The ninth-seeded Westerville Central High School girls soccer team had its season end Oct. 27 with a loss to sixth-seeded DeSales 3-0 in a Division I district semifinal.

The Warhawks finished 12-5-2 overall in a season that started slowly but became a success.

"This was one of the more successful seasons in the last couple of years," coach Michael Conover said. "Not just from a victories perspective. It was more successful from a growing perspective and having all the things that you have to have out of a soccer season in terms of growth."

Central was 2-3 in its first five games, but during a 3-2 win over Marysville on Sept. 15, Conover changed the lineup. The moves helped put the Warhawks on a streak of nine games in which they went 8-0-1.

That span of games included a 6-1 win over Lancaster in the first round of the district tournament Oct. 20 and a 4-0 win over New Albany in the second round two days later.

The Warhawks lose six seniors and expect to return a seasoned group next year.

Leaving are seniors Amy Behan, Bronwyn Huddleson, Morgan Lineberry, Rachel MacLeod, who has verbally committed to Toledo, Siah McCabe and Paige Sterling (honorable-mention all-OCC-Cardinal).

Huddleson has been a stalwart in goal for three seasons and Conover credited a lot of the teams development this season on MacLeod's leadership. She was named OCC-Cardinal Player of the Year.

Central expects to return key pieces at important positions next year. Part of the ingredients for the success at the end of the season was sophomore Sarah Persaud proving she could handle playing sweeper for the Warhawks. That move allowed Sterling to help direct the midfield. Junior Mackenzie Spicer moved to the forward position opposite junior Dominique Brown (first-team all-OCC-Cardinal), and those two became a formidable scoring tandem that's expected to provide a punch next year.

Also expected back next year are juniors Taylor Edwards, Erin Fitzpatrick, Courtney Jones, Kaitlyn Kelly, Meredith Lineberry, Kristen Norris, Kayla Schlatterbeck, Aubrey Schirtzinger, April Tausch (special mention all-OCC-Cardinal) and Ellis Wallinger.

Sophomore Taylor Wells (second-team all-OCC-Cardinal) and freshman Morgan Johnson also are expected back.

Wells played significant minutes this season and is expected to be a leader next year along with the defensive combination of Jones and Meredith Lineberry.

Central was third in the OCC-Cardinal at 4-1-2. The Warhawks finished behind Olentangy Liberty (6-0-1) and North (5-1-1) and ahead of Dublin Jerome (3-2-2), Dublin Scioto (1-3-3), Marysville (1-4-2), Olentangy (1-4-2) and South (1-6).

• North finished 12-4-3 after falling to Olentangy Liberty 2-0 in a district semifinal Oct. 27.

The Warriors will have to rebuild their defense, where they lose seniors Amanda Case (first-team all-OCC-Cardinal) and Emily Wilkin (first-team all-OCC-Cardinal) and Abby Wood (second-team all-OCC-Cardinal).

Those three are all the Warriors lose from a team that entered the final week of the regular season still in the hunt for a league title.

"With our youth and the competitive schedule, I was happy with (the season)," coach Tim Lawrence said. "We had an opportunity for the league title. We definitely have some high expectations for next year after the groundwork they laid."

The Warriors are expected to return junior Renee Perry (second-team all-OCC-Cardinal) to help rebuild the defense. Junior Spenser Foust (special mention all-OCC-Cardinal) and sophomore Allie Sieradzki (second-team all-OCC-Cardinal, team-high 13 goals) are expected back at the forwards.

Junior Ashley Miltko (honorable mention all-OCC-Cardinal) is expected back in the midfield.

Also expected to return are juniors Genelle Castro, Kendal Hostinpiller, Molly Harsh and Brooke Perry as well as sophomores Kayla Angermeier, Brittany Carpenter Maggie Gibson, Hope Miller and Hope Wood.

The freshman expected back are Caitlin Moore, Abbey Miltko, Cassaddie Roach, Aryn Shields and Missy Ward.

• South fell to Dublin Coffman 5-0 in a second-round game Oct. 22 to finish the season 4-11-1 overall.

The Wildcats struggled through a season in which they tried to make up for the eight starters lost from the 2008 season.

Next year's team doesn't figure to go through the same kind of drastic change.

The Wildcats lose seniors Alex Beard, Tracy Haizel Cobbina, Abby Misch (second-team all-OCC-Cardinal), Hannah Neagle, Brooke Robbins (honorable mention all-OCC-Cardinal), Mariah Swank and Gina Torelli.

"Brooke Robbins and Abby Misch are both four-year starters and any girl that starts four years for you are hard to replace the following year," coach Brandi Tanler said.

"However, we will be returning many players that now have experience and have already showed great improvement throughout the year. We should be able to compete with anyone and have a successful year."

The Wildcats are expected to return juniors Camela Bailey, Kate Beachler, Jamie Fletcher, Tori Fitzmartin, Lizzie Gauen, Carly Marburger, Jenny McManis, Emily Noskowiak, Lindzey Watson,

Sophomores Megan Henderson, Morgan Neighbors and Abby McDonald and freshmen Colleen Byrne and Stephanie Redd also are expected back.