LAKEVILLE, IN. - For the first time since 2017, the LaVille Girls Soccer program were able to reunite for an Alumni Game. New LaVille Head Coach Brandon Shafer and the 2022 version of Lancer Girls Soccer shared the pitch with a number of LaVille Alumni that returned to Newton Park. "I don't remember how the conversation started, but (Assistant) Coach (Angie) Dunlap and I got to talking about having an alumni game," said Shafer. "She informed me that we've had them in the past, but it had been a while since the last one. I told her I thought it was a great idea. I think by the time we finished the conversation, she had a group text message going with several former alumni. It didn't take much convincing to get those ladies out there to join us. We were pleasantly surprised with the number of alumni that put their bodies on the line to play in the game." The LaVille alumni squad was made of members who graduated from 2003 to 2022.Erin (McDougal) Welborn, who graduated from LaVille in 2003, was the veteran member to lace up the cleats for the Alumni team for a return trip to the Newton Park pitch. "I was incredibly honored . . . and old to be back out on the pitch," said Welborn. "I had coached varsity soccer at Bremen High School for six years and now my daughter plays there. I was invited to play in their alumni game that morning so it was a bit of a tournament day for me. I ended up being the oldest on both fields. As I stood out there as they were announcing the teams, I realized that I had never played a high school game on this pitch. All my games were on the high school football field because we were still a new program at LaVille. Amazing things have happened to this program over the years and I am so proud to be part of the Lady Lancer soccer legacy as they continue to leave their mark on the local soccer community." According to Welborn, she is a mother of three and married for 15 years. "We live in Bremen where I am a personal trainer at BFit Gym," said Welborn. "I work full time in the Physical Therapy Department at South Bend Orthopedics and am the Family Ministry Director at our church. I love to be physically active and completed my first Spartan Race at the age of 35. My passion is my family and teaching others about functional fitness into their "middle age" and beyond." With a combination of recently graduated players, along with a large portion from the Class of 2018, the Alumni club put together quite a strong group. "Our coaching staff was really impressed with the play of the alumni team," explained Shafer. "They possessed the ball very well and their movement away from the ball was impressive as well. Hopefully our girls learned a little from them during the game. "But honestly, we just wanted the girls to go out and enjoy themselves," continued Shafer. "We had players playing in different positions than maybe they are used to. However, it's hard as a coach to not analyze everything that's happening, even in a scrimmage format like this was. There are some things we saw that will be the focus of the preseason practices that started today." For the record, the LaVille alumni grabbed bragging rights until the next meeting with a 3-2 victory over the 2022 LaVille High School Team. Madison Donahue, LaVille Class of 2018, scored the first goal of the match on a pass across the middle from 2018 grad Aryn Eash. Eash found Donahue near the net on a cross from the wing. The LaVille Alumni tallied another first-half goal when LaVille's all-time leading scorer Lindsey Aschenbrenner found the net. The 2018 graduates' goal bumped the Alumni lead to 2-0. "My goal was just a nice pass to the opposite back corner from the 18 that's hard to defend," Aschenbrenner said of her goal. "I hope we were a good practice for the HS team and I am excited to watch their season!" According to Ashenbrenner, she just graduated from college and is working as a registered nurse in the emergency department at Memorial Hospital. The 2022 LaVille High School team got on the board in the second half when Mikalah Kuskye netted a goal from about 18 yards out on the right side. Then 2022 graduate Kylie Gorka netted what would end up being the match-winning goal following a one-on-one move to net that put the Alumni on top, 3-1. Kuskye found the net again from the 18 and the right side for the final margin. "We'd like to thank those that came out to participate in the match," said Shafer. "Also, thank you to those that attended the match and for the donations we received that will be used directly within girls soccer. Thanks to (LaVille) boys varsity coach Kevin Christy for providing the shirts for the alumni. Each player received a 2022 Alumni Match shirt that was worn as their jersey and as a free gift for playing. Thanks to Mr. Vinny Stone and Assistant Principal Mr. Josh Overmyer for officiating the match. None of this could have been done without all of these individuals." When asked about the opportunity to put the cleats on and play on the pitch that was her homefield during her days as a Lancer Soccer player, Aschenbrenner said, "It was a bittersweet moment coming back and playing on the same field we won a sectional on, but I had a lot of fun especially playing against my little sister Rylie for the first time. Out of high school it's a lot harder to play soccer and see old friends so the alumni game was a nice opportunity to do that," continued Ashenbrenner. "I think collectively the alumni team put a lot of shots on the high school team, but I was impressed by their defense. "This is something that the LaVille Girls Soccer would like to host moving forward."We look forward to doing this again next year," concluded Shafer. Among those alumni that returned to participate in the 2022 match, were: Lindsey Aschenbrenner Haylie Cox Trinity Cox Lauren Dove Madison Donahue Aryn Eash Micah Edwards Kylie Gorka Kamryn Gorka Sydney Han Cory Hess Kylee Platz Lauren Tompkins MaKenna Tribbey Erin (McDougal) Welborn