Then-Lake freshman Brooke Wiley (13), right, battles for control on of the ball against Napoleon’s Josie Morales (10), left, during the first half of a sectional semifinal soccer match on October 17, 2023 at Lake High School. (Scott W. Grau | Sentinel-Tribune)
By Nicholas Huenefeld
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
MILLBURY — A new era begins for the Lake girls soccer program in this weekend’s season opener as Lauren Colangelo begins her first campaign as head coach.
“It means everything,” Colangelo said. “It means more than I thought it was going to be, just having a love for the program and feeling what they’re feeling. I feel it on a personal level.”
Colangelo, formerly Reed, takes over a team that went 5-7-5 last year, including a 2-4 finish in NBC play. They advanced to the sectional championship before falling in double overtime.
Former coach Megan Rutherford is now leading the women’s soccer program at Owens Community College.
A four-year standout for Lake from 2009-12, Colangelo helped lead the Flyers to a 61-10-4 record during her career, including a 34-0-2 record in league play.
As a freshman, Colangelo helped guide the team to a regional final appearance. As a sophomore, the Flyers went undefeated in the regular season. Those performances helped her earn a spot in the team section of Lake’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
“We’re really looking to build (this program),” she said. “The school and community means a lot to me. So, to try and build it back up and have it be what it was back then is the goal.”
Colangelo’s first task is a big one, which is replacing the production of Brianna Braatz, a four-year varsity player who broke Lake’s single-season goals record with 35 last year en route to Second Team All-Ohio recognition.
While Braatz was the lone senior, this year’s squad also features just three seniors, which means this year’s team is pretty young.
“Offensively, we’re still working on it,” Colangelo said. “We’re moving some people around and trying some different things. We’re not sure how it will shake out yet.”
Two of those seniors, though, are key pieces in goalkeeper Lauren Tobias and center back Adeana Cowell, who is a team captain and a reigning Second Team All-NBC selection.
Colangelo, who was a boys varsity assistant and JV head coach at Lake last year, said those two will help present a strong defense for Lake this year.
“I know to win games you need to score goals, but they’re really strong all over the place,” she said of Tobias and Cowell. “They’re strong leaders, verbally and they back it up with how they play. They’re both very aggressive and very physical. Both all-around solid players.”
Lake also features a couple pretty strong sophomores in forward Savannah Little and midfielder Brooke Wiley, who were both named Honorable Mention All-NBC as freshmen.
Tabitha Balsmeyer, a junior defender who hasn’t played in a couple years, is back.
“Tabitha is pretty strong,” Colangelo said. “All three will be key players for us this year.”
The Flyers open their season at home this Saturday at 6 p.m. against Central Catholic.
“The preseason has gone well,” Colangelo said. “We saw St. Ursula and Riverdale early, so those are two pretty competitive teams. We look solid going into the season.”
