As their season draws to a close, the Lady Cavalier soccer team anticipates the district tournament which will be October 9-12, at various high schools. After the first eleven games of the season, the Lady Cavs boasted a record of five wins, five losses, and one tie.
"Lots of freshmen have come off the bench to help our team," says new head coach Lauren Neal. "Four or five of the starters are freshmen. We also have excellent senior leadership, and returning players who have worked hard to improve themselves and the team." The team expects to have tough competition against Blackman in the district.
Forwards include freshmen Sarah Bishop, Courtney Bressler and Shealyn Morgan, sophomores Sue Donovan and Amanda Lollar, junior Stephanie Davis, and senior Leah Schroeder. Team midfielders are freshmen Ashley Braun and Morgen Cupp, juniors Dana Johnson, Danielle Lindsey and Brinna Spaetgens, and seniors Abby Sliger, Jenna Stubbs and Lindsey Wolf.
Defenders include freshmen Ellen Epley, Mary Essler, Dana Richardson, Melanie Seal and Jessica Turner, sophomores Madyson Burgess, Sondra Gore and Heather Phillips, junior Kristen Brackett, and seniors Rachel Hunter and Lindsay Short. This year's goalies are freshmen Kristen Moser and Ashton Clouse, and sophomore Vee Donovan.
Senior leaders Short, Sliger, Wolf, Hunter, Stubbs, and Schroeder are going to miss the unity and spirit of this team. Varsity co-captain, Wolf says, "We are like a family. Soccer is my second life, and I will really miss it." Hunter, also a varsity co-captain, adds, "I like playing with girls who have a lot of spirit and spunk. We work together as a team and have fun doing it. I will miss it when I leave."
The team played their last home game on September 25, over tough opponent Oakland High School. The varsity match ended in a 3-3 tie. Sue Donovan scored a goal in the first half, while Bressler and Hunter both scored in the last five minutes of the game.
The soccer team has been preparing diligently for the district tournament, so come out and support your fellow classmates.