lang were both honorable mention picks last year.
Winnebago Lutheran is in a similar situation as the Foxes. WLA had four all conference selections, but will have to replace leading scorer and former player of the year Ava Lorenz and the conference’s first-team goalkeeper Lydia Bernhard. Siri Kuske, who was a second-team defender, also graduated.
The Vikings' lone all-conference returner is senior midfielder Olivia Schwefel, who was honorable mention.
Other all conference returners of note:
Jenna Krupp & Audrina Welsch - NFDL/Oakfield, Ellie Wojahn & Emily Batterman - Mayville, Josslyn Fortner & Emily Fenrick - Lomira, Abby Crofts - Campbellsport, Ana Delpozo - Wayland.
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