BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
A high school soccer game is 80 minutes long, and for more than four of them in a row this season, no one could score on Cassville.
The 400-minute shutout streak included wins over Parkview, 2-0, and McAuley Catholic, 3-0, a 0-0 tie with Pittsburg (Kan.), then a victory over Monett, 3-0. It came to the end in the second half of play against Clinton on Thursday in a 2-0 loss.
Jake Forste, Cassville soccer coach, said the streak showed how much the defense is coming together, and not just at the back line.
“It’s one thing to play pretty well on defense, but it’s another thing entirely to take pride in defense, team-wide,” he said. “We have turned into a team that takes pride in our defending, at all 11 spots. We are allowing 2.1 goals per game at the moment, but that number will continue to drop. Defense travels no matter the opponent. If we continue to excel in that area, we can play with just about anyone.”
At times, that defense can also turn into an attack. Cassville employed the 1-2 punch of usual defender Audrey Gosvener and attacker Emma Berndt to produce the second-half victory over Monett in the annual Barry County FutBrawl — also Forste’s 100th career win, all at Cassville.
“It is a pretty Fierce rivalry between us and them — I think anyone who has spent any time in Barry County knows the rivalry all too well,” Forste said. “Any chance we get to snag a win versus Monett, there is simply not a better feeling.
“They have had the upper hand on us historically, especially on the boys’ side of things. But the gap has closed, and any time we play them— they are going to get our 100 percent best effort. I appreciate that part of the rivalry the most. No matter the records, it is going to be a knock-down, drag-out of a game, because both teams will pull the best out from one another.”
Bernt scored first, less than 10 minutes into the second half, with a screamer just under the bar from about 20 yards out. On the ensuing kickoff, Gosvener caught the Lady Cubs’ center back sleeping and stole the ball, then sprinted to goal and placed it in the bottom left corner — the same spot she’d been hitting in a halftime shooting drill. Her second goal was a chip over the Monett keeper from about 18 yards out.
“The key for us was finishing with precision,” Forste said. “I thought we weren’t locating the target well in the first half, or we would put shots right on the keeper. Tactically, we didn’t change a whole lot. I think we were really forcing the issue chasing the first goal, but once we had it, we got a little more comfortable and played our game.
“Dre has been spending most of her time on the back line, but the chemistry between her and Emma is still strong, so any chance we get to put her in a more attacking role, it can open things up for us quite a bit.”
While the senior duo is leading on both ends of the field, Cassville’s underclassmen are filling in roles all over the pitch, and in big numbers.
“I think we have several ladies answering the bell and stepping up lately,” Forste said. “Sophomore Tyra Sturgell is a first-year player and center back for us who is excellent game-in and game-out. She often draws a matchup vs. the other team’s best player — and despite the tough assignments — she has been a stabilizing force for us. Honestly, her contributions as a first-year player have been integral to our team success.
“Junior Tierany Sloan has turned into a reliable starter at defensive mid after being a spot starter/ key sub in the past. Sophomores Kim Hang and Diana Arguelles are two more first-year players who have grown into their roles as central midfielders, as well. We have had a big influx of new athletes (we started the season with 32 ladies, last season we started with 18) and they are all growing into their roles, looking more confident each week we step out there.”
That confidence will be priceless in the postseason, as the 8-team Class 2, District 5 is no cupcake.
“It is possible, and even likely, that our district has six of eight teams above .500 — which shows the overall depth and quality of the district as a whole. I am confident we can hang with any of these teams, but it will take our best effort to navigate our way into the district final and beyond.
“It is possible, and even likely, that our district has six of eight teams above .500, which shows the overall depth and quality of the district as a whole,” Forste said. “I am confident we can hang with any of these teams, but it will take our best effort to navigate our way into the district final and beyond.”
Teams over .500 now include Clinton, Logan-Rogersville, New Covenant Academy, Bolivar and Cassville. Of those teams, the Lady Wildcats have defeated New Covenant this season, but fallen to Logan-Rogersville and Clinton.
Forste said the key to finding success against such stiff competition will be consistency.
“Rogersville looks like the class of the district, but Bolivar and Clinton are both excellent teams, as well,” he said. “A big focus for us this spring has been executing at a high level, regardless of opponent, time on the clock and score. Continuing to do that down the stretch will better prepare us for a tough playoff bracket.”
