By Brock Sisney (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
CARL JUNCTION — The Carl Junction Lady Bulldogs return six starters and six other players from their 2019 team which finished 13-11 overall and won a district title with a overtime win against conference and district rival Webb City.
When the Lady Bulldogs open their 2021 season Mar. 25 at home against Parkview, it will be 674 days between matches.
“Appreciate the opportunity to play and compete this year and cherish the time we have together as a team,” Carl Junction head coach Ed Miller said. “I would think they would be excited to get out there and play and compete against other schools. We provide a summer league to play other high school teams in the area. So they played around six games of 11 vs. 11 soccer.”
The returning starters are Emma Lacey, Kadynce Arnold, Lauren Burgess, Kaylee Cronister, Tessa Miller, and Constance Graham, and the other returning players are Jade Smith, Jocelyn Brown, Lexi Carpenter, Sammie Sims, Tiffany Pham, and Allie Wrestler. Cronister, Arnold and Miller were freshmen and Lacey a sophomore when Carl Junction won its district title, and each player earned all-district second team honors.
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Miller said that his probable starting lineup this season will be Sims in goal, Lacey, Carpenter, Cronister and Smith fullbacks, Miller, Arnold, Wrestler and Brown in the midfield, and forwards Burgess and Graham will lead the attack.
“We are returning some talent from last year’s squad,” Miller said. “That’s a strength. Weakness is the lack of depth from graduating seven seniors and some players not returning. Playing hard and competing in every game and improvement throughout the year (will be key to a successful season). I also feel we have some skilled players, but we need to learn how to play together and understand our role on the team to be successful.”
Miller said that losing two weeks of school to snow, ice and extreme cold temperatures also stood out to him about the offseason.
The Lady Bulldogs step outside the Central Ozark Conference this season for matches against Parkview, McAuley Catholic, Hillcrest, McDonald County, Cassville, Fair Grove, Monett, and Springfield Catholic. Meanwhile, the Lady Bulldogs are slated to play in the 12th annual Central Missouri Soccer Invitational hosted by School of the Osage and Camdenton.
The Lady Bulldogs have won five district titles over their last seven seasons, highlighted by four straight from 2013 through 2016.
