BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Sports Writer
Lady Kickers finished the season earlier than they would have liked, but still on a successful note.
“It was a pretty good season,” said Damian Huffer about his first season as head coach for the Clarkston Girls Varsity Soccer team.
One of the highlights to the season was winning the OAA White division boosting the girls into the OAA Red next spring.
“It is a good achievement,” Huffer added. “I am pleased the girls got to trophy. Next season will be more competitive.”
The Lady Wolves also had six players, freshman Rielee Fetty, junior Elle Vondette, seniors Jessica Bennett, Kristin Bouchard, Kristen Page and Katie Schrei named to the All-League team.
The Lady Wolves finished the season with a 2-1 loss to West Bloomfield in the first round of the district playoffs, May 30.
“It’s been a tough one with the defeat to Bloomfield,” said Huffer, adding Clarkston was dominating the game. “We had about 15 really good chances. We played really well both halves we just couldn’t finish.”
The lone goal was scored by junior Anna LeBourdais in the first half. Both teams were tied until the first ten minutes into the second half.
“We dominated but just couldn’t score,” Huffer said. “I worked out the stats and we were scoring six percent of the shots we were taking which is not good enough. We had loads of chances. Out of every 16 shots we scored one goal and we need to have that a little closer – half that amount. If it was one in seven or one in eight we would have won a lot of these games pretty convincingly.”
The Lady Wolves graduated seven from the team: Jessica Bennett, Kristin Bouchard, Maddy Dooling, Maddy Hannon, Chrysoula Kondyles, Kristen Page and Katie Schrei.
“They will be missed,” said Huffer. “They showed great leadership and character. They are really good kids who worked hard and really led the team on and off the field which made it easy for me. I wish them nothing but the best moving forward. They will be hard to replace.”
Huffer added they have quite a few players returning to next year’s team and talented freshman coming in.
“It looks pretty promising,” he said. “Moving up to the red division is going to be a lot more competitive so that will be a challenge.”
He explained after this season the returners also have an idea of his style of playing soccer, which will help at the beginning of next spring.
“They are a lot more familiar with style of playing and systems we operate so we can hit the ground running,” Huffer said. “We have a great group of girls returning along as well as a junior and senior who are really going to help us in the forward line.”
He explained academy soccer also kicks in this year so many players will have to decide if they want to play for high school teams or play year round with the academy.
“I think quite a few other schools will be affected by it than we will be by it,” Huffer said. “Troy Athens will lose 4-5 players to the academy. It will be a bit more even across the board because the academy has kicked in for travel soccer.”

  Clarkston Girls Varsity Soccer, Lady Wolves