Jim Daugherty is hoping for a good start in his first season as coach of the Marysville High School girls soccer team.

Daugherty, an assistant women's soccer coach at Purdue University the past four seasons, replaced Joe McSwords, who resigned in January because of family commitments.

"(The players and I are) getting along well and starting to build a rapport and trust that's necessary," said Daugherty, who previously coached the boys teams at Grove City, Bexley and Dublin Coffman. "I'm looking forward to keep pushing them, keep making them work hard and see what happens."

The Monarchs opened Aug. 18 at Jonathan Alder. They play host to Grove City on Tuesday, Aug. 21.

Marysville has moved from the OCC-Cardinal Division to the OCC-Central and opens league play Aug. 28 at home against Westland.

Last season, the Monarchs finished 8-9-1 overall, losing to Westerville Central 3-0 in the second round of the Division I district tournament. Marysville defeated Reynoldsburg 1-0 in the first round.

Back is junior forward Abby Jaggers, who led the team in scoring last season with seven goals and six assists and was second-team all-league. Her sister Cassidy Jaggers, who graduated, was the team's lone first-team all-league player.

Junior defender/forward Kaela Kovanda had two goals and four assists last season and was honorable mention all-league.

Also back are seniors Anna Mogielnicki (midfielder), Abby Moore (defender), Mikayla Mosey (defender), Morgan Ranker (defender) and Katie Turner (defender).

Daugherty expects junior Kendra Steepe to replace 2012 graduate Felicia Cuthbert in goal. Cuthbert had 60 saves last season.

Others expected to contribute are juniors Kacie Eckenrode (midfielder), MacKenzie Hindler (midfielder), Ally Heeb (midfielder) and Tiffany Spears (forward), sophomores Tess Cox (defender/midfielder), Cassie Fisher (midfielder), Lauren Hampton (defender) and Erin Sweeney (defender) and freshman Lindsay Sullivan (midfielder/forward).

"My goal is just for us to keep progressing, keep playing to our ability and just see what things happen," Daugherty said.

Last season in the OCC-Cardinal, Marysville was seventh (2-5) behind Dublin Jerome (7-0), Dublin Scioto (4-2-1), Westerville North (3-2-2), Westerville Central (3-3-1), Olentangy (2-4-1) and Olentangy Liberty (2-4-1) and ahead of Westerville South (1-4-2).

Jerome reached the Division I state final, losing to Strongsville 1-0.

As part of OCC realignment this summer, Marysville and Liberty moved to the OCC-Central, and Olentangy now is in the OCC-Capital.

The other teams in the OCC-Central are Central Crossing, Coffman, Hilliard Davidson, Thomas Worthington, Upper Arlington and Westland.

"I obviously didn't see these other teams the last few years, so it's hard to tell what's going to happen, but I know Dublin Coffman is always good, Upper Arlington tends to be good and Hilliard Davidson is usually pretty good as well," Daugherty said. "Those three will definitely be tough games."

Boys soccer team looks for improvement

The boys soccer team is looking to bounce back from a 4-12-2 season a year ago.

After defeating Teays Valley 3-0 in the first round of the Division I district tournament, Marysville lost to Gahanna 4-1 in the second round.

The Monarchs were 0-6-1 in the OCC-Cardinal.

Marysville opens Tuesday, Aug. 21, at Grove City and begins OCC-Central play Aug. 28 at Westland.

"We have some good players, good attitudes and everyone is pretty excited about the season," 14th-year coach Marc Kirsch said.

Junior forward Ryan Husband led the team in scoring last season with four goals.

Other starters back from last season are seniors Nick Kallinicou (midfielder), Zach Kisor (midfielder), Erik Klaus (defender), Cory Roeth (midfielder) and Cody Seiter (midfielder/forward).

Seniors Brandon Sabido and Zach Noland and junior Corey Mankins are looking to replace 2012 graduate Evan See in goal.

Other players expected to contribute are seniors Jacob Beil (midfielder/forward), Alex Kallinicou (midfielder), Austin Reese (midfielder) and M.J. Richardson (defender), juniors Clay DuVal (defender), Ethan Jenkins (defender) and Aaron Miller (midfielder) and sophomores Luke Kisor (midfielder) and Andy Latimer (midfielder/forward).

"I'll be happy if the boys play well and they have a great, fun season, and they continue to improve and develop as players," Kirsch said.

Last season, the Monarchs were eighth in the OCC-Cardinal behind Scioto (7-0), Liberty (5-1-1), Jerome (5-2), Westerville Central (2-3-2), Westerville South (2-3-2), Westerville North (2-4-1) and Olentangy (1-5-1).

Liberty played in the Division I state final, losing to Cleveland St. Ignatius 4-2.

"Any conference in the OCC is extremely difficult," Kirsch said. "It's a great soccer conference. Liberty just reloads. They have a lot of talent over there."

New era to begin for football team

The new-look football team opens Friday, Aug. 24, at Hilliard Bradley.

The Monarchs are under new leadership, as Morgan Cotter has taken over as coach for Jeff Gafford, who resigned following last season.

This will be Marysville's first game against Bradley.

Last season, the Monarchs were 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the OCC-Cardinal.

Bradley, which is in its fourth season, was 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the OCC-Capital last year.

With realignment, the Jaguars have moved to the OCC-Cardinal and the Monarchs have moved to the OCC-Central.

"You definitely want to get off to a good start because it gives your kids confidence, but it also gives the coaching staff confidence," Cotter said.

Marysville has a new offense, as it has converted from a triple option, power-I to a spread.

Senior Kyle Hites has emerged as the starting quarterback in place of Connor Devine, who graduated.

Cotter also is looking for a big season from senior tailback Kody Davisson, who was leading the team in rushing last season with 473 yards and five touchdowns when he sustained a season-ending sprain to his left ankle in week five against Olentangy.

Key players in the team's 4-3 defense are senior defensive end Morgan Miller and junior middle linebacker Austin Pfarr.

Bradley's linebackers should play a key role in leading the defense. Key players are seniors Sam Riggs, Bradley Spelman and C.J. Wall and junior Zach Popovec.

Junior Tommy Horn will start at quarterback. The Jaguars have to replace the program's first 1,000-yard rusher in 2012 graduate Blake Scipio, who had 1,356 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.

"Bradley is very good inside the tackles offensively," Cotter said. "They run a good mix of mid-line veer and then they'll come back and trap you on the inside, so we have to be real sound between the tackles."