Tag Archives: Melissa Young

Missouri State Lady Bears Spring Season

Posted on by

Missouri State Bears vs Missouri S&TThe Lady Bears opened their Spring season this afternoon with 90 minutes of soccer on the fast and windy Plaster Stadium pitch. Facing off against D2 Missouri S&T, the Spring season allows the teams to work on some projects and take out their energy against another team rather than their teammates.

Working in three 30 minute sessions, the first two were scoreless and offered a few insights into what the projects might be. I’ll comment on the Miner’s first, then the Lady Bears.

The Miner’s came out strong this afternoon, working hard to go forward and pressure the Bear’s. Reflective of the strong season they had in the Fall, when they reached the GLVC Playoff’s for the first time ever, the ladies worked the ball well. The team lost four key seniors from that run but return a strong core led by seniors to be Melissa Young (M/F), Paige Smothers (D) and Stacy Luquette who takes over the starting role in goal. Junior-to-be Colleen Lewis is the midfield general and she’d fit in well on the Bears.

The Bear’s lost seniors Jordan Reppell and Sarah Linsin from the backline that took them to the MVC Final last year. It appears they have also lost freshman Brooke Williams from the State Champion Liberty Jay’s, who was the most dangerous player on the pitch for them once Rachel Weimer went down injured.

Freshman Tiffany Laughlin may be called on to play the same role for the Bears she did for the Pattonville when she moved to the back line as a senior for the 2nd Place Pirates. In the middle I like junior Jesslyne McGrath’s calm under pressure and Adrianne Kalogerou also worked well in the outside defensive position. Lauren Wendt showed good positioning and the ability to get to the goal. All three Springfield players got in plenty of minutes (Bailes, Roberts, Stewart) with Bailes starting in central midfield and Roberts at an outside midfield position.

Spring Schedule
April 3rd vs Missouri Valley College (NAIA), 1pm
April 9th vs SBU (D2), 1pm
April 9th vs Drury (D2), 7pm
April 16th vs UCM, 6pm
April 19th vs MSSU, 6:30pm

All matches are in Plaster Stadium on Campus
.

Springfield Soccer Photos

Support This Site – Purchase Photos! Click on any photo to be taken to site

View photos at SmugMug

Friday’s College Report

Posted on by

bearhead_125.jpgMissouri State Bears – 1
SEMO Redhawks – 0
This is a very good result for the Bears, getting the win on a 50th minute goal from their midfield general, sophomore Samantha Aguilar. Sophomore midfielder Christine Cross earned the assist as she led Aguilar with a pass that resulted in a goal in the bottom left corner of the net. Tara Bailes (Catholic 2008) once again played significant minutes in midfield.

The Redhawks posted a 12-3-4 record last season while capturing their second consecutive Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. It looks like they were missing a key player, Casey Kraft (St. Louis, Mo./Nerinx Hall) who does not show up in the box score but is expected to lead their offense this season. UPDATE – Southeast suffered a bad break before the game when senior standout Casey Kraft rolled an ankle in warmups. She did not play, but Nelson doesn’t believe the injury is serious.

The Bears will host Tulsa at home on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 pm

Missouri Southern LionsMissouri Southern Lions – 2 (2 OT)
Abilene Christian – 1
The Lions gave up a goal in the 47th minute to create a 1-0 deficit, only to see their senior leader Nikki Llewellyn tie the game in the 88th minute and get the game winner in the 105th minute to earn the win in their home opener. Megan Dimza assisted on the first goal, Shannon Kuhn on the second. UPDATE – They were the 39th and 40th goals of Llewellyn’s career.

Sophomore Lindsay Altman (Joplin 2007) and freshman Brianna McKenzie (Webb City) both earned minutes in the match, with McKenzie getting 1 shot off from her midfield position.

Missouri Southern Lions – 1
Texas A&M International – 2 (OT)
The Lions took the initial lead in the game, getting a goal from freshman Kevin Aubuchon, assisted by sophomore Nate Evans (Cassville 2007) in the 76th minute. The home team tied it on a 30 yard free kick from right wing in the 85th and got the game-winner 5 minutes into OT from a cross into the box. Stuart Ziegler (West Plains 2008) and Jesse Clevenger (College Heights 2006) both started for the Lions.

Miners Logo headMissouri S&T Miners – 3
Ashland Eagles – 1
Brooke Ryan and freshman Melissa Young scored second half goals for the Lady Miners, who won a season opening contest for the first time since beating Winona State to start the 2003 campaign.

