Names on the roster change; the name on the front of the jersey is the same.

Milford High School’s girls soccer team has lost three games over the last three seasons – two in 2022, one in 2021. The Eagles are 12-0-4 in 2023 – one of those ties came Oct. 5 against defending Division I state champion Seton, 3-3. A Tuesday night home game vs. Loveland was the last obstacle in front of an undefeated regular season.

Last year, Milford was in the same situation, losing at Loveland 1-0 before winning three consecutive postseason games and advancing to the Division I regional semifinals, where the Eagles lost to Seton 3-2. Milford was ranked No. 1 in the state entering the 2022 sectional tournament and finished 19-2 overall. Eight players graduated from that team – four of whom are playing in college, three at the Division I level.

Fifth-year head coach Jill Helms, admitting “that was a tough act to follow,” nevertheless set expectations high, again.

“We returned a lot of talent. We have never been a program that relies on one or two individuals. We have always played as a team and we were confident our team would be successful this year,” Helms said. She is a Loveland graduate, who played for the Tigers, then at Ball State University and Trinity International University. After coaching five years at Bellingham High School in Washington State, Helms returned to Loveland as junior varsity coach before moving to Milford 10 years ago.

Team concept and individual talent have both been evident this season. Senior Ana Manning led the Eastern Cincinnati Conference in goals (17) and scoring (38 points), according to the league website as of Oct. 5. Senior Peyton Smith was second in scoring with 30 points 911 goals, eight assists). Senior Marlee Scanlon also had eight assists, and senior goalkeeper Kristen Burns had a league-best six shutouts, and second-best 89 saves. Manning and Smith are team captains, and Helms said both have college-level ability.

“Ana Manning is one of the best goal-scorers I’ve ever watched. This includes past teammates of mine who have gone on to play professionally and any opponent I’ve played against in college,” Helms said. “Her composure when she’s in front of the goal is super-human. Her ability to find the back of the net is so natural that we assume she’s going to score when the ball is at her feet in the box. She has had multiple opportunities to score this season and she chose to pass it so teammates could score. She leads by example.

“Peyton Smith is one of the most dynamic players I’ve ever coached and one of the best ball-handlers I’ve ever watched. Her ability to break through the middle of the field and split back lines on the dribble cannot be matched. Her distribution from the midfield is already at a college level. Her size makes teams overlook her, but she is one of the biggest threats on our field. Her competitiveness and desire to succeed rubs off on other players positively.”

Defender Caitlin Evans is the third Eagle captain and is consistently one of the fastest players on the field, Helms said.

“Her presence in the back line never goes unnoticed. No team has been able to outrun her in the back. We release her into the attack and she is just as lethal as other forwards when she makes her way to the offensive third,” Helms said.

Scanlon is currently injured and out of the lineup. Helms said Scanlon controls the left side when in the game and creates offensive chances almost every time she possesses the ball.

Burns’s improvement has been notable.

“I have never seen a keeper develop as quickly as her. She has kept us in big games this year with unbelievably athletic saves. Our season would be significantly different without her,” Helms said.

Senior defender Ashlyn Schaefer and junior midfielder Abby Smith have stepped into leadership roles at their positions.

“Ashlyn Schaefer … never has a bad game. She makes huge plays that give us the spark we need. She’s also very fast so has been able to shut down opponents’ key players,” Helms said. “Abby Smith plays like she’s been on varsity since freshman year. She starts for us and rarely comes off the field. She helps control our midfield with such confidence and dominance.”

Three draws – 2-2 with Mount Notre Dame, 2-2 with Anderson and 1-1 with Bellbrook – are the only blemishes on Milford’s record this season. A 3-1 win over Oak Hills Sept. 16 was notable, Helms said. The Highlanders were ranked second in the state and entered play this week 10-2-2.

“We played really well that game. We had 60 percent of the possession and a high pass success rate. It was that game that I knew there wasn’t a drop-off from last year,” Helms said.

Those teams may very well meet again in the postseason, but not before the regional level.

The focus before then – clean up communication along the back line. Milford allowed 15 goals in its first 16 matches.

“We have a few newer players (there) and we’re struggling to defend as a team. If we can improve in this year, it will take us to a whole new level,” Helms said.

Strengths, though, have more than compensated for weaknesses.

“One strength as a team is our ability to lift each other up on the field and off. We are a team that encourages and doesn’t tear down. The girls feel very supportive and cared for by every teammate,” Helms said.

“Another strength is our ability to rise above adversity. We have come back from being down in games or being tied. Sometimes this happens in the last seconds of games. When players get hurt, we rise to compensate the loss. When odds are against us, we find a way.

Three Eagles have committed to play in college – Grace Mangino (Anderson University) Kristen Burns (Maryville College) and Peyton Smith (Eastern Kentucky University).

Helms is assisted by Larry Hutzel, junior varsity head coach Billy Rohlfs, junior varsity “B” head coach Jessica Morgan, junior varsity assistant coach Alli Thomas and goalkeeping coach Heather Scherrer.

Milford roster

Seniors – Kristen Burns, Caitlin Evans, Kelsey Fields, Grace Mangino, Ana Manning, Ashlyn Schaefer, Peyton Smith, Julia Stansell, Marlee Scanlon.

Juniors – Megan Brancamp, Lizzie Fight, Emily Kleinfeldt, Bre O’Niell, Whitney Sluder, Abby Smith, Josie Smith, Kayla Stevens.

Sophomores – Avery Cook, Abby Hoevener.

Freshmen – Taylor Sipple.