Category: Recruiting

paige-oneill-neosho-wildcats-soccer2

Paige O’Neill Signs With Missouri S&T Miners

paige-oneill-neosho-wildcats-soccer2Via NeoshoDailyNews.com. As a Miner alum, I personally consider this great news as I expect O’Neill will contribute immediately.

Soccer standout Paige O’Neill inked a letter of intent to continue her career with Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Mo.

O’Neill said she’s excited to contribute to the Lady Miners’ program, where she’ll see time as a holding-mid under coach Joe McCauley. But while she’s looking forward to continuing her soccer career, the big draw for her was academics. She currently sits second in her class at NHS with a 4.4 GPA, and says she plans to pursue a chemical engineering degree at S&T.

“I’m really exicted to go to S&T, because it’s a really good opportunity for me playing soccer and getting a good education,” O’Neill said. “The academics of the school were what drew me there. That’s what I want to do, so why go anywhere else?”

nwa-lightning-95-girls-soccerMake no mistake, O’Neill is also a standout on the pitch, where she has garnered all-conference and all-district honors in all three years at NHS. She also has been a standout for her club team, the Northwest Arkansas Lightning 95 Girls, under coach Doug Estrada. The team is ranked #1 in Arkansas and has won the State title in their age group every year since 2007 through 2012. The jacket photo is from 2011 when Paige was sidelined during the District Playoffs against Willard..

She’ll again be a vital part of the Lady Wildcats’ team in this, her senior season. Wildcats coach Steve Schnackenberg said O’Neill’s pride in Neosho soccer, and herself, is unmatched.

“She worked endlessly on getting better,” Schnackenberg said. “She spent time alone at the field, often just running or handling a ball or shooting.

“She is a great leader, and is always looking to make the people around her better,” he added. “Her skills are evident to her hard work, and she knows what to look for and how to run the field.”

O’Neill is the daughter of Robbin and Mike O’Neill.

Miriam Taylor, Camdenton Lakers (2013)

Miriam Taylor Signs With Lewis & Clark CC

Miriam Taylor, Camdenton Lakers (2013)
Miriam Taylor, Camdenton Lakers (2013)
Via LakeNewsOnline.com
A standout on the soccer field, Taylor will go on to take her scoring skills to Lewis and Clark Community College. Coach Tim Rooney is excited for the team’s newest addition.

“What I see is someone who can score goals, and that’s what we’ll expect from her,” Rooney said. “I like her speed, the way she gets to the goal, and she has a knack for finishing, so I’m counting on her ability to score goals for us next season. I think she’s going to be a big asset for us.”

Taylor still has her senior season left to play for the Lady Lakers, and her current coach knows that Lewis and Clark will be getting a quality player to add to their roster.

“Miriam is a tenacious competitor, and blessed with wonderful speed,” Coach J.D. Hunter said. “She is a great leader on and off the field. What they get with her is consistency. She’s never scored less than twenty goals since her freshman year.”

miriam-taylor-camdenton-lakers-soccerTaylor plans to go study accounting while dominating the soccer field.

As JD Hunter noted on the Lady Laker’s Facebook Page
Miriam is currently Camdenton’s leading goal scorer in the program’s history and is a three year starter for the Lady Lakers (the photo above is as a freshman in a game at Nixa). She follows former Laker Sandra Shore to the Flyers. Shore has completed her two years at Lewis & Clark where she was the starting keeper both years.

Tim Rooney, coach of the L&C Trailblazers, recently set the all-time record for the most wins of any National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) women’s soccer coach, winning his 331st game in September. He finished with 335.

James Straus and Robert Neathery Sign With Richmond International

James Strauss (Catholic/SSC) saves against SLSG Elite, U17 Boys
James Strauss (Catholic/SSC) saves against SLSG Elite, U17 Boys semifinal
Two area players are joining the move to the United Kingdom to advance their game.

James Straus, Springfield Catholic’s goalkeeper, will sign paperwork on Tuesday according to Irish Reports. Robert Neathery, from Nixa, signed earlier this month with the Academy program based in Leeds, England. The two players are teammates at Springfield SC where they won the U16 Missouri State championship in 2011.

Straus, who won two Missouri High School state championships with Springfield Catholic, was named the Class 1 Goalkeeper of the year along with 1st Team All-State recognition.

Robert Neathery, Nixa Eagles
Robert Neathery, Nixa Eagles (2010)
Neathery, who earned 2nd Team All-State honors in Class 3 (one of five area players) was also named Co-Offensive Player of the Year for the Southwest Region while establishing new Career Scoring marks for the Eagles.

A program begun in 2010 in Leeds, England has now recruited 7 players from this region (list below). As noted on the RIASA website, “the program is great for students who are looking to play year round. This is something the NCAA soccer does not allow, which leaves the players with a gap in their development opportunities. RIASA fulfills this gap”.

