Numbers are up for the Cassville girls soccer team this season, and the program hopes to use that interest to produce a winning season.
Jake Forste, Cassville soccer coach, said the 30-strong squad aims to improve on last year’s 7-13 mark.
“We have over 30 ladies out playing for us this spring, and two-thirds of them are new players,” Forste said. “So, the growth we are seeing has been pretty rapid and incredible. We have a lot of work to do in getting our new contributors up to speed, but it has been a fun process so far seeing so many new faces fall in love with the game.
“There is a lot currently unsettled as far as position battles and play-style, but the picture is becoming more clear each day.”
The Lady Wildcats return eight starters and 12 letterwinners from a team that had only 16 players at the end of the 2023 season.
“After losing only one senior to graduation and bringing in nearly two dozen newcomers, our suddenly deep numbers have been a rejuvenating force and will be a big team strength for us this season,” Forste said. “Seniors Emma Berndt and Dre Gosvener will pace our team in the attack. Emma returns 9 goals and 5 assists, and Dre returns 3 goals and 4 assists. In the backfield, we return Ava Hinson in goal (2.8 goals against average as a freshman), as well as our defensive bedrock, senior center back Scottie Richardson.
“Seniors Dakotah Anderson and Gracen Hilburn are jack-of-all-trades types of players for us who will also be key pieces.”
Gosvener will be Cassville’s target up top, and two other forward spots remain open for others to contribute.
“Seniors Zoe Saylor, Dakotah Anderson and Gracen Hilburn, as well as sophomore newcomer Kim Hang and a few others, will be looking to lock down our wing roles,” Forste said.
Berndt is the maestra in the midfield, a four-year starter pursuing an All-Region level senior season.
“Joining her will likely be senior French exchange student, Rozenn Planchard, and our third midfield spot is another contested position battle,” Forste said.
Defensively, Richardson enters her third year as a starter and will command the line.
“She will be flanked by new backfield mates, as the other three defensive starter roles are up for grabs,” Forste said. “In the mix are returning letterwinners Tierany Sloan, Isa Rodriguez and Ashley Alonso, as well as a host of new players, including sophomore Tyra Sturgell and junior Elise Ardos.”
Ava Hinson returns to mind the net after playing all 2023 as a freshman.
“She is rangy and athletic and will look to take a second-year leap for us,” Forste said. “We have all the confidence in the world in her and look to see what she can do in sophomore year.”
Forste said he believes the squad has the ability to produce a winning season, aiming to be playing at its best in April and May.
“I would like to see this team be fundamentally sound at all three levels,” he said. “If we can do that, we will be a competitive outfit. We had difficulty putting the ball in the net last season, so scoring at a high level is a top priority for us.”
Cassville’s season began on the road Tuesday against Crocker. The home opener is on Tuesday against Carl Junction. The highly anticipated FutBrawl with Monett will be on the Lady Cubs’ turf this season, set for April 16.