Missouri S&T Miners – 3
Ashland Eagles – 4
S&T tied the score again at the 62:08 mark when Mario Calderon redirected a ball from Brandon Moore (Rolla 2005) past goalkeeper Ryan Cruise to knot the score at three. But moments later, the Miners were whistled for a foul in the penalty area and Tom Mangotic made the penalty kick for what turned out to be the Eagles decisive goal.

Central Region Preseason Poll and All-Area Team

Posted on by

The Class 1 and Class 2 Coaches from the Central Region have compiled their preseason picks.

Preseason All Area Team
GK – Annie Streumph (Helias)
D – Liz Gayer (Hickman), Caty Newbold (Helias), Jeanna Ross (RB), Caitlyn Guerrant (Fulton),
MF – Alex Litofsky (RB), Shawn Beard (Moberly), Melissa Young (Helias), Latea LaRue (Camdenton), Sarah Hotop (Mexico), Tillie Bill (SBC)
F – Kelsey Sanders (JC), Ashley Russell (Fulton), Lauren Kelly (RB), Andie Wiesner (Moberly)

Honorable Mention: Blaire Baker (Camdenton), Danielle Baumgartner (Helias), Molly Cowley (JC)

Class 2 District 10 Preview:
The Class 2 District 10 race has arguably been the most competitive in the state and this year will be no different as each of the six teams can make a significant run at a district title. One thing that should make this district interesting – three first-year coaches and one second-year coach out of the six district teams. The District 10 winner will more than likely play state power Incarnate Word Academy in a sectional game this May. IWA won its district last year in record-setting fashion – 15-0 over Gateway – en route to a second place finish in Class 2. Incarnate returns two of the top players in the nation and was ranked nationally for the majority of 2007. The Rock Bridge Bruins are defending District champions.

1. Rock Bridge (11-7-5)
2. Helias (12-6)
3. Jefferson City (17-5-2)
4. Hickman (8-11-4)
5. Smith-Cotton (14-7-2)
6. Camdenton (12-12)

Class 1, District 10 Preview:
Defending champ Moberly has all the ingredients to repeat. The Spartans return 10 starters from the team that knocked off upstart Mexico 3-1 in last year’s final after Mexico had surprised defending champ Hannibal in the semifinals. Moberly MF Shawn Beard is one of the smoothest players in the area and she will have plenty around her to work with as coach Robbie Murray will try to repeat his successful fall season. Mexico MF Sarah Hotop will lead Brad Ellebracht’s rapidly improving Bulldog team. Fulton had its best season in school history, but will lose the area’s leading scorer in Jessica Martin. The Hornets do return 1st Team NCMC players F Ashley Russell and D Caitlyn Guerrant. Kirksville played everyone tough, but also loses key field player Rebekah Blankenship. The Tigers return 1st Team NCMC GK Mackenzie Kelly who has the ability to keep her team in any match. Southern Boone and second-year team Canton round out the district for one more year before both teams head to Class 1 next season. Southern Boone’s sophomore MF Tillie Bill will lead a young Eagles team that should also benefit from the addition of senior Courtney Branch, who is playing her first year of soccer. Hannibal lost a solid group of seniors, but will return F Elise Bensman and GK Whitney Voepel to a team that has shared conference and district dominance with Moberly over the past few years. The district winner will more than likely face defending Class 1 state champ St. Dominic in the sectional game.

Central Region Preseason Poll, All-Area and Team Capsules

Missouri Science & Technology Miners Sign Six Women Soccer Players

Posted on by

Miners Logo headMissouri S&T women’s soccer coach Jon Kiester has announced that six players have signed national letters of intent to play soccer for the Lady Miners in the 2008 season.

This year’s recruiting class includes two players each from the states of Missouri and Illinois, as well as players from Texas and Kansas. The signees are as follows:

SABRINA DRENNAN, a 5-9 defender-midfielder from Incarnate Word Academy in St. Louis, Mo.: Drennan played on a high school team last season that finished as the Missouri Class 3 runner-up, as she recorded three goals and five assists for 11 points. Two of her goals in the 2007 spring season were game-winning tallies. An honorable mention selection in the MWAA White Conference, Drennen has also played club soccer with the Missouri Premier team for coach Sterling Wescott. She plans to major in business at Missouri S&T.

SHELLY EKHOLM, 5-6 midfielder from Cy Springs High School in Houston, Texas: Ekholm is a four-year letterwinner who earned first-team all-district honors in each of the last three seasons. She was selected as her team’s offensive most valuable player in 2006 and as her team’s “Rookie of the Year” following her freshman year. In addition, she led her club team, the Westside Quest Stars in assists and finished as the team’s second-leading scorer. She has been involved in numerous groups at her school, including the National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Ekholm plans to major in architectural engineering.

