The Clermont Northeastern girls soccer team reached the Division III district finals. Photo courtesy Clermont Northeastern athletics.
Whether 1-0 victories – three in the first six matches – or blowouts – 8-0 (twice), 7-0 or 6-0, the Clermont Northeastern High School girls soccer team mastered both during the 2023 season, which ended Oct. 26 in a Division II district final loss to West Liberty Salem.
Clermont Northeastern finished 13-4-1 overall with a sectional championship. They were 8-1-1 in the Southern Buckeye Athletic and Academic Conference National Division, good for second place behind 9-1 Bethel-Tate, against whom they split the season series. Most of the roster will be back next year; only four seniors graduate.
The returnees will include sophomore goalkeeper Emma Yeager, who had 12 shutouts this season (Batavia sophomore Riley Frank had 13). Yeager has also scored two goals and had two assists in two varsity seasons – the very definition of a dual threat in soccer.
“Emma is a true student of the game and has an incredibly high soccer IQ. She is super driven to be the best at whatever she does and it shows in her goalkeeping skills,” CNE coach Craig Yeager, Emma’s father, said. “Emma has incredible range in the goal, great instincts and excellent hands.”
Many soccer teams like to build their attack from the back line; few have the weapon that Yeager provides. Her goals and assists come on goal kick or punts from the defensive end, or when her dad chooses her to take a free kick.
“Her ability to flip the field from a goal kick or put a 45-yard pinpoint pass to a teammate set her apart from every other goalkeeper in our area at any level,” Craig Yeager said.
The Rockets, their coach said, were a defensive-minded team. CNE allowed 12 goals in 18 matches. Basically, when they scored, they won – the only exception being a 2-2 tie Oct. 5 at Williamsburg. The only non-shutout victory was in the sectional finals Oct. 23, 2-1 at Jamestown Greeneview.
“We are at our best when we are turning the other team over and ripping up the field. We can play multiple styles of soccer, which is helpful to use from one opponent to another,” Craig Yeager said.
That knack for winning both close game sand blowout was a sign to their coach early in the season.
“There were a couple of times when we held on to the lead or just blew a team out and my assistant coach and I thought, ‘Well, OK then.’ We can take a lot of pressure and not break.’” This goes back to the team’s character and resilience,” Yeager said.
Senior sweeper Meredith Stetson and senior defensive back Jesse Foebar, along with junior midfielder Ellie Breitenstein helped set that attitude, Yeager said. He described Stetson as “fearless. excellent communication, vocal leader, high soccer IQ.” Foebar, who was a state wrestling champion in the spring, “inspires the girls and gets them pumped up,” and Breitenstein “has a high soccer IQ and is a cheerleader on the field for us.”
A strong freshman class, numbering eight, gained valuable varsity experience and adjusted quickly to that level of play.
“We have a great team returning, but this team could achieve so much more if they really put their minds to it,” Yeager said.
Yeager was philosophical about the loss to West Liberty Salem, which was ranked No. 4 in the state and took a 20-0 record Saturday’s regional final vs. Madeira.
“We didn’t play at our normal speed of play vs. WLS and seemed a little tired. They are a really good team and their No. 4 state ranking is probably pretty close to what it should be. They will be a handful for most teams they play,” Yeager said.
The same could be said for all of Clermont Northeastern’s opponent in 2023 – something Yeager expected, and which has become the standard at the Owensville school.
“We had high expectations for the season. We had many returning starters. We wanted to challenge for the league title again as well as go deeper in the state tournament,” Yeager said. “Overall, the girls performed very well. They hold themselves to a high standard and they know when they are not playing up to that standard.
“I am grateful to get the chance to coach these girls. Coaching is a ton of work, but I really enjoy it and am proud to coach for this school. The girls soccer program has a tremendous upside and I can’t wait to see what next season looks like.”
Clermont Northeastern girls soccer statistical leaders
Goals – Aubrey Rack (14); Ellie Breitenstein and Ellen Mathews (10).
Assists – Julia Best 13, Breitenstein 11.
Points – Rack 36 (14 goals, 8 assists); Best (9, 13) and Breitenstein (10, 11), 31 points; Mathews (10, 6); 26 points.
Shots on goal – Best 40, Rack 39, Breitenstein 35, Mathews 30.
Goalkeeper – Emma Yeager, 118 saves, 12 shutouts, .908 save percentage.
Clermont Northeastern girls soccer roster
Seniors – Grace Ferguson, Jesse Foebar, Kimmie Lighthall, Meredith Stetson.
Juniors – Ellie Breitenstein, Kadence Captain, Lauren Estridge, Aryanna King, Grace Pride, Aubrey Rack, Maddie Rose.
Sophomores – Isabella Barlow, Bailey Fishback, Lilliana Gilliam, Bella Wilson, Emma Yeager.
Freshmen – Julia Best, Paige Donaldson, Addie Estridge, Liz Ledbetter, Ellen Mathews, Alaina McKenzie, Isabelle Morrow, Sammie Nichols.