When it comes to defending the Smithsburg girls soccer team, opponents will have to pick their poison.
Will they send their top players to mark Lillian Hade, a Leopard who erupted for 15 goals last season? If so, who will be left to guard Reagan Furajter, Abigail Sines, and Hannah Krumpe, three players who combined for 23 goals and 11 assists on the pitch in 2025?
These are all crucial questions that need to be answered if the competition hopes to stop high-powered Smithsburg at both the regional and state levels.
Elsewhere in Washington County, North Hagerstown believes it has the talent to improve upon a two-win campaign, while South Hagerstown returns several key players from a team aiming for its first victory since 2023.
Greencastle-Antrim is a squad looking for a return to greatness following a 2025 season that saw the Blue Devils snap a streak of five-straight years of qualifying for the District 3 Tournament. Chambersburg will enter the season confidence after knocking off an unbeaten team in the playoffs, while Fairfield brings back enough young talent to be a quality squad for years to come.
We’ll take a closer look at all seven of these teams in our girls soccer previews. Let the games begin.
Stick with LocalNews1.org in the days and weeks to come as we continue to preview the fall sports season before it kicks off later this month.
Below are team-by-team preview capsules for the 2026 high school girls soccer season:
Waynesboro Maidens
Coach: Brian Fisher
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial
Last season: 2-16, 2-12
Top projected returners: Adrienne Warner (Sr., F), Caroline Bercaw (Sr., D), Emma Jones (Sr., M), Natalia Anderson (Sr., F), Stella Dorius (Jr., D), Theresa Beach (Sr., M/F), Abby Byers (Sr., GK), Braelyn Cordell (Jr., F)
Meet the Maidens: Waynesboro is looking forward to a fresh start after posting a two-win campaign in 2025 … The Maidens graduated several key players from that group, including a trio of All-Colonial All-Stars in Lainey Peyton, Miley Smetzer, and Taylor Grimes. Smetzer was a multiple-time All-Star at defender, while forward Peyton and defender Grimes were both All-Stars in 2024 … Waynesboro is hoping that under the senior leadership of goalkeeper Abby Byers, it can return to its winning form from 2024, when it posted a 10-8 record … Byers won’t be the only senior taking the field this fall, as the Maidens bring back several other battle-tested 12th-graders in forward Adrienne Warner, defender Caroline Bercaw, and midfielder Emma jones … Waynesboro has qualified for districts six times in program history.
Opener: Friday, Aug. 28, at South Western
Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils
Coach: Jonathan Lewis
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial
Last season: 8-10, 8-6 division
Top projected returners: Braelyn Cordell (Jr., F), Ava Witmer (Jr.), Ava Cottrell (Jr., Striker), Trinity Gladhill (Sr.), Destiny Gladhill (Sr., D), Lilah Overcash (Sr., FB), Chloe Parks (So., F), Leilah Swain (So.), Briella Pine (So.), Jaylyn Lewis (So., D), Avery Russel (So.), Caroline Drawbaugh (So.), Arianna Lewis (So., Striker), Noragrace Deneed (So.), JJ Anderson (So.), Mary Auman (Sr., GK), Reagan Reed (Jr., M), Lily Black (Jr., D), Daisy Black (So., D), Addi Cordell (Jr., M), Suzanna Painter (So.), Sophia Stine (So.), Emma Marx (Jr.), Madison Knox (So.).
Meet the Blue Devils: The first order of business for Greencastle-Antrim will be getting back on the winning track following a 2025 season that saw the team miss the Blue Devils the playoffs after five-straight years of qualifying for the District 3 postseason … Graduated from that team is midfielder Callie Izer, a multiple-time Colonial Division All-Star who has contributed 11 goals and seven assists over the past two seasons. Starting goalkeeper Taylor Watts (52 saves) has also been lost to graduation … The good news for the Blue Devils is they return plenty of talent, including a trio of All-Stars in Braelyn Cordell, Ava Cottrell, and Jaylyn Lewis … Cordell, a junior forward, has been a force for Greencastle ever since stepping on the field as a freshman. She’s totaled 24 goals and nine assists over her first two seasons, each of which has seen her earn All-Colonial Second Team honors … Greencastle should be solid on the back line with the return of defenders Cottrell and Lewis, both of whom were All-Colonial Third Team selections last fall … Cottrell and Lewis will be crucial in the back, as the Blue Devils work to break in a new goalkeeper … The Blue Devils are also projected to return a wealth of battle-tested talent with a group that includes Lilah Overcash (2 goals, 1 assist), Ava Witmer (2 goals), Chloe Parks (2 goals), Leilah Swain (1 goal), Briella Pine (1 goal), Trinity Gladhill, and Destiny Gladhill … If Greencastle can mesh as a team this fall, the Blue Devils could very well return to districts for the 12th time in program history.
