Franklinville Lady Panthers Enter 2026 With Returning Core, Optimism

Overview

• Coach Tim Wangelin said he is "very optimistic" after Franklinville made "some very big strides last year" and returns most of that group.
• Mya Sullivan returns after scoring nine goals with one assist in 2025, and Wangelin said she could challenge Franklinville's single-season scoring record.
• Taylor Chase returns in goal after Wangelin described the goalkeeper spot as "rock solid" with a healthy Chase back.
• Addison Chamberlain is expected to help organize the midfield, while Grace Cornell was named as a returning player who could take a step forward.

Franklinville Girls Soccer Pre-Season Preview

Franklinville enters the 2026 girls soccer season with Tim Wangelin in his 13th total year with the program and Josh Wilcox alongside him as assistant coach. Wangelin said Wilcox is "a very valuable asset" and will take over for him in the near future.

The Lady Panthers are coming off a 3-13 season in 2025, but Wangelin sees a group that moved closer to the way he wants to play.

"I am very optimistic, as I'm sure everyone is before the season, about our team this season," Wangelin said. "I feel we made some very big strides last year in how we want to play and we return most of that group, so I'm hoping to build on what we gained last year."

That returning group includes Mya Sullivan, a Class of 2028 midfielder/forward who had nine goals and one assist in 2025. Wangelin said Sullivan could realistically challenge Franklinville's single-season scoring record, and he also pointed to her as a set-piece threat.

Addison Chamberlain, a Class of 2028 midfielder/defender, had three goals in 2025 and is expected to organize the midfield. Alayna Spittler added two goals and three assists, Grace Cornell had one goal and three assists, Emma Wilcox had one goal and one assist, and Alexea Hernandez recorded two assists.

Wangelin said Franklinville should be "solid down the middle, with excellent goaltending." Taylor Chase, a Class of 2027 goalkeeper/forward, returns after Wangelin said she missed three-quarters of last season. Chase had 30 saves in limited 2025 action after recording 136 saves in 2024.

The coach also named Cornell as a returning player likely to take a step forward, Holly Lovell as a new or newly featured player who could contribute, and Grace Cornell, Carlie Aultman, Alayna Spittler, and Selena Hernandez as players who lead by example. Wangelin said he had not named permanent captains, with seniors Alayna Spittler, Taylor Chase, Carlie Aultman, and Addisyn Killingbeck expected to rotate games for the most part.

Franklinville opens the schedule at Holland on Sept. 1, then visits Salamanca on Sept. 10 before a Sept. 11 date with JFK. September also includes Randolph, Catt. Little Valley, Holland, Ellicottville, Pine Valley/Gowanda, Mount Morris, and Salamanca. The October schedule includes Randolph, Catt. Little Valley, Ellicottville, Pine Valley/Gowanda, CSAT, and JFK.