By Derek Shore (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Patience is often required when new sports programs start up.
Take the Aurora High School girls soccer team, for example, which was launched in 2014 and has compiled a 14-60 overall record over their first four years as a program. Aurora’s best season came in 2015, when it won seven games.
Simply put, the Lady Houn Dawgs are hungry and poised to recover following a rocky 3-13 campaign a year ago.
And Aurora will look to accomplish just that under a new face at the helm in head coach Mike Thach, taking over the post left by Carrie Stone, who started the program back five years ago.
“I am extremely excited about these girls,” Thach said. “I have coached boys soccer in Oklahoma but never girls. These girls are fun to be around and very open to learning more about the game. Win or lose, we will get better as a team.”
Unfortunately for the Lady Houn’ Dawgs, they will be forced to fill a significant hole due to graduation, losing most notably standout forward Samantha Sharpe from last year’s team. Sharpe is currently playing soccer at the collegiate level at Evangel. Aurora also lost an integral part of their front line in Silu Morrison as well.
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On the other hand, however, the Lady Houn’ Dawgs will look to take advantage of a strong nucleus of returning junior and senior classes this spring, headlined by a trio of seniors in Bella Gertiser, Jacy Heller, and Linda Osmani.
Not only that, they will welcome back a whopping nine juniors led by Lauren Willhite and Sarah Woodall.
“This makes the season outlook exciting,” Thach added.
Aurora will also look to have contributions from a robust sophomore class as well that is expected to be led by Aleah Pineda and Lauren Sapiens.
“We will play a high energy, pressing defense with a strong mid field and back line that should lead to more scoring chances for senior striker Bella Gertiser and junior Lauren Willhite,” Thach said. “There should be an emphasis this year on ball control and patience of attack in the scoring third.”
Entering the season, Thach, who will be assisted by Curtis Bishop in his first season, also said the Lady Houn Dawgs will have a “good competition” at the starting goalie position with Osmani, Sapiens, and Maggie Wagner all vying for the role.
“If the off season workouts are any indication, we should be a much improved team starting the year,” Thach concluded. “These young ladies are fun.”
Aurora will open the season at home against Fair Grove on March 20.