Opener: Thursday, Aug. 27, at home vs. James Buchanan
Chambersburg Trojans
Coach: Ed Franchi
Division: Mid-Penn Commonwealth
Last season: 9-7-1, 7-4-1 division
Top projected returners: Malia Cramer (Sr., M), Addalyn Amsparger (Sr., M), Ashley Mitchell (Sr., GK), Marley Onomastico (Sr., D), Moriah Martin (Sr., D)
Meet the Trojans: After making the District 3-4A postseason in back-to-back seasons, Chambersburg will be aiming to qualify for the playoffs for the third year in a row … The Trojans are coming off a campaign that saw the team take third place in the Commonwealth Division on their way to making the district tournament as the No. 14 seed. There, Chambersburg slayed a dragon when it advanced past the first round with a 1-0 victory over undefeated No. 3 seed Northern York … The season ended for the Trojans in the next round with a 2-1 overtime loss to Central Dauphin, but Chambersburg returns enough talent from that team to make a run at the postseason once again this fall … Look for the Trojans to follow the lead of returning All-Commonwealth seniors Malia Cramer and Ashley Mitchell … Cramer, a midfielder, is a multiple-time All-Star, while goalkeeper Mitchell picked up Second Team honors last season … Chambersburg is expected to bring back a number of other varsity-hardened athletes, including Addalyn Amsparger, Marley Onomastico, and Moriah Martin … With that said, the Trojans have several graduation holes to fill, most notably gaps in the lineup left from the departure of All-Stars Bree Paetow, Kadence Decker, and Katy Weller … If Chambersburg can piece it all together this fall, the Trojans could be on track to qualify for districts for the 13th time in program history.
Opener: Thursday, Aug. 27, at Northern York
Fairfield Knights
Coach: Owen Phelan
Division: South Central Athletic Conference Division II
Last season: 11-6, 7-5 YAIAA III
Top projected returners: Ella Gastley (Jr.), Gemma Phelan (So.), Charlie Sweeney (So.), Abby DeLaurence (Jr.)
Meet the Knights: Fairfield, one of District 3-1A’s best programs over the last 10 years, got back on track last fall after missing the postseason in 2024 … Led by a trio of underclassmen in Gemma Phelan, Charlie Sweeney, and Abby DeLaurence, the Knights posted a winning record and qualified for the district playoffs as a No. 2 seed. Fairfield defeated West Shore Christian by a 2-1 score in overtime before the season ended with a 2-1 loss to Brandywine Heights, the eventual district champion … It was a good step forward for the Knights, but the program would love to return to its form from 2016-2020, a span of five consecutive years that saw the team appear in the championship game. Fairfield captured three district titles in 2016, 2017, and 2020 … Another playoff run from the Knights this fall will require a successful season in the restructured South Central Athletic Conference, formerly the York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association. Unlike most other Fairfield teams, the Knights will be playing up to Division II and facing a schedule that includes the likes of Bermudian Springs, Eastern York, Kennard-Dale, New Oxford, West York, York, and York Catholic … Luckily, Fairfield appears to be equipped for the challenge with the projected return of Phelan, Sweeney, and DeLaurence. Phelan and Sweeney were YAIAA Division III First Team All-Stars last fall, while DeLaurence made it on the Second Team … Ella Gastley, a Second Team All-Star in 2024, is also expected to return for her junior … Fairfield will be aiming to qualify for the postseason for the 14th time in program history.
