First-year soccer coaches look to guide teams to state championships
With three first-year coaches leading their squads to the state final four alongside veteran programs, Section 2 soccer is aiming for a historic weekend.
In her first season, Holli Mulholland coached the Shenendehowa girls soccer team to a state championship. Now, three first-year coaches at Shen - Scott Geis, Dylan Martin, and Jared McAneny - are aiming to repeat that success. Each inherited a program with a storied past and different expectations. Mulholland took over a team built by Jan Federice, who won 277 games and shared a state title in 1992.
Mulholland's self-taught approach to coaching - focusing on day-to-day goals and team culture - proved crucial in her 2004 championship run. She credits players like Deana Semenza for stepping up when needed. Now, Mulholland is focused on her team's "chasing greatness" mantra and the upcoming state final against Lancaster. Meanwhile, Bethlehem's Scott Geis and Averill Park's Dylan Martin have also turned their first-year coaching experiences into opportunities to reach the state semifinals and beyond.
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