Girls Soccer – Young Hornets squad under first year coach Chris Hain excited for upcoming season. PREVIEW

Senior Kam McWhinney is the leading returning scorer for the Hornets. Photo: Nathan Lewis.

Coach – Chris Hain (1st year)

Assistants – Alexa Nisiotis, Rachel Burcaw, Susie Racek

Last year – 16-6-1 overall (12-3-1 EPC); Qualified for EPC Tournament – Defeated Nazareth 2-1 OT, lost to Parkland 6-0; Qualified for District XI Tournament – Defeated Freedom 6-0, Easton 1-0, lost to Parkland 2-1 in finals

Key losses to graduation – Def. Mya Cooper (1st Team EPC), F Sammy Walkiewicz (14 goals), Def. Ashley Geder, F Julia Adams, F Vivienne Pinocci-Wrightsman, F Ananya Roy, MF Ryleigh McNellis, MF Mackenzie Huffer

Returnees – Sr. M/F Kam McWhinney (team-leading 15 goals, 2nd Team EPC), Sr. GK Ashley Stine (3rd Team EPC), Sr. F Morgan Tandy, Sr. MF Gabriella Powell, Sr. Def. Madison Shutkufski, Sr. Def. Kirsten Esterly, Soph. F. Elizabeth Bender (13 goals), Soph. MF Sophia Shutkufski, Soph. Ella Daly, Jr. Def. Emma Paradise, Soph. MF Sofia Isaksson, Soph. F Autumn Scheuermann

Newcomers – Jr. F Atlanta Bogert, Jr. MF Andrea Dolcemascolo, Jr. F Kyana Deabreu, Jr. Def. Bailey Johnson, Jr. GK Sadie Wallace, Soph. F. Hannah Berk, Soph. F Giuliana Meyer, Soph. MF Blair Stephens, Fr. Def. Stella Pietrulewicz, Fr. Def. Olivia Haberl, Fr. Def. Cecelia Lower, Fr. MF Ella Scharper

First game – Sat., Aug. 24 vs Wilson West Lawn, Home (10 am)

Teams to beat in EPC – Parkland, CCHS, Northampton, Nazareth

Coach Hain – “I’m excited for the opportunity to be the head coach here at Emmaus and especially to follow in someone like (former coach) Sarah (Oswald) shoes. She leaves big shoes to fill.”

“I told the girls coming into the pre-season that my first goal is to earn their trust. We want to create a culture that everyone is going to buy into.”

“We are going to be a little bit young this year, and to build what we are going to look like tactically I think will take a little bit of time to see where players fit best. I think we also are going to be a really smart team. We are going to be very young in certain positions.”

Follow the team on social media: ‘X’ @EmmausSoccer, @Emmaussports; Facebook: Emmaus girls soccer