Madison is off to a 2-1 start this season after winning the Chagrin Valley Conference Lake Division title in its first season in the conference last fall.
The Blue Streaks returned eight starters from that squad, who finished 11-6-2 overall and 5-0 in league play.
“With so many returning starters, we will be looking to make our experience count in tight matches,” said 11th-year head coach Chad Butler. “We will look to challenge for a CVC title and go as far we can in the newly aligned postseason.”
The Blue Streaks graduate a core group of seniors they’ll have to replace but with Zoey Deligianis returning from an injury that held her out of the 2023 season, Madison shouldn’t skip a beat.
“Losing the leadership of our seniors off of the field and their tenacious ball-winning on the field is the biggest factor going into the season,” Butler said. “Our returning captains are ready to step up and take on the role vacated by last year’s team captain, Claire Wakim. The return of Zoey Deligianis after being sidelined due to injury all last year is an injection of energy and confidence that can fill the gaps left behind from last year.”
Madison also returns two dynamic goal-scorers at forward.
Senior Reese Meister was named the CVC Player of the Year after scoring 12 goals with 11 assists. She also was named first-team All-Greater Cleveland.
“Reese is absolutely deadly on the counterattack,” Butler said. “Her speed behind the line is hard to match. As more teams have begun to manmark her, she has become just as good at finding an open teammate to provide an assist.”
Senior Lillia Van Kirk scored 12 goals with six assists on the way to earning first-team All-CVC and second-team All-Greater Cleveland honors.
“Underestimating Lilly’s physicality is a mistake teams often make,” Butler said. “She is an expert at leveraging her low center of balance to get defenders off of the ball. Her work rate in the middle of the field is phenomenal as she gets involved on every possession and is constantly making runs up the field.”
Senior Elizabeth Bailey returns in the midfield. She scored two goals with one assist and was named honorable mention All-Greater Cleveland.
“Liz Bailey has an endless motor that she uses to keep defenses constantly under pressure,” Butler said. “She can match that with impressive speed down the line and has the ability to deliver a deadly cross or excellent outside shot.”
Senior defender Avery Weaver is a defensive captain and will be called upon to minimize the loss of Wakim.
“With the departure of our senior defender, Claire Wakim, the pressure has been all on her to keep things organized at the back,” Butler said of Weaver. “She has done a great job finding her voice as a leader while also being a formidable defender.”
Senior Taylor MacAdam returns to mind the net after notching six clean sheets and a first-team all-conference selection as a junior.
“Taylor’s reactions and agility are phenomenal,” Butler said. “Her wrestling background perfectly complements the skills she needs to get low and block shots.”
With a combination of talent and experience, the sky is the limit for the 2024 Blue Streaks.
“With a team this experienced, the goal is to educate everyone on everything,” Butler said. “Defenders need to know how to attack. Strikers need to know how to defend. We have to make sure that whatever situation a player faces, they know exactly how to make a difference and get involved in the play. When everyone is on the same page, then you have eleven leaders on the field who aren’t waiting for someone else to show them the way.”
