Girls Soccer: For New Hope-Solebury, State Tournament brings a challenge and opportunity

By: Andrew Atwal

For BucksLocalSports.com

 

For the New Hope-Solebury Lady Lions a regular season featuring just two losses and district championship pale in comparison to what lies ahead for the team going into this week’s state tournament.

The season also contained three wins over archrival Chris Dock, including a win in the district championship, and two wins over Class AAAA schools (Plymouth Whitemarsh and Truman).

NH-S also saw outstanding contributions from freshman forward Meghan Wilson who scored over 20 goals in her first year on the varsity squad.

Head coach Chris Shank said that although Wilson has been outstanding this season, one player does not make a team. Shank also noted that although she is one of the smallest players on the team, she has stepped up at various times throughout the season.

However, heading into the state playoffs, the “X-Factor” for the Lady Lions could be how hot they have been playing in recent weeks. As a matter of fact, the team’s last loss was all the way back on April 24 against Saucon Valley in the Southern Lehigh tournament.

Coach Shank talked about the success the team has had this season.

“We have become a family. That’s our saying; your team versus our family.”

Success has surrounded the Lady Lions’ soccer program in recent years, including two soccer players last year that continued their careers at division one programs.

But Coach Shank noted that last year the team featured a lot of individual players, and this year the team has really come together as a family.

Shank even noted that the team has received contributions from many different players including from defenseman Emma Natale, who scored the second goal against Chris Dock in the district championship and who coach Shank noted was her “first goal (on Varsity) ever.”

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