By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
For the fourth-straight season, the Kickapoo Lady Chiefs took home a district championship, while rolling to a 21-4 overall record and a 9-0 Ozark Conference mark.
In addition, the Lady Chiefs have recorded three straight 9-0 conference seasons (not counting the 2020 COVID year) and have a chance to extend that streak.
But first, Kickapoo will have to replace goalkeeper Chloe Young, and midfielders Maddie Wanner, Emma Sansom and Jenna Biser from the Class of 2021.
• Chloe Young, goalkeeper, was a three-year starter and recorded 16 shutouts last season. She earned Class 4 All-State second-team, Class 4 Region 3 Goalkeeper of the Year, Class 4 District 10 first-team and Goalkeeper of the Year, and All-Ozark Conference first-team and Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
• Maddie Wanner, a midfielder, was an All-State Academic, all-district second-team and all-conference second-team selection. She is now playing soccer at Evangel University.
• Emma Sansom, midfielder, was an all-district second-team and all-conference second-team pick.
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Coach Phil Hodge, who was named Ozark Conference and Class 4 District 10 Coach of the Year, has an experienced group returning for this spring – young players who earned varsity minutes early in their careers.
• Abby Light, senior, defender – Class 4 District 10 first team; All-Ozark Conference first team and Defensive Player of the Year.
• Brooke Turner, senior, defender – All-district second team; All-OC honorable mention.
• Abby Bilbao, junior, midfielder – Class 4 All-Region 3; Class 4 District 10 MVP; All-Ozark Conference first team and Offensive Player of the Year. Bilbao suffered a knee injury last summer and her availability for this season is uncertain at this time.
• Sabrina Jones, junior, forward/midfielder – Class 4 All-State first team; Class 4 Region 3 Offensive Player of the Year; Class 4 District 10 first team and Offensive Player of the Year; All-OC first team and co-Player of the Year. Jones broke Kickapoo’s single-season record for goals in her first season of high school soccer by scoring 37 goals.
• Julia Klein, junior, defender – Class 4 District 10 first team and co-Defensive Player of the Year; All-OC second team.
• Vanessa Maturay, junior, defender/midfielder – Class 4 District 10 first team and co-Defensive Player of the Year; All-OC second team.
• Maggie Miller, senior, midfielder – All-district second team; All-OC honorable mention.
• Anna Joplin, senior, midfielder/forward – All-district second team; All-OC honorable mention.
• Baylea Davis, sophomore, midfielder – All-district second team; All-OC honorable mention.
And with that experience, Hodge said the Lady Chiefs hope to again compete for a conference and district title.
The Lady Chiefs will host a jamboree with Nixa and Glendale on March 10 before opening the regular season with three-straight home games, starting with Springfield Catholic on March 19.
“Our schedule is always tough, but I believe this might be our toughest schedule yet,” Hodge said. “We are looking forward to getting started.”
