A Tornado warning will be in effect, starting at 7 p.m. tonight in Dover.
Not the meteorological kind, but the type associated with prep girls' and boys' soccer in the East Central Ohio League.
At that time and place, the Tornadoes are scheduled to host both the Marietta High girls' and boys' soccer teams, which will be kicking off its 2012 campaign.
The Dover girls' team apparently has a knack for putting the ball into the back of the net as evidenced by its 12-1 season opening triumph over visiting Massillon on Aug. 22. Corrin Hayberg and Tyler Martin each recorded a hat trick (three goals), while Tiffani Snyder added two scores.
As impressive as Dover may be, MHS veteran soccer coach Jeff Price is more concerned about his team -and from the looks of the Lady Tiger booters in the preseason, they will be competitive.
"We are a young team and not deep in experience," said Price, who guided Marietta to a 6-9-2 overall record (2-4-1 ECOL) last season. "But these girls are a great bunch of girls, get along together and are willing to work hard.
Fact Box
MHS girls soccer
Head coach: Jeff Price
Assistant: Katie Sanderson
No. NameYr. Pos.
13 Anna Carpenter 12 MF
15 Esther Demlow 12 MF
5 Amelia Gullick 12 MF
4 Alyssa Hill 12 MF
7 Ashley Streski 12 D
Molly Joseffson 12 F
1 Katie Miller 11 F
10 Sydney Stanley 11 F
2 Michelle Henderson 11 D
3 Maddie Meyers 10 F
24 Rebekah Haught 10 MF
6 Lucinda Ryder 10 D
12 Gabrielle Latture 10 D
Jensen Hausmen 10 D
18 Nora Gullick 9 GK
20 Samantha Koons 9 MF
16 Charlie Bingler 9 D
22 Heather McGowen 9 MF
14 Hannah Thomas 9 F
11 Maureen Robinson 9 D
MHS boys soccer
Head coach: Todd Morris
Assistants: Justin Arthur, Michael Schafer, Andy Porter
No. Name Yr.
GK&1 Eric Pierce 11
2 Matt Chalfant 12
3 Holden Weihl 12
4 Zach Robinson 10
5 Brent Huck 11
6 Jeffrey Patterson 11
7 Colin Jordan 12
8 Jacob Holdren 11
9 Brennan Uhrig 11
10 Skylar Miracle 11
12 Tanner Rake 11
13 Clay Mason 11
14 Owen LaBarre 9
15 Ryan Teer 10
16 Bresdon Treadway 12
18 Andrew Roberts 10
19 Christian Kendall 9
20 Grant Gandor 12
"We have made good progress in our scrimmages and hope to do well in our season."
MHS graduated some good ones in Bree Seevers, Alex Depue and Paige Grosel, but has a nice nucleus of returning players in All-ECOL honorees' Alyssa Hill and Katie Miller.
Hill, a second-team all-league selection at the midfield/defender position, is one of six seniors on the 2012 Lady Tiger roster. The others are Anna Carpenter (midfielder), Ashley Streski (defender), Ameilia Gullick (striker), Esther Demlow (MF), and Molly Joseffson.
"We have good senior leadership and I expect most of them to play a lot of time," Price said. "We also expect to get help from our underclassmen."
Junior striker Katie Miller, a three-year starter, is expected to provide much of the scoring punch for Marietta. Last fall, she was an honorable mention all-league pick.
Some other orange and black underclassmen to keep an eye on will be defenders' Beka Haught, Gabi Latture, Mo Robinson, and Lucinda Ryder , and midfielder Sammy Koons.
Nora Gullick, a freshman goalkeeper, is projected to be positioned between the pipes.
"I believe our foreign exchange from Sweden Molly Joseffson will play a big part in our year as well as some of our bench," Price said. "Whatever the results, our effort will be there.
"With our (home) field not being ready, we will play a lot of away games which makes it harder.
"These girls have learned how to adapt and rebound which will serve them well in life."
On the boys' side, Marietta made its debut in the ECOL last season and won the league title with an unbeaten 6-0-1 mark. Overall, the Tigers finished with an 11-4-2 record.
A year ago, Todd Morris-coached MHS blanked Dover, 3-0, with Brennan Uhrig scoring two goals.
The Tigers met the Tornadoes one other time on the pitch in 1997 in the district final, and won 2-1 in overtime.
Marietta enjoyed a productive preseason, blanking West Muskingum, 2-0, and defeating Philo, 6-3, in scrimmages.
In tonight's match, Marietta is expected to start Eric Pierce at goalkeeper; Andrew Roberts, Holden Weihl, Owen LaBarre and Tanner Rake as defenders; Colin Jordan and Grant Gandor as outside midfielders; Jacob Holdren and Brent Huck as center midfielders; and Skylar Miracle and Ulrig as strikers.
"A little different for us to be opening on the road, and we are opening up with a league game so this is important to us," Morris said. "I feel the last week has been our best week of training yet this summer."