Opener: Saturday, Aug. 29, at Lebanon
North Hagerstown Hubs
Coach: Rick Aleshire
Classification: 3A West Region I
Last season: 2-10-2
Top projected returners: Quinn Chomor (Jr., D/M, 5-5), Emily Hornick (Jr., F), Emerson Kelly (So., M), Anayiah Legette (Sr., D), Jayleen Legette (So., D), Cecelia Lydiate (Jr., M), Isabella Maciulla (Sr., D)
Meet the Hubs: North Hagerstown will be aiming to improve upon a two-win campaign that ended with an 8-0 loss to Westminster in the Class 3A West Region I Quarterfinals … Although the Hubs graudated a couple of key players in Sadie Lydiate and Sophie Lobley, they should be competitive this season with an experienced group of returners … Quinn Chomor, a 5-foot-5 defender who plays both the outside and center back positions, is a junior who has been playing varsity since her freshman season … Midfielder Emerson Kelly is projected to return after a freshman campaign that saw her total eight goals and two assists … North Hagerstown will be counting on Emily Hornick, a senior forward, for support with the offense, while the defense should have plenty of depth with the return of Anayiah Legette, Jayleen Legette, and Isabella Maciulla … Cecelia Lydiate could be a difference-maker from the midfield.
Opener: Tuesday, Sept. 8, at home vs. Boonsboro
South Hagerstown Rebels
Coach: Matthew Gillich
Classification: 4A West Region I
Last season: 0-13
Top projected returners: Jordan Cousins (Jr., GK), Mas’ouda Kamara (Jr., F), Katie Myers (Jr., D), Khloe Terrelonge (So., M), Aleena Rozak (So., D), Alexia Frias (So., D), Alisson Amaya (Sr., D), Bella Fraley (So., F), Camila Hernandez (So., D/M), Chanel Towles (Sr.), Faith Mahullo (So., M, 5-2), Isabelle Anifowose (Sr., D), Jakia Francois (So., F/M), Jenny Hernandez (So., M), Katelyn Morales (So., M/F), Ngassa Sharon (So., M), Nichelle Katamani (Sr., D), Paola Del Valle Carrasquillo (So.), Sama Hamid (Sr., M/F), Emani Cooper (Jr., F)
Meet the Rebels: When South Hagerstown takes the field this season, the squad will be aiming to snap a years-long losing streak … The Rebels, whose last win came in the 2023 season, are coming off an 0-13 campaign that ended with a 9-1 loss to Seneca Valley in the Class 4A West Region I Quarterfinals … South Hagerstown has to believe it can win at least a few games this fall with the return of sophomore midfielder Khloe Terrelonge, who netted eight goals last season … The Rebels also bring back goalkeeper Jordan Cousins, a junior who registered more than seven saves per game in 2025 … Look for forward Mas’ouda Kamara and defender Katie Myers to make an impact this season.
Opener: Tuesday, Sept. 8, at Catoctin
Smithsburg Leopards
Coach: Terri Mutchler
Classification: 1A West Region II
Last season: 9-8
Top projected returners: Lilian Hade (Sr., M), Adalynne Shifler (Sr., F), Abigail Sines (Jr., M), Arianna Thomas (Sr., D), Caylee Oliva (Sr., D), Kayla Simms (Sr., M), Macy Orr (Sr., GK), Reagan Furajter (Jr., M), Taylor Shusko (Sr., D), Victoria Del Cid (Sr., D/M), Layla Hersom (Jr., M), Hannah Krumpe (So., M), Clara Nieman (Jr., F), Elena Edwards (Jr., D), Parker Griffith (Jr., D), Zoe Shuster (Jr., M), Georgia Cline (So., M), Morgan Brezler (So.)
Meet the Leopards: Following back-to-back winning seasons, Smithsburg is hoping to take the next step this fall … The Leopards played to a 9-8 record last season, with their campaign concluding with a 3-0 loss to Brunswick in the Class 1A West Region II Semifinals … Smithsburg returns a full arsenal of playmakers, led by senior forward Lillian Hade. A CMC Small School First Team selection last season, Hade totaled 15 goals and nine assists … Another First Teamer, midfielder Reagan Furajter, is expected to return after piling up seven goals and two assists … Throw in the projected return of midfielders Abigail Sines (10 goals, 2 assists) and Hannah Krumpe (6 goals, 7 assists), and it’s easy to get excited about the Leopards prospects this season … Smithsburg is also expected bring back a group of seasoned veterans that includes Layla Hersom, Arianna Thomas, Caylee Oliva, Kaylee Simms, and Clara Nieman … With this high-powered group, the Leopards will be hoping to cover the graduation losses of Carson Furajter (4 goals, 1 assist) and Samantha Nieman, as well as two-time All-State goalkeeper Macy Peters, who recorded 98 saves and pitched two shutouts last fall.
Opener: Tuesday, Sept. 8, at home vs. Francis Scott Key
