SIDNEY — After losing eight seniors after last season, including their starting keeper and two double-digit goal scorers, Sidney is right where they want to be four games into 2026.

“We graduated eight starting seniors and have three seniors on this year’s varsity team. We’re returning seven letter-winners, with only three of them starting last year,” Sidney head coach Kevin Veroneau said. “In summary, we’re a very young and inexperienced team.”

All three of the team’s seniors; midfielder Kiana Huckleby, forward Caitlin Fenton and defender Alayah Ahrns, didn’t start last season.

“We have 3 seniors on this year’s Varsity team none of which were starters last year,” Veroneau said. “Our top returning players are Emilee Haynes, Peyton Hensley, Keygan Bladen, Anara Shroyer, and Bailey McCutchins”

The Yellow Jackets sit at 2-1-1 overall and 0-1-1 in Miami Valley League play, losing 3-0 at Troy on Aug. 19 and drawing with Xenia 0-0 on Aug. 26.

Junior keeper Bailey McCutchins, who didn’t play in 2025, but had 58 saves in 12 games as a freshman in 2024, has already had two shutouts in goal, allowing five goals and making 26 saves.

Sophomore Emilee Haynes returns as the team’s leading goal-scorer, finding the back of the net nine times as a freshman. She’s already managed 11 points (four goals, three assists) in four games this year.

Fellow sophomore Norah Kennedy has a goal and an assist as well this year. Junior Peyton Hensley has three assists. Fenton scored her first and only two goals thus far in Sidney’s 4-0 season-opening win at Tecumseh.

Junior Anara Shroyer returns on the defensive side of things, where the Jackets also add freshman Anna Clark. Sophomore Josie McVety is also a newcomer, who suits up as a forward.

Veroneau said the team’s main goals for 2026 are to win the division, compete for the league title and to finish win a winning record. Sidney has won at least a share of the conference two years in a row, and has won the Valley Division every year since 2019-20, which was the first year of the current MVL.

He said their main competition to complete the first goal is Fairborn.They’ll get their first taste of the Skyhawks on Sept. 16.

Tippecanoe, Troy and Butler will also make it tough for the Yellow Jackets to clinch a share of the league title for the third consecutive season.

But, if there’s one thing that Veroneau and Sidney know how to do, it’s win. Now in year 11 at the helm of the Yellow Jackets, he’s recorded just one losing season (2021). Between time coaching across the state and the country, Veroneau himself has almost 300 wins in his 28-year career, good enough for 12th all-time in the state.

The team went 8-9-1 in 2021, but still went 7-1-1 in conference play. Their losses were to Tecumseh, Dublin Coffman, Alter, Miamisburg, Northmont, Beavercreek and an overtime playoff loss at Butler.

Sidney continues its season on Monday, Aug. 31 at Bethel. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m.

Reach SDN sports/assistant editor Rhys Patrykus at rpatrykus@aimmediamidwest.com and follow him on X (Twitter) @RhysPatrykus.