The tradition, the lore: It's Chippewa, the area's best girls' soccer program since 1996

WOOSTER - About two years ago, Chippewa coach Ruth Coney became the first woman coach to be inducted into the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association. It was no small honor but attested to the program that she built in Doylestown since her hire to start it in 1996.

"Mrs. Coney has been in my life since I started soccer at 4 years old because she has built a strong youth program," said sophomore forward Delaney Marshall. "She's watched me play, encouraged me, pushed me and inspired me to work harder.  I think it's amazing that out of all the schools she could be coaching at, she chooses Chippewa over and over again."

Since that hire date, Coney's teams have gone 71-23 in the OHSAA playoffs — more than double the wins of any other area team in that span. The next closest area program to the Chipps in OHSAA total playoff wins is West Holmes at 33-22. Chippewa has won 21 sectional titles, 12 district titles including an eight-year streak from 2015-2022, five regional titles and has been in the state finals twice — 2005 and 2015. Coney's program has had 25 All-Ohioans selected and two All-Americans, the next closest program locally is Northwestern with nine All-Ohioans.

To make matters worse for opponents, her current team has a record of 10-0 and is already drawing comparisons to the 2016 squad with the depth, skill and simply the dawg mentality. It's what made that team led by Jill Jones, twins Nadya and Naya Boualany and Bailey Clark simply special.

"My favorite players growing up were the twins and Bailey," said senior and two-time captain, Elena Moyer. "They were very aggressive, very fast and they were on that team that went to state, which means a lot."

"Playing for a winning program is amazing and intimidating all at once," added Marshall. "You're always one step away from a loss, but those wins feel so good. The pressure to win just gives us more motivation as a whole to do what hasn't been done yet and added, 'We play for Mary Kay (late legendary assistant coach).' "

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As for what it means to be part of this program.

"Chipp soccer is really fun, it's just like a really good sisterhood," said Moyer. "Everyone gets along, practices are really fun, we get a lot done, everyone is very positive and it's a great environment."

This year, Chippewa has a plethora of options to attack opponents with and much like an ace pitcher, they have plenty of pitches in the arsenal that they can throw at any time. The Chipps have the ability to fire from long range, they are quick in transition, effective with the cross from the outside, have the ability to penetrate most defenses and if you let them get close inside the box, they will finish you at close quarters.

They are led by Marshall, who just might be their most improved player, and she was already one of the area's best as a freshman. There is also Mia Rodriguez, Abby Steen, Cally West, Alaina Henthorn, Emme Donnelly, Moyer and plenty more when given the chance.

In the midfield, good luck getting past Moyer and Rodriguez, who are about as good as it gets in the middle.

Defensively, it's kind of a pick your poison as they have Addison Good, Myra Lewis, Gabi Gartin and more. This year that group along with goalkeeper Madison Breeden, have only allowed three goals, one in the pace of play.

"We have a lot of trust in them," Moyer said about the defensive unit. "They know their marks, Coach Coney does a great job pairing them all up and they know, stay with your mark and get the ball out. We do a great job of working together and talking out there too."

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And wrapping it up perfectly was the sophomore forward.

"I know it sounds çliche, but we don't have just one strong player," said Marshall. "There's a whole team of us girls who want to win, so we work together - we talk to each other, we pass to the open person, we just try to stay positive with one another and that's big in this sport."

As for how this level of play continues to roll forward and the hype: "The thing I love the most is the camaraderie between all of us," said Marshall. "We genuinely like each other and want to see others succeed as much as we want to be successful individually. It's truly such a great group to be part of."

"Every day I get to play with my best friends, it's just so fun," smiled Moyer about it all. "And we talk about it (the hype), it would be fun to end on a positive note, a high note to leave our mark."

Goalkeeper Star's Rising - A year ago, the area lost a host of talented senior goalkeepers, headlined by Wooster's Grace Kostohryz, who was simply fantastic. This year though, it's clear there is a new dawning, a new era of talented netminders with Triway freshman Addison Gentry and Norwayne sophomore Morgan Hamby joining Smithville's Jenna Necko and Chippewa Madison Breeden. Gentry and Hamby have both been phenomenal in huge games as Gentry shut out Orrville with a few spectacular plays and Hamby nearly did the same to a vaunted Chippewa squad. Both have the mettle to be superb standouts and game-changers and clearly show that the level of expectation for area goalkeepers continues to rise.

Woodruff Time - Jailynn Woodruff currently leads the area in goals scored with 16 and has been a huge 'why' in Northwestern's ascent up the Power Rankings. A split with Smithville was also key and Woodruff just continues to flash that scoring touch. Her 16 goals tie her for the second-most goals scored in a season since 2017, with Florida Blake, who scored 21 in 2021.

Power Rankings Update:

Girls Soccer

1. Chippewa - There is no question, this Chipps squad is clear-cut no. 1 and you can thank the perfect mixture of senior leadership and talented youngsters.
2. Norwayne - Defense is the reason for this rising, as the Bobcats have one of the area's best and it's anchored by seniors Brooke Mullins and Molly Gasser. The pair have set the pace, and this team is rolling with it as its offense continues to find its way.
3. Northwestern - Woodruff simply knows how to find the back of the net and they are contending in a tough WCAL behind a rugged defense and Woodruff's scoring foot.
4. Smithville - A rough stretch of four straight losses that included Chippewa, Northwestern and Norwayne hurt, but this Smithies squad has the talent to contend on any given night.
5. Triway - Gentry, Strong, Root and the Golias girls are just some of the reasons why this current top team in the PAC has risen. Maybe still a year away, but this squad won't surprise anyone anymore, they are the real deal.

Boys Soccer

1. Norwayne (7-1-1) - Drawing a better result against Western Reserve Academy, the Bobcats are continuing their run of recent years. This team is rock solid and has all the pieces to put together a nice run.
2. Wooster (3-8-1) - It hasn't been the easiest of years for the Generals, but that comes with playing a tough slate of games and sometimes getting bit by the injury bug. When healthy, still one of the area's best.
3. Hiland (8-3) - The Hawks are flying high with some resounding wins and will sort out the Tri-County League with games against league rivals, Norwayne, Central Christian and Cardinal Mooney coming up.
4. Central Christian (5-3-2) - Fundamentally sound, the Comets are a cut above most area teams just because of how fundamentally sound they are. A stubbing of the toe to Smithville, caught them looking to far forward to a matchup with rival Norwayne, that was two days after.
5. Smithville (7-3-1) - The Smithies are playing well, currently second in the WCAL and love playing low-scoring games, that are dictated more defensively.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: The tradition, the lore: It's Chippewa, the area's best girls' soccer program since 1996