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The one consensus among Carthage High School’s soccer coaches is this: The Lady Tigers shouldn’t have any problem competing with anybody on this year’s schedule, especially against conference and district opponents.
The Lady Tigers, without question, will have their hands full this year in the always-competitive Central Ozark Conference. Perennial contenders Ozark and Nixa, on paper, are stacked with several all-conference players returning on both sides.
For the Carthage High School girls’ soccer team, last year was, at the very least, a learning experience for the players, not to mention Chris Rogers, who stepped down as the boys’ head coach to help jump-start Carthage’s first girls program in school history.
The inaugural season began in March, and after a few weeks, the Lady Tigers put together their first winning streak in program history after shutting out Carl Junction late in the season.
Although the season ended with a quick exit in district playoffs, the Lady Tigers had two players — Allison Bennett and Jessica Diaz — selected to the All-COC Large Division team.
The Lady Tigers, who ended their inaugural season with a 5-14 record, finished the season playing .500 soccer, going 4-4 in their final eight games.
“It shows how much improvement we made from the first game,” said Rogers, after last season. “When you look at our group of girls, we’re a very young team that laid a great foundation for the future.”
Bennett, now a junior, was a second-team defender selection. Diaz, a sophomore, was picked as a second-team forward selection.
Although the Lady Tigers lost team MVP Yanira Reyes — one of the girls who spearheaded the program — to graduation, they return Bennett and Diaz, among others.
“We have a lot of our girls back and have added some very strong talent to our lineup,” said Rogers, now in his second season with the Lady Tigers.
The Lady Tigers, who open the regular season Monday, March 22, at Logan-Rogersville, also return Sarah Anderson, the team’s Defensive Player of the Year, and senior midfielder Ashley Shannon, who recently signed with Pratt (Kan.) Community College to continue her academic and athletic career. Jamileth Henriquez, who finished second in scoring last season and led the Lady Tigers in assists, also returns.
Newcomers this season include junior midfielder Tristen Bass, junior defender Andrea Westhoff, and senior midfielder Deandra Sexton and senior defender Ashley Heidlage.
“We should be able to compete with most of the teams we play,” noted Rogers. “I am hoping the girls can double the number of wins from last season.”
The one consensus among Carthage High School’s soccer coaches is this: The Lady Tigers shouldn’t have any problem competing with anybody on this year’s schedule, especially against conference and district opponents.
The Lady Tigers, without question, will have their hands full this year in the always-competitive Central Ozark Conference. Perennial contenders Ozark and Nixa, on paper, are stacked with several all-conference players returning on both sides.
For the Carthage High School girls’ soccer team, last year was, at the very least, a learning experience for the players, not to mention Chris Rogers, who stepped down as the boys’ head coach to help jump-start Carthage’s first girls program in school history.
The inaugural season began in March, and after a few weeks, the Lady Tigers put together their first winning streak in program history after shutting out Carl Junction late in the season.
Although the season ended with a quick exit in district playoffs, the Lady Tigers had two players — Allison Bennett and Jessica Diaz — selected to the All-COC Large Division team.
The Lady Tigers, who ended their inaugural season with a 5-14 record, finished the season playing .500 soccer, going 4-4 in their final eight games.
“It shows how much improvement we made from the first game,” said Rogers, after last season. “When you look at our group of girls, we’re a very young team that laid a great foundation for the future.”
Bennett, now a junior, was a second-team defender selection. Diaz, a sophomore, was picked as a second-team forward selection.
Although the Lady Tigers lost team MVP Yanira Reyes — one of the girls who spearheaded the program — to graduation, they return Bennett and Diaz, among others.
“We have a lot of our girls back and have added some very strong talent to our lineup,” said Rogers, now in his second season with the Lady Tigers.
The Lady Tigers, who open the regular season Monday, March 22, at Logan-Rogersville, also return Sarah Anderson, the team’s Defensive Player of the Year, and senior midfielder Ashley Shannon, who recently signed with Pratt (Kan.) Community College to continue her academic and athletic career. Jamileth Henriquez, who finished second in scoring last season and led the Lady Tigers in assists, also returns.
Newcomers this season include junior midfielder Tristen Bass, junior defender Andrea Westhoff, and senior midfielder Deandra Sexton and senior defender Ashley Heidlage.
“We should be able to compete with most of the teams we play,” noted Rogers. “I am hoping the girls can double the number of wins from last season.”
