With a healthy Maggie Utsinger, Marion girls’ soccer poised for a bounce back

CEDAR RAPIDS — Consider it “comeback season” for Maggie Utsinger and the Marion girls’ soccer team.

Utsinger scored twice in a season-opening, 3-1, win at Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Thursday — a sign the junior is back to form in 2025.

“It feels like the start of a really good season,” Utsinger said. “I’m doing better this year and feeling good.”

Utsinger tore the medial deltoid ligament in her left ankle during Marion’s regional final win against Iowa City Liberty on May 25, 2023. She attempted to give it a go in the Wolves’ Class 2A state quarterfinal match six days later against Dallas Center-Grimes, but the discomfort forced her off the field.

“She started, then about two minutes in, we’re like, ‘yeah, you’re done,’” Marion Coach Erik Trilk said.

After months of waiting for an MRI, Utsinger had surgery late in 2023.

“The injury is so rare that every doctor I went to didn’t believe that was it,” Utsinger said. “Finally, in November I got an MRI and had surgery at the end of the year.”

Trilk was cautiously optimistic about Utsinger returning late in the 2024 season.

“We were hoping May 1, maybe …” Trilk said. “But there she was, on the field for our first game in April.”

“I wasn’t supposed to play at all last year,” Utsinger said. “I came back three months early because I was very set on not missing a game.”

Utsinger managed first-team all-Wamac honors in 2024, though her goal total dropped from a team-leading 17 in 2023 to 10.

“I didn’t think I could shoot without falling,” Utsinger said. “My (non-shooting) ankle didn’t have enough power. Every time I’d plant, I’d fall backwards.

“It was tough. Very restrictive.”

The Wolves finished 10-7, falling to Cedar Rapids Xavier in the regional finals.

“Last season was a little discouraging,” Utsinger said. “But this year I’m back and better. It’s comeback season.”

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union ranked Marion No. 11 in its first Class 2A poll, released on April 2.

“Coming into this season, we knew we were set up top,” Trilk said. “We're set in the back. We're set with our two mids. Now we just have to figure everything else out.”

In addition to Utsinger, the Wolves return starters Amerie Hall, Katelyn Allison, Haley Potter, Kiyah Claypool, Josie Logan and Anna Shelton. Returning letterwinners include Lydia Smith, Jade Redmond, Ava Cooper and Lily Cowdin.

Hall, a second-team all-conference pick, set a program record for assists with 17 in 2024.

Defensively, Logan returns to goal after earning second-team Wamac honors last year as a freshman.

“We have an amazing goalie,” Utsinger said. “It’s hard to shoot on her in practice. She challenges us every day.”

“Our defensive core and keeper are as strong as we’ve ever had at Marion,” Trilk said. “This team is ready to compete in the Wamac once again.”

Trilk also expects contributions from freshmen Jolee Ramirez, Lola Hubbell and Rylee Hutchins.

Ramirez scored Marion’s second goal in Thursday’s opener.

“From day one, we plucked these ninth-graders and threw them in the mix,” Trilk said. “They’ve risen to the occasion.”

Next up for the Wolves is a roach matchup at South Tama on Monday.

“The only way to go is up,” Trilk said. “I really do think the sky's the limit for this team.”