RIASA on FACEBOOK

Naki Wells, a RIASA alum, plays for Bradford City, the Div 2 side that just made history by making it to the Capitol One Cup Final to face Swansee at Wembley – this is the old Carling Cup. They got to the Final by beating Wigin, Arsenal, Aston Villa

1. Joe Curti – from Carthage, 92 Missouri ODP State Team and Springfield SC coached by Jeremy Alumbaugh
2. Doug Stevenson – from Kansas City, 92 Missouri ODP State Team and Regional Team from Kansas City, played for KCFC and KC Wizards coached by Gareth Hughes
3. Jackson Patillo – from Willard, on 93 Missouri ODP State Team and Springfield SC coached by Jeremy Alumbaugh
4. Reid Harbach – from Springfield Catholic, 94 Missouri ODP State Team and Regional Pool Team, Springfield SC coached by Carl Rose
5. Austin Hart – from Springfield Glendale, on 94 Missouri State ODP team and a Regional Pool team Player and a Springfield SC coached by Carl Rose
6. Drake Trease – from Nixa, on 93 Missouri ODP State Pool Team, played for Springfield SC coached by Carl Rose

In addition to our local boys, Taylor Ries (95 Illinois ODP State Team and Regional ODP Pool Team) from Quincy HS (IL) will sign his letter of intent to RIASA on Feb. 7.

A nice story on the Springfield SC connection can be found on the RIASA website from October 2012.

Missael-Maturino-Carthage-Tigers-soccer

Missael Maturino Signs with Neosho County Panthers

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Missael Maturino, Carthage Tigers, with his brothers, father and Coach Adame on right
The Neosho County CC men’s soccer team has signed Missael Maturino for the 2013-2014 season at Neosho County Community College. Missael attends Carthage High School in Carthage, Missouri.

While attending Carthage high school his team won two district titles and made the state final 4 the past two seasons.

“Missael is a great young man, outstanding player on the field and excels in the classroom,” stated the Panther coaching staff.

He joins his Carthage teammate Ismael Maturino as well as Kickapoo’s Aaron Strunk and Joplin’s Griffen Locke in signing with the Panthers. Neosho County CC competes in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference. Barton County CC is the defending Conference and Region VI champion.

Missael Maturino:
Defensive MVP of District 12 in Missouri
1st Team All District
1st Team All Conference
Named to the Southwest 2 All Region Team
Defensive Player of the Year for the Region

Ismael Serratos and Aaron Strunk, Neosho County Panthers soccer

Serratos and Strunk Sign With Neosho County CC

Ismael Serratos and Aaron Strunk, Neosho County Panthers soccer
Ismael Serratos and Aaron Strunk with Johnny Adame, Neosho County Panthers

The Neosho County Panthers have announced the signing of a pair of Southwest Missouri players. Ismael Serratos of Carthage and Aaron Strunk from Kickapoo are a pair of forwards that also play together for Springfield SC, winning State Cup as U16’s and reaching the Midwest Regional semifinals in 2011. They join Griffin Locke of Joplin who signed late last year.

Ismael Serratos, pictured with his mother Imelda on the left, helped lead the Tigers to a Missouri Class 2 State Runner up finishing, falling 0-1 in the Final to the St Dominic Crusaders. He was named Offensive Player of the Year in Class 2. The recognition came in a season when he set the Carthage career scoring record in the second game of the season when he scored his 64th career goal. He finished the season scoring 34 goals to give him a total of 95 for his career. “We are excited to have Ismael join our program and look forward to working with him on and off the field the next two years,” stated the NCCC coaching staff.

Aaron Strunk played varsity soccer for Kickapoo High School under Coach Hodge, starting since his freshman year. Aaron played several positions this season for the Chiefs, including goalkeeper, as Coach Hodge took the team to the Quarterfinals this season. He is primarily a forward however and was recognized on the Class 3 All-Southwest Region team for his play. “Aaron will play a key role over the next two years here at Neosho County. He is used to winning at Kickapoo and hopefully that will translate over to college,” stated the coaching staff.

Ismael Serratos, Carthage High School
Sophomore year 2010
1st team all-district OPY
1st team all-COC (conference),
2010 OPY and MVP for Carthage
33 goals 4 assists

Junior year 2011:
1st team all-district OPY,
1st team all-COC
1st team all-region OPY,
Honorable mention for class 3 All state team
2011 OPY for my school team,
28 goals 10 assists

Senior year 2012:
1st team all-district MVP
1st team all-COC,
1st team all-region MVP,
1st team All-Ozarks,
1st team all-state Class 2 OPY,
2012 OPY and MVP for school team, 34 goals 13 assists

Aaron Strunk, Kickapoo High School

2011-2012
1st team all district
All Region team
24 goals
Offensive MVP for Kickapoo
2nd team all-conference
Four year varsity starter.
U16 state cup champions and
U16 Midwest region semifinalist with SSC with Ismael Serratos