With the beginning of soccer season around the corner, YSUSports.com is taking a deeper look at the 2024 edition of the Youngstown State women's soccer program.
Forwards
One the top strengths for the Penguins in 2024 is the scoring volume that is returning from a year ago. Youngstown State brings back its top three scorers and four of the top five from 2023.
Forwards Chloe Weiland, Taylor Berry, Lianna Van Sice, and Elis Klein Spindola accounted for 11 goals, 11 assists, and 33 total points last season.
Weiland had a breakout season leading the Penguins with four goals, three assists for 11 points. The speedster from Butler, Pa. also posted two game-winning goals. Weiland scored her career goal in a 3-1 win over Saint Francis (Pa.), and she posted her first game winner against Duquesne.
With the game in its final minute, the Penguins defense cleared a ball up the left side. Berry corralled the ball just past midfield and centered to Weiland streaking down the middle of the field.
Weiland split a pair of defenders, raced to the penalty box, fought off a Duquesne defender and laced a left-footer off the Dukes' goalkeeper and into the lower right of the goal.
Weiland also notched goals against Green Bay and Robert Morris in the final two games of the year.
Berry posted a strong sophomore campaign in 2023 with three goals and tied for the team lead with three assists. The junior from Urbanna, Va. Started all 17 games and tallied 24 shots. Her first goal of the season tied the game against Duquesne.
She also scored against Wright State and Oakland and was credited with assists against Saint Francis (Pa.), Duquesne and George Washington.
Van Sice played in just 10 games but was one of the Penguins most efficient scorers. She posted two goals with three assists.
She notched goals in wins over Indiana State, 2-1, and Northern Kentucky, 2-1, while she tallied assists against Saint Francis (Pa.), Duquesne, and Indiana State.
Klein Spindola, who led the Penguins in scoring in 2022 with five goals and 11 points, recorded a pair of goals and two assists last season.
She scored the Penguins' first goal of the season in a 3-1 victory over Saint Francis (Pa.). Nicknamed Tarzi, she scored the game-winner against Purdue Fort Wayne, and she assisted on goals against Indiana State and Northern Kentucky.
The Penguins also brought in a pair of transfers in Sophia Blankenship and Jamie Ingrassia to fortify the depth up front.
Blankenship spent two seasons at Detroit Mercy and score eight career goals. Last season, she scored five goals with two assists for 12 total points.
Ingrassia joined the Penguins after two seasons at Stephen F. Austin and on year at Cal State-Bakersfield. Ingrassia played in 28 games for the Lumberjacks and 19 with the Roadrunners.
Newcomers Hannah Wahib and redshirt-freshman Sara Felder are also expected to contribute to the front line.
