By Kai Raymer
The Monett High School girls’ soccer team enters its fifth season of varsity competition with a veteran senior trio and some talented underclassmen aiming to continue the program’s growth.
Monett finished 5-17 overall last season, marking its most single-season wins and surpassing its combined win total from 2013-2015.
Second-year coach Neal Bluel will be looking for leadership and production from a senior class led by Sarah Childress, Emily Krueger and Alexis Brannon. All three were all-district honorees in 2016.
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Childress was among the team leader in points last season and also provides a strong defensive presence at midfield, Bluel said.
Krueger is a playmaker at forward, whether passing or finishing.
Brannon played a defender’s role last season while her sister was at goalkeeper. She may shift to goalie for Monett in 2017.
Highlighting Monett’s remaining roster are sophomores Angelica Ruiz and Stacey Marquez, who were both all-district selections last season. Bluel also expects a freshmen class coming up from the youth program to make a strong impact this spring.
“We are excited about this season and hope to continue our growth with the girls’ program and have goals to reach the levels our boys’ program has accomplished recently,” Bluel said. “We know what is ahead of us and where we want to be at the end of the season.”
The Cubs have steadily improved each season since beginning varsity competition in 2013. Monett was winless its first season, won one match the next season (2014) and two matches in 2015.
