Well, I’ve been keeping an eye out for stories in daily papers around the region but there’s been a dearth of them. Heck, I haven’t seen a single girls score reported on TV yet, and the Springfield rag only wants to post stories telling the coaches they have to sign up for a slow, unwieldy website if they expect to get scores reported. That’s good news for me from a competitive standpoint but good gosh…
With the addition of a third class in Girls Soccer, it can be argued that Class 2 is the new kid on the block, so to speak. No longer small schools, but not part of the large school make up either, District 5 is made up of teams from Southwest Missouri and teams near Kansas City.
Bolivar Liberators
The Liberators are on Spring break and there is nothing on the Liberator website regarding the team so far this season. The Herald-Free Press offered this tidbit a week ago:
The Bolivar soccer Lady Liberators will open the 2009 season at Ozark Monday, March 30. “We’re looking forward to a run at a district title and state play with an excellent mix of veteran leadership and some good young talent,” Bolivar head coach Jeff Edge said. Edge is assisted by Steve Fast and Kerrie Katz. “This year’s group returns nine starters from a year where we reached the district’s title game.”
Bolivar, 14-7 last season, is entering its 10th year of girls’ soccer. Seniors on the 2009 squad include defenders Breana Butters, Danielle Sharp, Shelbie Kirby and Lindsay Kelley; midfielder Jody McFarlen, Jordan Halbrook and Hannah Harris; and goalkeeper Sara Scott. Harris and Halbrook are the captains.
So they are returning 9 starters AND senior Jody McFarlen (pictured in white from 2007). McFarlen has signed with the Missouri State Bears after spending her junior season playing on a boys club team, skipping her junior season. Edge has reason to be confident in this squad and should be considered the favorite.
Carl Junction Bulldogs
One of four new programs in the region, and one of two in this District, the Bulldogs opened their season Tuesday against their large school neighbor Joplin Eagles. While there is a schedule on the CJ Bulldogs booster website I haven’t been able to find any information on the team. The Joplin Globe hasn’t even reported on the Eagles game. There was no game to report on, it’s an error on the CJ website.
Logan-Rogersville Wildcats
The South County Mail offered a nice introduction to the Wildcats a week ago in their article Logan-Rogersville Lady WildCats, coach excited for inaugural soccer season
For the first time in the school’s history, Rogersville will field a girls soccer team. The team will be coached by Brett Wubbena, who also coached the inaugural boys squad last fall.
We’ve got a lot of great athletes who haven’t played much soccer, but we’ve also got several players who have been playing club soccer for years. I think that combination will really benefit us this year.”
One of the players who Wubbena thinks will have a huge impact is sophomore Stevie Heidzig. Heidzig, who recently moved from Arizona, looks to sure up an already strong defense. The Lady ‘Cats only have one senior, Michelle Crawford, but they do have eight juniors. As of now, Crawford seems to be willing to take the reins and lead Rogersville.
The Lady ‘Cats have already won two games, both in OT, and Heidzig got the game-winner yesterday against Branson. Here’s my interview with her. Their first home game will be against Central Ozark Conference foe Springfield Catholic on Tuesday, March 31. It will be a challenge but I think this team has the tools to compete. They won’t be a surprise for long.
Marshfield Blue Jays
Marshfield Lady Jays ready for season
The Lady Jays know that they will have to be tough this year. Without a single senior on this year’s team, this could be the youngest team that Lewis has had in a long time. But Lewis is optimistic about his team’s chances this year, and for good reason. Even without any seniors, most of the juniors and sophomores on the squad have seen a lot of time at the varsity level.
The Lady Jays do bring back their leading scorer, Alex Cantrell. Last season, Cantrell finished with 17 goals and numerous assists, having one of the better seasons in the history of the Lady Jays’ soccer program. Along with Cantrell, Lewis will also be looking at his juniors to step into leadership roles vacated by the senior class. Two of those juniors are Dannyca Mostrom and Ashley Honeycutt, who have been named as team captains.
The season will begin against Hillcrest on Thursday, March 26. The Jays won 6-1 last year.
West Plains Zizzers
Coach Nick Schmitt runs one of the most informative websites in the region, I’m certain his parents appreciate it and I know I certainly do. Here’s his appraisal of the upcoming season with a bit of editing. Go here to see the entire article:
The 2009 Lady Zizzer Varsity team will consist of 5 Seniors, 8 Juniors, 4 Sophomores, and 2 Freshmen. Included in that group are 12 returning Varsity Letter Winners from last Spring. Here is a quick look at who will be where on the field.
Goalkeepers: Sophomores Samantha Phegley and Halley Watson will both see time in the goal and in the field. Both girls have demonstrated good athletic ability and have been working hard at learning the position.
Backs: When not in the goal, Phegley and Watson should see a lot of action in the back with an otherwise experienced group. Seniors Beth Kittle and Mollie Plocher, both beginning their fourth year as Varsity players, will provide strength in the Center of the field, while Junior, Ashley Martin, will hold down the left back position.
Midfielders: The center midfield positions will be anchored by Junior, Katie Shannon and Freshman, Anela Auala. Seniors, Kalie Simpkins and Megan Walker and Juniors Amy Armstrong will also see time in the midle. The outside midfield spots will be filled by Juniors, Ashley Harris, Kelly Smith, Amy Armstrong, Bre Wright, megan Lowe and Sophomore Brittany Mills.
Forwards: Senior, Dani Valade, Junior, Rachel Skelly, and Freshman Natasha Ugbah will see a lot of time up front and will be looked to for scoring.
UPDATE – I’ve now got a new soccer blog in my reader, Wildcat Soccer . Here’s some salient information on the team picked to win the District by the writer 
Harrisonville Wildcats
The shift from a two to three class system has given the Cats a little breathing room in district play. We’ve left our old rivals of O’Hara and the dreaded Notre Dame (de Sion) behind and now sit amongst other public schools in Class 2 District 5. These teams are gone but not forgotten as they sit in Class 2 District 6, a likely pairing for the second round in the state championships. Bolivar and Harrisonville both made it to their class 1 district finals last year but were unsuccessful in winning the championship. Clinton and Ruskin both follow the Cats to the new district.
These schools are South of Kansas City but part of the District. I’ll start digging around to see what we can find on them
# Clinton High School
# Ruskin High School
# Warrensburg High School
Add to Google
Joplin has not played CJ yet
I found their schedule at the following link: http://www.myschoolcalendar.net/display.asp?schoolname=870
It produces the schedule in a Word doc.
I’m the author of the Wildcat Soccer Blog. I will have to admit, my preseason rankings are already a bit off as I placed Warrensburg above Boliver (and behind Harrisonville) in the top three spots of the Class 2 District 5 Championships. Harrisonville played Warrensburg at home tonight and beat them soundly 5-0. I thought they would be much tougher. This was the Cats third shutout in as many games, including a 1-0 win over Sedalia Smith-Cotton.
I’d be interested to see some scores for Bolivar. I didn’t have much info to go on when I ranked them initially. (Sorry)
For the record, Clinton and Ruskin are typically weaker teams but have had some standout players in the past. Judging from tonights game, Warrensburg has fielded better teams. Of course, it’s still early in the season. They usually stay within a couple goals of Harrisonville.
Check back to my blog often for news, pictures and scores.
See you at Districts.
Kelly