PERRYSBURG, Ohio — The 2024-25 OHSAA season is knocking on the door. Among the fall sports that will soon begin competition in Ohio is girls soccer.
Perrysburg High School has proven to be a consistent program and head coach Jorge Diaz believes this season won't be different.
"There is a lot of excitement coming into this year," Diaz said. "They have a chip on their shoulder, they want to go out there and win the whole thing."
In 2023, the Yellow Jackets advanced to the Division I Regional Championship game before bowing out to Strongsville 1-0. Prior to that run, Perrysburg earned a Northern Lakes League Buckeye Division title, its first outright NLL achievement since 2016.
With an abundance of talent returning to Steinecker Stadium, Perrysburg once again expects to put together a great campaign. Emma Ogdahl and Camille Francis, both juniors, return as the team's top performers following 1st team All-State seasons a year ago. Diaz refers to the duo as a "two-headed monster."
"We lost two key players, but have about 13 kids that were on varsity last year," Diaz said. "We're excited about the players that are waiting on the wings as well."
Experienced and motivated, the Yellow Jackets are determined to make a run toward Columbus. The last time the program appeared at the state championship was in 2017. Perrysburg's only state championship came in 2012.
"We have to bring our best every game," Diaz said. "That's the way I address our season."
One of the big changes everyone will have to adapt to is the expansion of divisions. In February, the OHSAA Board of Directors approved increasing the number of divisions in boys and girls Soccer from three to five.
"I personally don't like it, but at the same time we have to go with what the state provides," Diaz said. "The bad thing is that in the district level, we won't compete against Anthony Wayne, St. Ursula and Notre Dame. Losing them at tournament time changes a little bit of the dynamic."
Perrysburg, Whitmer and Findlay are the only Division I girls soccer programs in northwest Ohio now. Regardless of what the playoffs will look like Diaz, who is the reigning OSSCA Division I Coach of the Year, enjoys putting together a tough regular season slate.
"At the same time we have a good schedule in place where we'll play some of the best from Columbus and Cleveland so that we are ready to go come district time and make a run in the state tournament," he said.
The Yellow Jackets will open the season at home against Notre Dame Academy on Aug. 16, part of a doubleheader with the boys, who will take on St. Francis.
You can watch the full interview with Diaz below: