HCHS girls soccer looks to improve off last season with new coaching staff

HARLAN — The Harlan Community Cyclone girls soccer team finished last season with a 9-9-1 record and is looking to build on that success with a new coaching staff leading the way.
Chelsey Buman takes over the Cyclone program. A 2009 HCHS alum, Buman played in the program and has spent years coaching local youth soccer through AYSO.
The Cyclones will have to replace several key contributors from last season, including their all-time leading goal scorer, Aubrey Schwieso, who finished her career with 76 goals. 
The team also loses three of its top five assist leaders in school history: Kayla Anderson (24 assists, tied for first all-time), Ivy Stevens (18 assists, fourth all-time), and Schwieso (13 assists, fifth all-time).
In goal, the Cyclones graduate Grace Albertsen, who ranks third in school history with 294 career saves. Kassie Anderson, another key contributor who scored a goal last season, has also graduated.
Despite those losses, Buman is optimistic about the group returning this season.“There is so much to be ex-cited about being able to go into detail and depth with training, the teamwork the girls have shown in open gym, the support they show each other when things don’t go as planned, and their coachability when I ask them to try something new,” Buman said. 
“It will be a big change from the youth division that I have coached in the past, but the girls have already shown that there is a desire for growth. That’s what I’m most excited about.”
Senior Carly Torneten headlines the list of returning players. She was tied for third on the team in goals last season with eight and led the team in assists with 10.
“It’s great having Carly Torneten back this year,” Bu-man said. “She has great determination, leadership, and strong field awareness. She is a player we will rely on heavily up front.”
Joining Torneten in the attack are Claire Bieker, Greta Heitmann, and Vailen “The Ghost” Vaughan.
“We have some emerging stars to help her out,” Bu-man said.
Sophomore Abbie Anderson also returns after tying Torneten with eight goals last season while adding three assists. 
Buman expects Anderson to control the midfield.“Abbie Anderson has great ball control and some pretty nasty shots on goal,” Buman said. 
“She will be our conductor in the middle. She has risen to every challenge we’ve thrown at her, and her desire to grow has definitely caught our attention.”
Lily Schechinger is expected to play a key role in the midfield as well.“Lily has great field awareness, and her touches improve every time she steps on the field,” Buman said.
Defensively, the Cyclones will look to Lauren Schmitz, Emercyn Reischel, and Charlotte Mages to anchor the back line, with Bella Bissen also contribut-ing. 
Buman hopes the senior leadership of Schmitz and Reischel will help guide Bissen.
In goal, Ellie Albertsen is set to take over, with fresh-man Mya Rice also competing for time.“Ellie brings a sense of fun to the game in the net,” Buman said. “She’s young, so we have plenty of room to grow. Mya came out of nowhere and wanted to be in the net. We plan on working with both keepers individually and giving them more attention.”
Buman highlighted a couple of key matchups on the schedule, including rematches against Tri-Center and Treynor.“Tri-Center is a big one, they knocked us out of the playoffs last year,” Buman said. 
“Treynor is another tough opponent. Last year we played on our side of the field a lot, and this year we’re looking to reverse that.”
The team’s potential has stood out most to Buman during early practices.“There is so much potential in this team. I see it, and my assistant Shawn sees it. Most of the girls just don’t see it yet but it’s coming,” Buman said. 
“We’re seeing things start to click in each open gym and practice. Some players are returning after time away from the game, so rebuilding their confidence is a big focus.”
The Cyclones will open their season on March 31 in Carroll with scrimmages against Carroll, Kuemper Catholic, and Denison-Schleswig starting at 5:30 p.m. They will officially begin the regular season on Thursday, April 2, on the road against Carroll at 5 p.m.