The playoffs: It’s the place that every team aspires to go. And for many of the experienced girls soccer squads in the Local.News1 coverage area, making the postseason will very much be a reasonable goal for this fall.
Optimism runs high in Waynesboro, where the Maidens are gunning for their first playoff berth since 2017, while Greencastle-Antrim is aiming to make it to districts for the sixth-straight season, even after some significant graduation losses.
Chambersburg brings back some strong players and could very well qualify for the second year in a row, while Fairfield, regarded as one of the top 1A programs of the last decade, will be aiming to return to glory after missing out on the playoffs last fall.
Every team makes the playoffs in the MPSSAA, but there are still plenty of questions to be asked of our area schools when the season kicks off. How will North Hagerstown react after graduating a deep senior class? Can South Hagerstown win its first game since 2023? Can Smithsburg still get the job done following the retirement of coach Bill Fowkes, who guided the Leopards to two state titles?
We’ll take a closer look at all of these squads in our preview capsules for the 2025 season. Stick with Local.News1 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 seven girls soccer teams in the Local.News1 coverage area:
Waynesboro Tribe
Coach: Brian Fisher
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial
Last season: 10-8, 10-4 division
Top projected returners: Lainey Peyton (Sr., F), Miley Smetzer (Sr., D), Taylor Grimes (Sr., D), Adrienne Warner (Jr., F), Andriana Gladhill (Sr.), Caroline Bercaw (Jr., D), Emma Jones (Jr., M), Hannah Eyler (Sr., D), Natalia Anderson (Jr., F), Stella Dorius (So., D), Theresa Beach (Jr., M/F)
Notable: With Colonial Division Player of the Year Nikki Davis leading the way, Waynesboro had a winning season last fall and came oh-so-close to qualifying for the District 3 postseason for the first time since the 2017 campaign … Davis graduated as the Maidens’ all-time assist leader and is now playing for Messiah University, while Waynesboro lost another to graduation in Angie Ayala, who was a Second Team Colonial All-Star … The Maidens have plenty of reason to be optimistic, though, as they bring back a trio of All-Colonial players in Lainey Peyton (First Team), Miley Smetzer (Second Team), and Taylor Grimes (Third Team) … Peyton is a forward who ranks No. 7 on Waynesboro’s all-time scoring list and will be looking to move up the chart, while Smetzer and Grimes will patrol the back line as defenders … The Maidens are projected to bring back a number of other battle-hardened varsity returners, including Adrienne Warner, Andriana Gladhill, Caroline Bercaw, and Emma Jones … Waynesboro will be aiming to qualify for districts for the seventh time in program history.
Opener: Friday, Aug. 22, at home vs. Cedar Cliff
Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils
Coach: Jamie Coy
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial
Last season: 12-6-1, 11-2-1 division
Top projected returners: Braelyn Cordell (So., F), Callie Izer (Sr., M), Caterina Marchiano (Sr.), Bailey Hurley (Sr., M/F), Ava Witmer (So.), Ava Cottrell (So., Striker), Trinity Gladhill (Jr.), Destiny Gladhill (Jr., D)
Notable: Greencastle-Antrim has been a program on a roll since the turn of the decade, with the Blue Devils qualifying for the District 3-3A playoffs for five straight seasons … The postseason streak continued last fall with Greencastle qualifying as the No. 8 seed and falling 4-2 in the opening round to No. 9 East Pennsboro … Making the playoffs again in 2025 will be easier said than done for the Blue Devils, who graduated deep senior class that included a quartet of Colonial Division All-Stars in Abigail Wolfe, Maddie Koons, Zhen Reuter, and Hailey Baker … Greencastle does, however, return its top scorer in Braelyn Cordell, a Second Team selection at forward who exploded for 16 goals and seven assists as a freshman last season … Senior Callie Izer, a Third Team selection, is coming off a campaign that saw her total six goals and four assists … Cordell and Izer will be supported by a squad that returns plenty of players with varsity experience, including Caterina Marchiano, Bailey Hurley, Ava Witmer, Ava Cottrell, Lily Black, Trinity Gladhill, and Destiny Gladhill … If the returning talent can find their rhythm, Greencastle could very well contend for the Colonial and qualify for districts for the 12th time in program history.
