STAC GIRLS SOCCER: WITH MIX OF EXPERIENCE AND YOUTH, OWEGO HOPES TO CHALLENGE IN STAC, SECTION IV (2025-08-23)
By TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
OWEGO — With Owego girls soccer coach Laurel Evans sitting out the season on maternity leave, a new, but very familiar face will be running the show this season.
Longtime JV and modified coach Kaitlyn Simpson will run the varsity program as the River Hawks look to challenge in the STAC Central and at the Section IV Class A level.
Evans will be returning to her teaching job, but will help the soccer team on a voluntary basis this season.
As for Simpson, she brings an impressive soccer background to the pitch. A 2012 graduate of Owego, she’s been coaching JV and modified girls soccer here since 2016.
“Laurel and I actually played together in high school and we were part of the first school soccer team to win a sectional championship here, so we’re trying to bring that culture back,” she said.
Simpson would go on to play two seasons at SUNY Broome, playing on teams which won two regional championships and made two appearances at nationals.
Whether or not Evans will return to the head coaching job next year is yet to be determined, but in the meantime Simpson won’t be making any major changes.
“I think Laurel and I both had the same goals,” Simpson said. “She was only in this position a couple years, but just team building and building that culture and making it fun for the girls, and bringing that team culture.
Obviously, with her history with the River Hawks’ program, Simpson is very familiar with the majority of the players and that should make for a smooth transition.
“I’ve known these girls for so long and I’ve coached all of the seniors,” she said. “I coached when they were on modified their first year, so it’s just putting it all together.”
Owego qualified for the Class A state playoffs in 2023, but fell to eventual champion Rye in the first round. Some key graduation losses proved costly and the River Hawks finished the season with a 7-7 record, bowing out to eventual champion Chenango Valley in the sectional semifinals. The River Hawks will have some work to do to get back on top.
“We have a lot of young players,” Simpson said. “We’ve brought up three 8th-graders … who I think will play a little bit of a role on varsity this season, as well as a lot of freshmen and sophomores too that will help us out at the varsity level. We also have nine seniors, some who took a season off and are back, and I’m excited to have them again.
“We have a lot of talent throughout all of the levels,” she added. “We also have 40 girls this season and that is the most we’ve had between the two levels in years so we’re excited.”
Owego opens the season Thursday at home against Susquehanna Valley.
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IN PHOTO 1: Owego has 40 players on its varsity and JV rosters. IN TOP PHOTO: Kaitlyn Simpson has been with the Owego girls soccer program since 2016 and will be the varsity head coach this season. … PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.
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