Cattaraugus-Little Valley looks to rebuild attack around defensive experience

Overview

• CLV will open with a freshman goalkeeper moving up from modified, according to coach P.J. Peterson.
• Peterson said CLV has 20 players at the varsity level, but its most experienced players and top three scorers from last season graduated.
• The defensive end is expected to be the team's strength, with returning experience and leadership in that group.
• Maddie Schoonmaker is the returning player Peterson pointed to for a possible step forward, while Madelyn Williams could become an important contributor.

CLV starts with defensive experience

Cattaraugus-Little Valley enters 2026 with a clear preseason storyline: the roster has numbers, but the attack has to be rebuilt.

P.J. Peterson, entering his second season as varsity girls soccer head coach at CLV, said the team has 20 varsity players this year. He also said the group is replacing its most experienced players.

"Our top three scorers from last season were all were seniors and have graduated," Peterson said. "We have very little returning experience at the offensive end."

That puts more attention on the defensive end, where Peterson sees the team's best starting point.

"We should be solid on the defensive end," Peterson said. "We have some experience returning and have good leadership within that group."

CLV went 7-8 in 2025-26. This season, Peterson said the team is working to improve throughout the year while building a positive team atmosphere.

Names to watch

Maddie Schoonmaker, a Class of 2028 defender, is the returning player Peterson identified as most likely to take a significant step forward or have a breakout season.

Madelyn Williams, a Class of 2029 defender/midfielder, is the incoming, promoted or newly featured player Peterson said could become an important contributor.

The captain group is Emma West, Anna Dorn, Danikah Irish and Jaelyn Snyder. West is listed as a Class of 2027 defender/goalkeeper, Dorn as a Class of 2027 midfielder, Irish as a Class of 2027 defender and Snyder as a Class of 2027 forward.

Peterson expects Cayla Otto, a Class of 2029 goalkeeper/midfielder, to help organize the midfield, while Abby Barnes, a Class of 2028 midfielder, could be an important set-piece player.

In goal, Peterson said CLV has three goaltenders and will begin the season with a freshman moving up from modified.

Schedule landmarks

CLV's listed schedule opens Sept. 3 at North Collins before a Sept. 8 home match against North Collins and a Sept. 10 road date at Ellicottville.

The September schedule continues with road matches at Olean and Franklinville, plus home matches against Salamanca, Gowanda, Randolph, Olean and Ellicottville. October brings road matches at Salamanca, Dunkirk, Pine Valley/Gowanda and Randolph, along with home dates against Franklinville and Dunkirk.

For CLV, the early season task is direct: lean on the defensive group, grow a new goalkeeper into the varsity level and find ways to build an attack after major graduation losses.