Senior helps Concord’s Cox Mill High with passing, leadership

Cox Mill’s Katie Coffelt’s ability to find open teammates for goals has made her a standout.

Now, the all-region soccer midfielder hopes to assist her young team in a new way: with her leadership.

Early in the season, Coffelt already stands out to first-year Chargers coach Emily Petersohn.

“She’s an exceptional leader on and off the field,” said Petersohn, who was an assistant at Havelock last year. “She’s always pushing the girls to play harder, to play better. We can’t ask anything more from a senior captain.”

Being a better leader was one of Coffelt’s focuses during the offseason. Although she was a captain as a sophomore, her role was never as important as this year.

“I have more weight on my shoulders,” she said. “But I definitely like that role and helping others, being the leader.”

Coffelt also gives Cox Mill a boost with her ability to distribute the ball from the outside. She led the Chargers in assists last season as they claimed a second straight South Piedmont Conference championship.

“She sees the open spot, she sees the right play,” Petersohn said. “She’s a smart player. That’s something that comes with skill and maturity.”

During the offseason, Coffelt, a UNC Asheville signee, worked on shooting and attacking the goal with her Lake Norman Soccer Club team. The all-conference midfielder wanted to improve that aspect of her game to further help her team.

Cox Mill, which graduated all-region forwards Kaylee Akers and Denay Hayden as well as all-state defender Colleen Meyer, needs all the assistance it can get. The Chargers, who have three freshmen, eight sophomores, one junior and five seniors on their roster, are still learning to play together.

“It’s like a puzzle,” Petersohn said. “Trying to figure out where they all fit on this team.”

Coffelt admitted that her team has grown frustrated at times, as players adjust to new roles on the field, but she thinks the team can grow quickly.

“We all want to win,” Coffelt said. “We’re all going to work together.”

The team’s strength is its midfield. Along with Coffelt, all-region sophomore Christine Rolfes and seniors Paige Doyle and Logan Long solidify the team.

Rolfes, who was one of the Chargers’ biggest scoring threats as a freshman last season, has played on the wing for the team, while Long, who earned South Piedmont Player of the Year honors as a sophomore, has taken the initiative to move back to play defense when needed.

Freshman defender Kathryn Laughlin is also strong in the back.

“I inherited a lot of great players,” Petersohn said. “I know the potential we have. ... We’re a young team, but I suspect we’re going to do fairly well this season.”

As Cox Mill looks to find its rhythm, Coffelt has set high goals for her team.

“We’re definitely going after that (conference) three-peat,” she said.

Petersohn, who won state championships as a player at Jacksonville White Oak, shares Coffelt’s ambition.

“It’s always about taking it to the championship every season,” she said. “My goal as coach is to always try to provide that opportunity for these girls.”