After uneven '24 season, Seton Hill women's soccer embraces more aggressive approach for '25

The Seton Hill women’s soccer team endured an enigmatic season in Year 2 under coach Riley Butler.

On one hand, the Griffins had five fewer overall losses (six last season compared to 11 in 2023). On the flip side, Seton Hill had two fewer wins (five in 2024, seven in 2023) and five more ties (six and one).

They were unbeaten in their first six matches (three wins, three draws). But over their final 11 matches, they won just twice.

Defensively, the Griffins were one of the better teams in the PSAC, yielding only 19 goals in 17 matches. Offensively, they were one of the conference’s worst with only 15 goals, which ranked 14th in the 17-team league.

“Our last season, it didn’t really go how we expected it to,” said rising senior midfielder Jess Molitoris (Montour), “so we definitely wanted to improve in the spring. I think a lot of players were really excited to come back and make this season a better one.”

That will start by producing more goals, which will not be without its challenges. Players who produced 12 of Seton Hill’s 15 goals graduated.

Butler, however, is approaching his need for goal-scorers with an open mind and a clean slate. During the spring, he said, the players focused on learning different ways to score and creating more chances with their movement. Midfielders, such as rising junior Kilee Coatney, might be tasked with less defensive responsibility and become more involved in the attack.

A few players, Butler said, might be moved to different areas of the field. Beyond tweaking the X’s and O’s, the coach is looking for his players to change their approach.

“We have a lot of talent as a team, but one of the things we worked on is mindset,” he said. “If there’s 10 minutes left in the game and we’re down one, I want more people to say, ‘Give me the ball.’

“I want some people who are a bit more competitive, a little bit chippy, more hungry when it comes to wins.”

Rising junior forward Leah Kessler (Mt. Lebanon) had a solid spring and could emerge as a scoring threat. Molitoris, who had a goal and an assist last season, could play a little wider to maximize her 1-v-1 skills.

She said the returning players are eager to correct the issues that made goals so hard to come by last fall.

“I think a lot of times last season, just in that final third (of the pitch), our chemistry was off,” Molitoris said. “I think in the rest of the field, we had a better idea of where we stood, but in the final third, we just couldn’t figure out that last puzzle piece.”

Defensively, keeper Sydney Caldwell (Franklin Regional) graduated, leaving a big gap to fill. But Butler is confident in the three players who will vie to replace her: Rhys Caplinger, Jordan Spozarski and Elisabeth Gallagher.

Caplinger looked poised to be the No. 1 goalie last season until Caldwell performed so well that Butler said he “couldn’t keep her off the field.”

Whoever is in goal will get a lift from fullback Kendall Fabery. The Southmoreland grad began her collegiate career at Cleveland State before transferring to Seton Hill last season, but an injury kept her out all year.

Butler will have a chance to fine-tune his new strategies and personnel when the Griffins take a trip to England just before the start of preseason. Seton Hill will play a couple of scrimmage matches during the visit as well as build team bonds.

Molitoris is confident the Griffins are poised for a breakout season.

“I definitely think it’s going to be a lot more competitive and intense this year,” she said. “I think everyone is going to come out a lot more focused and push the level up.”