By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Marshfield Lady Jays were looking to build upon their best finish in a while when they finished 15-8 overall and 4-2 in the Big 8 Conference, good for third place, in 2019.
But, when the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out their 2020 season, the chance to continue that upswing was lost as well.
“Our seniors missing their final season was a big blow, but what hurt us the most is our underclassmen lost an entire season of growth and experience,” Marshfield head coach Paul Lewis said. “This spring, they will be a year behind, so to say.”
Lewis will be looking to junior midfielder Hayleigh Cantrell to lead the Lady Jays this season as the only returning starter.
As a freshman in 2019, Cantrell was a Big 8 Conference second-team selection. She also scored nine goals and added seven assists for the Lady Jays, who lost in the first round of the Class 3 District 10 tournament to Rolla.
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Lewis said that Cantrell, who is receiving some college interest, “Will be a huge piece of the rebuilding process.”
Part of the rebuilding process for 2020 was to include a trio of seniors who were looking to make a bigger impact, but didn’t get the opportunity. Those graduated players included: Lacy Brown (midfielder), Rene Ryder (midfielder) and Kaylee Smith (defender).
But Lewis has a couple of other players he is hoping will assist Cantrell in keeping the Marshfield program moving forward in Calli Watson and Regan Smith.
“Calli Watson will be a freshman to watch and we are expecting big things from two-sport senior athlete Regan Smith (who also competes in cross country),” Lewis said. “(We are) looking for good numbers in the freshman class.”
Marshfield will participate in a jamboree/scrimmage hosted by Lebanon on March 13, that also includes Bolivar and Crocker. The Lady Jays will play only Lebanon at 11:30 a.m. in order to limit exposure of the four teams participating.
The Lady Jays open the 2021 season at home against St. James on March 19, before hitting the road for games at West Plains (March 22) and Springfield Catholic (March 25).