HEATHER FERSTL, a 5-7 midfielder from Burlington Central High School in Elgin, Ill.: Ferstl was a three-time all-conference performer at the high school level and has led her team to two conference titles. She had five goals and four assists during the 2007 season for 14 points after scoring four times with four assists in 2006. Her high school team has gone 18-0-2 in conference play over the last two seasons. Ferstl has played club soccer for the KUFC Tempest squad in the Midwest Regional League. Ferstl plans to major in civil engineering.

PAIGE SMOTHERS, a 5-3 defender-midfielder from Marion High School in Marion, Ill.: Smothers is a two-time all-league selection in the South Seven Conference as as defender and has been one of the team’s top offensive players from that position. She earned honorable mention all-section honors as well during her prep career. Smothers has played on the SMSC Sweepers club team for coach Justin McMullen and has also been a part of the Metro United team in the Super Y league. A member of the school’s branch of the National Honor Society and Math Honor Society, Smothers plans to major in either civil or mechanical engineering at Missouri S&T.

LEAH WILLIAMS, a 5-6 forward from Free State High School in Lawrence, Kan.: Williams has been named to the Kansas Class 6A all-state team in each of the last two seasons, while also earning two all-region awards and three all-conference awards in the Sunflower League. Williams has also played club soccer with the Topeka Select Galaxy. She is ranked first in her academic class and has been a member of the school’s branch of the National Honor Society as well as the principal’s honor roll. Williams plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.

MELISSA YOUNG, a 5-9 midfielder from Helias High School in Jefferson City, Mo.: Young was an honorable mention all-state selection following the 2007 season in Missouri Class 2 while also earning all-region and all-district honors. Young, who led her team in scoring last season, has been a part of the Missouri Olympic Development program and has played club soccer with the Carrera Soccer Club for coach Paul Pitchford. She is ranked in the top 10 percent of her academic class and plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.

Additional College Soccer Signings Announced in Southwest Missouri

Posted on by

There is a lot of good news coming out of our area High Schools this Spring regarding players who will be playing soccer in college. My goal is to have a personal interview with each of the players that I am aware of so that we can all learn more about the recruiting process. If we’ve chatted but haven’t completed the process, I apologize. If we haven’t talked yet, feel free to reach out to me so that we can begin the process.

In the meantime, here’s the latest update:

Ozark Tigers Signing CeremonyThe Ozark Tigers had a ceremony Wednesday announcing:
Robbie Curtis to Lincoln Memorial University (D2 National Finals last year)
Josh Maloney to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NAIA)
Nick Robinson to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NAIA)
Seated: Robbie Curtis, Nick Robinson and Josh Maloney.
Standing: Coach Tom Davidson OHS Soccer and Coach John Parrigon, NEO A&M.
Photo provided by the Tigers.

The Glendale Falcons also had a ceremony on Wednesday
Lou Opfer to Truman State University (D2)
Maggie Schrier to Hendrix College (D3)
Megan Garrad to William Jewell College (NAIA)
In addition, junior Devon Newport has verbally committed to play for the SLU Billikens beginning in 2009.

Adam Strong, Lebanon YellowjacketsAdam Strong of the Lebanon Yellowjackets signed on Friday with Central Christian College of the Bible. He’s pictured to the left, in the center with Coach Mike Gow, AD Ron Bandy in the back row and his parents on each side. Photo provided by the Yellowjackets.

The Willard Tigers announced that Patsy Middleton is joining Regina Bodine and Jessie Yach at Missouri Valley. The ceremony will be today.

The Joplin Globe offered a a couple of updates for the Joplin Eagles. Joplin High School seniors T.C. Ross and Christian Hernandez will play on a new team next year. Literally. Ross and Hernandez signed letters-of-intent Wednesday afternoon to play soccer at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. The Golden Norsemen will have an NJCAA-sanctioned soccer program for the first time this fall. Back on February 12th, Stephanie Taylor, a midfielder, and her friend, goalkeeper Randi Russell signed letters-of-intent to join the Missouri Southern women’s soccer program

From Central Missouri, Jeff City Helias girls soccer players, Melissa Young and Caty Newbold, signed with Missouri-Rolla and William Woods University. The Jefferson City Jays have two players signing with William Woods today – Katie Denning and Kelsey “george” Sanders.

The earlier announcement is here.

Contact me and Friend Me so we can stay in touch while your away at school!