Worthington — Midway through the 2025 season, Thomas Worthington girls soccer found its identity. After opening the year 1-7-1 through its first nine matches, the Cardinals closed the season with a balanced 3-3-3 record.
One of the highlights came in a hard-fought 1-1 draw against rival Worthington Kilbourne, who went on to win two playoff games.
Entering 2026, second-year head coach Chris Merrick says the Cardinals are focused on building on that momentum by sticking to their style of play and trusting what works best for them.
“Last year’s group put a lot of work in, so this year we don’t have to find our identity,” Merrick said. “Now, it’s about refining it and taking it to the next level.”
Merrick has a plethora of experience returning across the board, anchored by captains Addie Skaug, MJ Turner, and Nora Meister. Skaug is also one of several new faces expected to be regulars in the lineup this season, along with Nora Long, Meredith Hinten and Alessia Backs.
Incoming sophomores Juliet Spector and Sullivan saw varsity minutes as freshmen in 2025 and will look to take on larger roles this fall.
These expectations and confidence in the girls comes after an offseason marked with growth across the board.
“You reap what you sow, and these girls are earning their opportunities through hard work and effort,” Merrick said. “Soccer is the most unforgiving sport. What you put on the field is what tells the story, and they’ve really grasped that and taken off with it.”
Going into 2026, Thomas Worthington is raising the bar. But for Merrick, success won’t be measured solely by the standings. Instead, it’s about the progress his team makes from one match to the next.
“I believe if you do all the little things, the bigger stuff becomes easier,” Merrick said. “We do want to you know get more wins and such, but that comes from playing as a unit, give their best every game, and getting the most out of themselves. A happy team and happy player will give you the best results.”
Thomas Worthington opens the season 14 August at Canal Winchester after scrimmages against Dublin Scioto and Fairbanks over the next nine days.
Photos from Thomas Worthington’s scrimmage against Tree of Life can be viewed and downloaded from this link.
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