By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
When you graduate an all-time great, it’s nice to have a stellar defense returning.
The Bolivar Liberators welcome back one of the area’s top defensive units as they go for a third straight district title this season.
Leading the way are three all-state players: goalkeeper Reaghan Lesh, defender Sarah Peterson and defender Michelle Gabani. The senior trio enters their third straight season as a starting group.
“We will look to keep our defenders in their spots and build around them,” said Bolivar coach Steve Fast.
Bolivar’s defense yielded 18 combined goals over the past two seasons.
While they were locking down the back, much of Bolivar’s success at the top came from the play of Brionna Halverson.
The four-time all-state forward had 54 goals and 14 assists last season. She’s now playing for Saint Louis University.
Also gone are midfielder Grace vanHoornbeek (seven goals, 13 assists) and defender Morgan McNew, who graduated after the fall 2017 semester.
“The major changes will just come in personnel,” Fast said. “Our girls our comfortable in our system and have a lot of experience with it.”
Overall, Bolivar returns most of its varsity lineup.
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Allee Sheppeck made a quick impact as a freshman, tallying 15 goals and five assists.
“She will most likely move into the forward position, replacing Halverson,” Fast said. “I look for Allee to step up and score a lot of goals for our team. She works really hard and has a good, powerful shot.”
Also back are senior forward Ally Hargis (11 goals, 12 assists) and junior midfielder Paige Martin (three goal, six assists).
“Ally bring hard work and fun to our team offensively,” Fast said. “She is a tough player who likes to make others around her better. Paige is one of those players we can put anywhere. She is a positive leader and role model for our team on and off the field.”
Juniors like Rheagan Hancock and Abby Bradshaw, along with sophomores Annie vanHoornbeek, Ashtynn Russell and Maude Hennenberg, played sparingly on the varsity last season but had significant success at the JV level.
They’ll all contend for playing time at the varsity level this season. Bolivar adds a promising freshmen class that includes Megan Roberts, Emmy Presley, Hannah Presley and Lexi Berry.
Hollie Myers, who Fast said is deciding whether to play soccer or run track, would give Bolivar a fourth returning defensive starter.
The Liberators finished 18-2 overall last season. They won their second straight district championship and beat Neosho 5-0 in the sectional round before falling 2-1 to Washington in the quarterfinals.
“Our girls got a taste of district titles and state playoff runs and they had a lot of fun,” Fast said. “They want to continue that streak and make this an expectation and tradition.”
Bolivar opens the season March 16 at home versus Camdenton.
