Wildcats ready to tackle 2026 soccer season ‘TOGETHER’
Members of the 2026 Plymouth girls soccer team gather for a team photo in late-March.
The 2026 Plymouth girls soccer team’s formula for success is cleverly spelled out in an acronym — TOGETHER — the players created during their pre-season training.
Here’s the meaning of each of the acronym’s letters: T – Trust; O – Optimism; G – Grit; E – Enthusiasm; T – Tenacity; H – Humble; E – Effort; R – Respect.
After playing a daunting early schedule that included multiple perennial state-ranked programs, the Wildcats are 2-2, with the two most-recent matches ending with 1-0 victories.
“We’re still looking to bring all the values listed in the acronym to life, but the girls are very positive, working hard and enthusiastic for the upcoming season,” said Plymouth Head Coach Glenn Liguouri.
(Meet the 2026 Plymouth girls soccer team by watching this short video here.)
Depth comes in handy
On H word — Health — has been an early obstacle for the Wildcats, whose 26-player roster has been decimated by injuries to key players.
“One player will miss the entire season and two others will be out multiple weeks,” Liguori lamented. “I usually don’t keep 26 players, but with the injuries we needed the depth.”
Among the healthy players heading into the April 9 P-CEP showdown with Salem are Plymouth’s three stellar captains: Emma Johnson, Kenleigh Ball and Abigail Kuehneman, all of whom brings winning traits to the pitch.
“Emma is a four-year varsity player who is really athletic, talented and focused,” Liguori said. “She’s the one who, if we’re off a little bit, will remind everyone to stay focused and bring energy.”
Johnson is a shooting star
The sky is the limit this spring for Johnson, a licensed pilot who will be taking her love of soccer and flight to Dayton Beach, Florida’s Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the fall.
“Emma also runs the 400 for our girls track team, so she’s definitely motivated,” Liguori added.
Senior Kenleigh Ball, who is set to play collegiate soccer for Schoolcraft College, was the Wildcats’ leading scorer in 2025.
“She scored our only goal in our 1-0 victory over Ann Arbor Pioneer,” Liguori shared. “It was pouring rain, the keeper made a slight error and Kenleigh made her pay, which she did a lot last year.”
Kuehneman is a dangerous striker as well, Liguori asserted.
“Abby has a different style than Kenleigh in that she is more of a slasher and a runner,” Liguori said. “She’s probably our best communicator on the field, too.”
Portman, Meldrum make defense solid
Among the Wildcats’ defensive mainstays is junior Samantha Portman, who is expected to thrive as the team’s center back.
Portman will play in front of sophomore keeper Ashleigh Meldrum, who blossomed last year after earning starting status midway through the season. Meldrum was a human highlight reel in multiple games in 2025, extinguishing sure-fire goal-scoring opportunities by Plymouth’s opponents.
“Ashleigh really proved herself once she was asked to start for us,” Liguori said. “And she’s only gotten better.”
Although sidelined to start the season due to a stress fracture, the Wildcats’ most compelling player may be junior Cailyn McClain, who played for the esteemed IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida during her sophomore year.
“Cailyn was playing great in pre-season training before she suffered a stress fracture in her foot,” Liguori said. “We’re hoping to get her back in around early- to mid-May.”
Fabulous freshman
The Wildcats’ lone freshman on the varsity roster is Vivian Christianson, who Liguori described as “a wonderful kid and a great athlete who comes from a great family.”
Among the nine-senior class of players who are expected to shine in their final season of high school soccer are Niyah Armstrong, Lenna Seed, Maria Capaldi, Kaylene Miller and Bella Bozinovski.
Joining Meldrum as a sophomore sensation is Maya Sleiman, who rarely sat during her freshman season on varsity.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
