Best offense is strong defense for Eagles

Despite losses, Hubbard will try for its fourth straight district title.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
The best girls high school girls soccer program in the Valley has a few spots to fill for its varsity roster.
Last year, Hubbard High, led by the scoring of Jami Duvall and Anna DeJulio, went 16-4-0 to capture its third straight Division II district title and fifth since 1995.
While Duvall and DeJulio graduated, another key member, goalkeeper Lynle Cornell, has chosen to sit out this season to prepare for basketball.
As Dennis Smith prepares for his 13th season, the Eagles coach said replacing Duvall, a forward, and DeJulio, center midfielder, are his biggest challenges.
Returning starters
Fortunately, the Eagles defense will be led by senior co-captains Brittany McKee, sweeper, and Adrienne Wolfe, left fullback. The four-year varsity players are among Hubbard's seven returning starters.
"I've played with [Duvall and DeJulio] for a long time, so not having them on the field for the first time will be different," McKee said. "The extra push that they gave is not there yet, but there are others will fill in."
Cornell also will be missed.
"She was the backbone of our defense and led us in prayer," Wolfe said. "It's hard to find someone to replace her."
McKee and Cornell anchored the Eagles' defense for two years.
"When you have someone like that behind you for a couple of years, you have develop a comfort," McKee said. "Right now, it's hard for me to find that comfort. Lynle was one of our biggest assets."
Smith, who has a record of 190-57-27 and should win his 200th game this fall, says junior Hope Wright and sophomore Stephanie Zubyk are contending for goalkeeper.
Other key players
Smith said his other key players include forwards Mary Newberry and Amanda Fisher, and midfielders Christina Adams, Sarah Crafton, Jaime Madeline and Loni Sargent.
McKee and Wolfe credit playing on a boys traveling team starting at age 8 for accelerating their development.
"It made us a lot more aggressive," said Wolfe, who is recovering from surgery after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament last year while playing against Champion.
"It definitely helped our ball skills," said McKee, who was selected as The Vindicator's player of the year as a sophomore.
Wolfe says off-season work is the main reason why the Eagles have dominated in recent years.
"We would like to maintain the reputation of having such a good program," Wolfe said. "We work all year long and responsibility plays a huge part.
"If you don't participate in the off-season, it's hard to make yourself better," Wolfe said. "If you just show up on the first day of practice, it shows."
When Hubbard's offense dominates, McKee said she has ways of keeping alert.
"I sing to my goalie, I dance on the field, I find ways to keep it fun," McKee said.
What's amazing about Hubbard's soccer success is that it occurs at the same time of year that Chuck Montgomery's volleyball team dominates the Trumbull Athletic Conference.
Don't share athletes
"Chuck and I often say that if we played at different times of the year, we'd be state champions," Smith said. "We don't share athletes, so the success of both programs is a tribute to the commitment the kids are making."
Smith expects Champion and Lakeview to be Hubbard's top rivals in the TAC and that Poland and Mooney should be their top competition for the district title.
"Mooney is a program on the rise, they should be formidable," Smith said.
williams@vindy.com