Opener: Saturday, Aug. 23, at Boiling Springs Kickoff Tournament
Chambersburg Trojans
Coach: Ed Franchi
Division: Mid-Penn Commonwealth
Last season: 7-8-2, 5-6-1
Top projected returners: Bree Paetow (Sr., M), Kadence Decker (Sr., F), Malia Cramer (Jr., M), Addalyn Amsparger (Jr., M), Ashley Mitchell (Jr., GK), Brooke Bidniuk (Sr., M), Katy Weller (Sr., D), Marley Onomastico (Jr., D), Moriah Martin (Jr., D), Sadie Walter (Sr., D), Zamira Jani (Sr., D)
Notable: With a solid group of returners — including a trio of returning Commonwealth Division First Team All-Stars in Bree Paetow, Kadence Decker, and Malia Cramer — Chambersburg will be aiming to move up the division food chain and qualify for the District 3-4A postseason for the second year in a row … The Trojans snuck into the playoffs as the No. 15 seed last fall and were knocked out in the first round with a 3-0 loss to No. 2 Manheim Township, the eventual district champion … Paetow and Cramer have the ability to control the midfield and go on the attack, while Decker gives the Trojans a quality scoring option up front … Look for these girls to lead a Chambersburg squad that also brings back a wealth of varsity experience with Addalyn Amsparger, Brooke Bidniuk, Katy Weller, Marley Onomastico, Sadie Walter, and Zamira Jani all projected to return … If all goes according to plan for the Trojans, they’ll have a good chance to qualify for the playoffs for the 12th time in program history.
Opener: Monday, Aug. 25, at home vs. Cumberland Valley
Fairfield Knights
Coach: Owen Phelan
Division: YAIAA III
Last season: 6-7-1, 5-7-1 division
Top projected returners: Ella Gastley (So.)
Notable: Fairfield had a competitive season last fall, but the team would love to return to its 2023 form, when the Knights went 14-1 and Owen Phelan was named YAIAA III’s Coach of the Year … Fairfield has been one of the better District 3 programs of the last decade, with the Knights capturing 1A championships in 2016, 2017, and 2020 … The team loses a pair of YAIAA III First Team All-Stars in Cadence Holmberg and Summer Packard, but return a Second Teamer in sophomore Ella Gastley.
Opener: Tuesday, Aug. 26, at home vs. Littlestown
North Hagerstown Hubs
Classification: 3A West Region I
Last season: 7-8
Top projected returners: Sadie Lediate (Sr.), Quinn Chomor (So., D/M), Sophie Lobley (Sr., D)
Notable: North Hagerstown will be trotting out a new-look lineup this fall after graduating key players from nearly every spot on the pitch … The most glaring loss is that of midfielder MaKayla Wright, who recorded 11 goals and eight assists, while garnering First Team selections on both the All-State and All-CMC Large School teams … With Wright and another graduated midfield player, Samantha O’Connor, combining for a large chunk of North’s offense, the Hubs outscored opponents 43-30 last fall … Senior Sadie Lydiate brings back some goal-scoring experience, while defender/midfielder Quinn Chomore is also expected to return after getting some varsity reps as a freshman … North will be in need of a new goalkeeper following the graduation of Aubri Gaston-Dykes.
Opener: Saturday, Aug. 23, at home vs. Catoctin
South Hagerstown Rebels
Coach: Stefani Bryant
Classification: 3A West Region I
Last season: 0-12
Top projected returners: N/A
Notable: New head coach Stefani Bryant will be aiming to turn around a program that went winless last season and 1-12-1 in 2023 … The Rebels held their team camp in July and are currently holding tryouts … Once the team is organized, South Hagerstown will be looking to win a game for the first time since Sept. 26, 2023, when it was awarded a forfeit victory over North Hagerstown.
Opener: Saturday, Aug. 23, at North Hagerstown
Smithsburg Leopards
Coach: N/A
Classification: 1A West Region II
Last season: 9-7-1
Top projected returners: Carson Furajter (Sr., F/D), Lilian Hade (Jr., M), Macy Peters (Sr., GK), Adalynne Shifler (Jr., F), Abigail Sines (So.), Allyson Neal (Sr., D/M), Arianna Thomas (Jr.), Caylee Oliva (Jr., D), Kayla Sims (Jr., M), Macy Orr (Jr., GK), Reagan Furajter (So.), Samantha Nieman (Sr., D/GK), Taylor Shusko (Jr., D), Victoria Del Cid (Jr., D/M).
Notable: With the season set to kick off again in a few weeks, it is still unclear who will succeed Bill Fowkes as head coach, with the position still appearing to be open on the WCPS web page … Fowkes led Smithsburg to a pair of MPSSAA 1A state championships during his tenure and guided last year’s squad, which outscored opponents 47-30, to a berth in the 1A West Region II final … The Leopards will be aiming to bounce back without the services of graduated midfielders Grace Ellis and Maren McFarland, and defender Madison Witmer … Ellis notched four goals and five assists and was named to the All-CMC Small School First Team, as was Witmer … McFarland racked up eight goals and four assists for Smithsburg last fall … Look for Smithsburg to rally behind the leadership of senior Macy Peters, a 5-foot-10 All-State Honorable Mention goalkeeper who pitched four shutouts and recorded over 100 saves in 2024 … Forwards Carson Furajter and Adalynne Shifler bring some offensive pop to the lineup, while Abigail Sines, Arianna Thomas, and and Kayla Simms all return with varsity experience.
Opener: Saturday, Aug. 23, at home vs. Clarksburg
