New Coach,New Goals
Catoctin Girls Soccer Building New Identity
Alisha Yocum
The Catoctin High School Girls Varsity Soccer team is off to a great start to their 2025 season, with a historic win over South Hagerstown.
In the late days of summer, Catoctin High School announced the hiring of a new Girls Varisty Soccer Coach, Jimmy Ward. His first challenge would be filling a varsity roster, but Ward was eager to jump in and get back to doing what he loves most: mentoring others.
Recruitment came not only through school, but also word of mouth and friendships. Sophomore Sophie Perez joked that “peer pressure from friends” is what brought her out to the field. But she quickly found herself enjoying the game and building new friendships. “It’s been fun learning a new sport and meeting new people.” Perez also plays softball for the Cougars.
For players with prior soccer experience, like sophomore Charlie McDaniels, the season has been about helping new teammates gain confidence. “Numbers have been a challenge,” McDaniels admitted, “but we’re building each other up, and growing stronger as a group.”
Ward previously coached a variety of sports at Poolesville, Urbana, and St. Johns Catholic Prep before taking time off to focus on his career in law enforcement. He also currently serves as a volunteer on the Board of Directors and Coach for Catoctin Youth Soccer Association.
“It’s not just about winning between the lines, but in life,” Ward said. “Helping these student-athletes become good people, as well as good players. Not every day is going to end with a victory, but if you keep showing up and trusting the process, success will come.”
With only three seniors on the roster, leadership has been vital. Olivia Baker, now in her fourth year of varsity play, has seen a noticeable change in the team’s mindset. “Coach Ward has a ‘want-to-win’ attitude, and it’s contagious,” she said. “You can see the difference on the field. My teammates are progressing, becoming more versatile players and improving their touches.”
Maddie Fogle, a sophomore, says the team dealt with a lot of adversity last year. She is proud to put on the Catoctin uniform this year. “It feels like a fresh start. Coach Ward has been teaching us new techniques, and it’s exciting to tell people about our program.”
One of the first goals the team set was to get a win. The team reached that milestone in their season opener, defeating South Hagerstown 12–3 in a historic win. This was the program’s first win since October 7, 2021. See the full game recap on page 41.
Under Ward’s leadership, the Lady Cougars are aiming to build more than just a competitive team—they’re building a culture of growth, resilience, and pride that will shape the future of the program.
The Catoctin High School Girls Varsity Soccer team is off to a great start to their 2025 season, with a historic win over South Hagerstown.
Girls Soccer has come out excited and ready to play in the 2025 season.
Season Stats as of September 17
Adalyn DeGrange: 3 goals, 5 assists
Olivia Baker: 3 goals, 2 assists
Adalyn Mucker: 4 goals
Payden Fitzpatrick: 2 goals, 2 assists
Brianna Montoya: 2 goals
Sophia Gagliardi: 2 assists
Season Results
Wins
9/9 @ South Hagerstown — 12–3
Losses
• 9/11 @ St. James — 1–5
• 9/16 vs. Tuscarora — 1–2
Program Recap
The Lady Cougars opened their 2025 season with a historic 12–3 victory at South Hagerstown, earning the program’s first win since October 7, 2021. In an explosive first half, Catoctin scored 11 goals, surpassing their total offensive output from all of last season. Three players—Adalyn DeGrange, Olivia Baker, and Adalyn Mucker—all notched hat tricks in the game, highlighting the team’s renewed offensive power.
Following the thrilling opener, Catoctin faced two challenging matchups. Against St. James, the Cougars struggled early to adjust to ball control and the faster turf surface, ultimately falling 1–5, a learning experience for both the players and first-year Head Coach Jimmy Ward.
Returning home for their matchup with Tuscarora, the Lady Cougars demonstrated resilience and growth. Despite a hard-fought 1–2 loss, the team played all 80 minutes with composure, controlled possession for long stretches, and created multiple scoring opportunities. The performance showed clear progress and reinforced that Catoctin belongs on the field in a competitive way.
