By Brock Sisney (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
NEOSHO — Like every other spring sports program in the state of Missouri, this has been the longest time ever between games for the Neosho Lady Wildcat soccer program.
The last time the Lady Wildcats played, their 2019 season ended with a 3-2 double overtime loss to Webb City in the Class 3, District 12 tournament in Anderson.
If the Lady Wildcats open their 2021 season as scheduled Mar. 23 at home against Hillcrest, it will be 680 days between games.
This duration between games has not been lost on veteran Neosho head coach Steve Schnackenberg or his Lady Wildcat players.
“We have always felt lucky to be a part of Neosho Ladycat Soccer,” Schnackenberg said, “But missing last spring has really emphasized how special each season can be. It’s really exciting to finally get to see these girls compete again as a team. It is also exciting to see some new faces get out on the field, too.”
The Lady Wildcats do have a host of returning starters and returning players: goalkeeper Shelby Roberts, Kyra Hirshey, Joali Ornales, Abby Jarvis, Brianna Alvarado, Avery Renfro, Wendy Paxtor, Erika Ornales, and Gisele Vargas returning starters and Yulisa Maldonado, Madison Doty, Lorelei Pelep, Miranda Mendoza, Emily Bopp, Jamie Tevelan, Jennifer Mercado, and Breanna Garduno returning players.
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“There are several girls capable of being in the first 11,” Schnackenberg said. “It’s going to be a competitive practice environment this season for us to determine who will start each match. We will have several girls with varsity experience coming into the season. This should help us bring the younger girls up and ready to compete at this level. With the leadership our girls have and the work ethic we will bring we feel like we can put ourselves in a position every game to come out with a win. Our goal is to make that happen.”
Schnackenberg said the Lady Wildcats managed to play in their summer league, so they have faced outside competition since 2019.
“The work and effort we put in at practice is going to be important to our success,” Schnackenberg said. “Our senior group as a whole has really taken on a piece of the leadership roles. We have several freshman and first year players that have caught my eye in preseason. We can’t wait to see their work ethic in practice to see if they will step into a varsity role.”
Neosho’s 2021 slate includes non-conference opponents MV-BT/Liberty (a match played in Nixa), McDonald County, Catholic and Cassville in addition to the formidable Central Ozark Conference schools, and the Lady Wildcats play in tournaments hosted by fellow COC members Ozark and Willard.
In their recent history, the Lady Wildcats posted a combined 32-14 record (.695 winning percentage) during the 2016-17 seasons and won their first district title in program history in 2017. Neosho played for a district title in four straight seasons from 2015 to 2018. The Neosho boys have won four straight district titles.
