By Cort Reynolds

ADA__Coming off a second straight season where they set a program record for wins, the deep and talented Ada High School varsity girls soccer team is poised to take another step forward under fourth-year head coach Doug Dewese in 2025.

The 2024 Bulldog girls posted a 10-8 overall record to set a program record for single-season wins. The Bulldog girls also went 1-4 in the rugged NCOSA standings last fall.

A whopping 15 letter winners return from that team to combine with five freshmen and two other returnees that comprise a deep 22-player roster.

Four seniors and four juniors lend quality experience to the roster. 

Led by a talented nine-player sophomore class, eight starters are back poised to author the best season in program annals. Another solid freshman class will add more depth and talent to the strong core of returnees.

“We have grown every year I have been here,” Dewese noted. “This year we should have much more of a possession-based offense.”

Dewese says that the team will primarily utilize a 3-4-3 formation, but also operate out of a 4-4-2 set-up.  

Senior ace playmaker Alex Gibson leads the returnees. She was voted first team All-NCOSA in 2024 after leading the team in assists. 

The steady and heady Gibson will be moved up to more of an attacking forward and midfield position this season. She is an excellent and unselfish passer who can also score. She takes a lot of Ada’s corner kicks due to her placement and passing skills.

“We want to put her in positions where she can use her foot skills more,” said Dewese.

Senior speedster Jordyn Smith, a top defender and three-time letter winner, will also be moved up front more to take advantage of her mobility and attacking skills.

The athletic and versatile Smith will play defender and forward. “She can play all over the field, and we want to use her speed,” explained the coach.

Junior Kenley Poling returns to lend scoring punch to the offense up top at forward. “Kenley is quick and she can score,” he said.

Sophomore Rose Baxter is back after showing great promise as an attacking forward her freshman year. She has excellent speed, a nose for the goal and great strength. “Rose is strong and fast,” said the coach.

Joining Gibson in the midfield is talented sophomore Emily Shanks at defensive MF. Shanks has very good speed and strength, and is a tough, aggressive competitor. She also has a strong leg for scoring goals.

Quick junior Reese Jordan is back to lend quality in the midfield after winning two letters. She has good instincts and foot skills. Sophomore Aliyah Kober had a fine freshman season and is back as an inside/outside MFer.

Freshman Maycie Dewese is another promising young midfielder. 

Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Gibson is back after enjoying a fine freshman campaign. She is the strong last line of defense for Ada. “Emily is a very talented keeper,” Dewese noted. “We also have a good backup in Brooklyn Roberts.”

Jordan and keeper Emily Gibson were voted honorable mention all-league last year. Gibson led NCOSA in saves with 133, and posted a very solid 1.5 goals against average. She and the Ada defense authored six shutouts.

Experienced senior Alyssa Nau returns as a three-time letter winner to help in the midfield. She is a good passer, and Nau also has experience as a goalkeeper. Heady senior Emma Lambdin also returns as a defender. 

Other key letter winners back include junior MF Chloe Hunsicker, junior forward Allie Stockert, sophomore MF Ashley Williams, skilled sophomore MF Avary Acheson, sophomore defender Charleigh Entinghe, athletic soph Lynkin McDougle and soph defender/MF Maire Boulanger.

Freshmen Shay Smith and Aubrey Jordan are expected to contribute right away as MF/forwards. “Both are very tough freshmen who can score,” Dewese offered.

Aubry Jordan is another talented freshman expected to play well. Piper Wallace (MF) is the other freshman in the five-girl frosh class.

“We should be good this year, and by 2026 we will be dangerous,” predicted Dewese. “I think 12-14 wins is do-able with our schedule this year. We have gotten better across the board every year.”

He says quality depth with a lot of players who “have a close gap in talent will allow the squad to substitute a lot and maintain fresh legs.” He feels they may be able to wear teams down toward the end of games with their deep and talented roster.

“We have offensive skills across the board, with a lot of weapons who can score from short and long range,” said Dewese. “We also have some good set pieces on corner kicks.”

Dewese says perennial power Liberty-Benton is the favorite to win the North Central Ohio Soccer Association. “Riverdale looks strong with Marissa Bonham back, and Upper Sandusky looks pretty good with its returning depth. Van Buren is a wild card.

“I think Ada can be in the top two or three in the league, and make a run at number one,” he offered.

In 2024 speedy Riverdale junior forward Marissa Bonham was named NCOSA Player of the Year.

Co-champions Liberty-Benton and Riverdale tied for the 2024 title with identical 4-0-1 records. Upper Sandusky finished second in the league standings at 3-2, followed by Van Buren (2-3), Ada (1-4) and Cory-Rawson (0-5).

Veteran assistant Doug Poling and Kori Lochard return to fill out the Bulldog coaching staff.

The Ada season opener is August 16 at non-league foe Tiffin Columbian. The home opener is August 20 vs. Fort Jennings, as four of the first five matches are on the road. The important NCOSA lidlifter is Sept. 4 at home against Van Buren.

The 2025 Bulldog girls soccer team has the depth and young talent to go far in the tournament–and break their own record for single-season wins again.

Ada girls soccer at a glance

2024 record: 10-8 overall; 1-4 NCOSA (5th)

Head coach: Doug Dewese, 4th year

Formations: 3-4-3 or 4-4-2

Letter winners back/lost: 15/5 

Starters back/lost: 8/3

Top returnees: Sr. Jordyn Smith, Sr. Alyssa Nau, Sr. Emma Lambdin, Sr. Alex Gibson, Jr. Kenley Poling, Jr. Reese Jordan, Jr. Chloe Hunsicker, Jr. Allie Stockert; Sophs. Emily Shanks, Emily Gibson, Maire Boulanger, Lynkin McDougle, Rose Baxter, Avary Acheson, Ashley Williams, Aliyah Kober, Charleigh Entinghe.

Top freshmen: Shay Smith, Maycie Dewese, Brooklyn Roberts, Aubry Jordan.