A Look at Upper Moreland High School Girls' Soccer

Defense wins games, and the Upper Moreland girls’ soccer team knows that.

This season, head coach Joe Joyce wants to make sure his girls execute defensively, which should help make thing easier on the offensive end.

“I’ll play five in the back and spread it out,” said Joyce. “I’ll even consider playing six in the back. If I have to play for a tie I will. We are certainly going to pick and choose our battles wisely. We are certainly not going to be gunslingers.”

The Bears put a young team on the field as they graduated six seniors. This season, they only have one senior on the roster.

“We are very young,” added Joyce. “Our team is 90 percent underclassmen. It is a very young inexperience team with some talent. We are looking to get stronger as the year progresses. We are certainly missing that leadership presence from our seniors last year."

Without the seniors, Upper Moreland will have to figure out a way to communicate effectively on the field. Communication on the backline on any defense will be key, but the Bears were hit with the injury bug early into the year. Junior goalie Leslie Weaver started the season with a broken nose. She is important to a Bears’ defense that needs a leader.

“Once I get my goalie back I think we are going to show more of a defensive team,” said Joyce. “Defense wins a lot of game so hopefully we capitalize on other people’s mistakes.”

On the offensive end, the Bears have a weapon in junior forward Lindsay Walder. Upper Moreland looks to her to create goals.

“Lindsey Walder is probably one of the premier players in the league,” said Joyce. “She was hurt last year so I am looking for her to sparkle once she gets the ball. A lot of times she gets double-teamed but she still gets around it. She makes everyone around her better.”

Although the team is young, Joyce notes that they are fast, which won’t hurt the Bears’ cause.  Add a good defense to a team that has speed, Upper Moreland has the talent for a winning season. 

“Every game is different,” said Joyce. “There is no set game plan. We are defense first and when we get players back [from injury] you should be able to see what we can do.”

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Coach: Joe Joyce

Last year: 5-11-2

Key Players: Midfielder Karli Lynch, sophomore sweeper Morgan Valera, junior forward Lindsay Walder, junior goalie Leslie Weaver, junior midfielder Mattie Mauro.

Upper Moreland Schedule:

Oct. 10 Wissahickon 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 Upper Dublin 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 13 at Cheltenham 7 p.m.

Oct. 14 Abington Friends 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 18 Upper Merion 7 p.m.