Abe Stauffer Returns to Coaching Ranks (Video Report)
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – There will be a revamped look on the sideline at Central Mountain girls’ soccer contests this season.
There will be a new coaching staff on hand, led by a longtime veteran of local coaching circles: Abe Stauffer takes over the Lady Wildcat program after logging more than 30 years in boys soccer, including stints at Fannett-Metal, Lock Haven and Central Mountain High Schools.
Stauffer retired as a coach and teacher after the 2011 season and while he remained active with the West Branch Soccer Club he decided to fill the girls’ vacancy created when Ryan Veltri stepped down after last year.
Stauffer has lined up two former standout Lady Wildcat players to assist him: first assistant is Carley Russo Anderson; she had played for coach Robbie Gould on some pretty good teams, followed by four years at Gannon. Kathleen Long is a volunteer assistant; she is a Public Defender for Clinton County. She also played on the CMHS teams which went to the District 6 finals all four years and won it and she played collegiately at Scranton.
The Lady Wildcats went 8-9-1 a year ago and averaged less than a goal a game. Stauffer said converting scoring opportunities will be an emphasis this year as he described the strengths of his 34-member varsity/jayvee roster: “We have a lot of speed. We are very skillful. We can play what I call ‘possession football’ which means we can pass the ball around and keep it. I had a parent at the Weis Store comment on how many shots we had in our recent scrimmage. Now we have to work on putting those shots in the goal.”
June’s graduation left more than a few spots open, Stauffer noting the need for a new goal keep: “ The biggest hole to fill is the huge hole left by goalkeeper Bree Hilty. Right now as of this writing we are looking at sophomore Alyssa Dickey, who replaced Bree when she got hurt last year, and senior Olivia Overdorf, a converted field player.”
Stauffer noted that Hilty is helping with the goalies even while starting classes at Lock Haven University and playing fall softball there.
This will be the Lady Wildcats’ second year as part of the District 4-oriented Heartland Conference and Stauffer said the league features “a good brand of girls’ soccer.” He said Montoursville, Heartland Division I champs the last four years, will again be formidable. Others include Williamsport, Selinsgrove, Danville and, as he termed them, “arch-rival Jersey Shore.” He pointed out the Lady Bulldogs are coached by former CM player Rita Alton.
As for District 6: “The usual power in D-6 is State College. They have a new coach this year so that may change things. Hollidaysburg is usually good, and Altoona can be good at any time. And Mifflin County tied us 1-1 in a scrimmage.”
The Lady Wildcats don’t kick things off until next Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Williamsport, the game to be played at the Balls Mills Soccer complex north of Williamsport. First home game is Saturday, Sept. 12 with Jersey Shore. This game will be played at the West Branch Soccer Club complex as part of the Cara Day Memorial Cup which is a junior high girls tournament. Kick-off is at 11:40 a.m.
