Richland 25: Loaded Ontario girls soccer ready for run at multiple championships in 2024

ONTARIO — Loaded.

It really is the only word to describe the Ontario Warriors girls soccer team heading into the 2024 season. Absolutely loaded. Ontario did lose seven seniors from last year's squad including their starting goalkeeper and their best defender, but the talent the Warriors return all over the pitch is sensation and makes them the early favorite to win the Division III district championship.

Let's break down the Warriors, who come in at No. 5 in this year's Richland 25 countdown of the top returning teams in Richland County.

5. Ontario Girls Soccer

Key Losses to Graduation: Sarah Hendrix, Goalkeeper; KaMashya Shaw, Defense; Ella Shaffer, Midfielder, Captain; Dagena Young, Defense; Brenna Nelson, Midfielder; Megan Goldbach, Defense/Midfielder; Alyson Howard, Midfielder.

Key Returners: Hattie Yugovich, Midfielder, 32 goals, 18 assists; Addi Pittman, Forward, 23 goals, eight assists; Elaina Seif, Midfielder/Forward, 13 goals, 10 assists; Jakiah Trammel, Defense, one goal, four assists; Braelyn Llewellyn, Forward/Defense, 12 goals, seven assists; Sasha Bulakovski, Midfielder, two goals, 19 assists; Leila Stevens, Midfielder/Forward, four goals, three assists; Rowan McManes, Midfielder, three goals, five assists; Grace Them, Midfielder, three goals, one assist; Ana Ward, Forward, two goals, three assists; Nissi Powers, Defense, one goal, one assist; Darbie Broom, Goalkeeper, Sydney McManes, Defense, two assists; Kailey Hale, Defense, one goal.

The 4-1-1: The Warriors scored 96 goals as a team last season and 86 came from the players returning in 2024. The offensive firepower is second to none, but they will have to figure out how to replace a solid keeper who had 148 saves in her four year career including 66 last season. They also have to replace their best defensive player in Shaw and a captain in Shaffer. With the trio of Yugovich, Pittman and Seif up top and defenders like Trammel, Llewellyn and Sydney McManes, the Warriors have everything they need to win another Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference championship and make a run at their first district title since 2016.

Of the returning players, two are sophomores, six are juniors and six are seniors so the Warriors still have some youth, but the veteran leadership is there to make a nice run. The Warriors have won the last five MOAC championships and six of the last seven since joining the league.

Award season: Below is a list of every player who earned which awards for the Warriors last season:

Hattie Yugovich, Ontario

All-Central Region; Division II First Team All-Ohio, Division II District Player of the Year, Division II First Team All-District, Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Year, First Team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.

Addi Pittman, Ontario

Division II Second Team All-Ohio, Division II First Team All-District, First Team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.

Elaina Seif, Ontario

Division II First Team All-District, First Team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.

Sasha Bulakovski, Ontario

Division II Second Team All-District, Second Team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.

Braelyn Llewelyn, Ontario

Division II Second Team All-District, Second Team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.

Jakiah Trammel, Ontario

Division II Honorable Mention All-District, Honorable Mention All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.

2024 Schedule

Aug. 20 vs Ashland

Aug. 24 @ Lexington

Aug. 27 vs River Valley

Aug. 28 @ Riverdale

Sept. 2 vs Amherst Steele at Riverview Labor Day Showcase

Sept. 4 @ Clear Fork

Sept. 7 vs Kenston

Sept. 11 vs Galion

Sept. 17 vs Madison

Sept. 24 vs Marion Harding

Sept. 26 vs Medina

Sept. 28 @ Ottawa-Glandorf

Sept. 30 vs Liberty-Benton

Oct. 2 vs Shelby

Oct. 8 vs New Albany

Oct. 9 at Highland

Oct. 12 at Olentangy Liberty

jfurr@gannett.com

740-244-9934

X: @JakeFurr11

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland 25: Loaded Ontario girls soccer ready for run at multiple championships in 2024