By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Heading into the 2022 season, the Willard Lady Tigers are faced with finding a way to make up for the loss of close to 98 percent of their scoring, but second-year coach Jamie Waddell thinks he has the players who are up for the challenge.
The Lady Tigers, who finished last season 10-15 overall and 2-7 in the Central Ozark Conference, captured their first district championship since 2015 before falling to Webb City in the sectional round.
Leading the way was Jada Holloman, now playing at D-I Loyola-Chicago. She broke Willard’s single-season scoring record with 51 goals, while adding two assists.
“Last year was a very exciting year for the Willard Lady Tigers,” said Waddell, who was named Class 3 District 11 Coach of the Year. “I was very proud of the way the girls played last year under a new coach and new system. “I put a lot of pressure on these young ladies on changing the direction of the soccer program. I wanted them to be more physical and have more mental toughness. I thought they handled it with class.”
Holloman, one of six players lost to graduation, earned Class 3 All-State first-team, Class 3 Region 3 co-Offensive Player of the Year, Class 3 District 11 first-team and Player of the Year, and All-Central Ozark Conference first-team honors in 2021.
The remaining members of the Class of 2021 included:
• Regan Puckett, a defender who scored one goal and was named all-district first team.
• Ashlin Howell, a defender now playing at Southwest Baptist University, scored two goals, had one assist and earned all-district first-team, all-COC honorable-mention honors.
• Rylie Salyers, a goalkeeper playing with Howell at SBU, had 195 saves and was named all-district first team.
• Hannah Moore, a forward playing at Bethany College, scored seven goals and had 10 assists, while earning all-district honorable-mention honors.
• Lauren Sears, a midfielder, scored three goals and had two assists.
“The biggest miss from them is their leadership,” Waddell said of the Class of 2021. “They worked extremely hard every day and put a lot of time in during the offseason. Another big miss is the scoring.”
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Key players Willard returns include three all-district defenders, as well as junior midfielder Charlae Cowan.
Kathryn Dublin. “She will be looked to provide leadership through her work ethic,” Waddell said of the junior. “She has very good ball control and vision of the field. We will look for her to control the middle for us.”
Madison Mills is a senior who also is a member of the Willard basketball team. “Madi impressed us a ton last season. It was her first season of ever playing soccer. By the end of the year, you couldn’t tell that. She is going to be asked to provide the vocal leadership for this season. She is one of those types of players who wants to win no matter what sport she is playing.”
Madison Magee, sophomore – “She has always been a club player but was asked to play a completely different role last year on defense. She stepped up to the challenge. She was one of the main reasons for our success on defense. She controlled the back for us and will be asked to do the same this year.”
Charlae Cowan will be playing her first full season of high school soccer after missing her freshman year because of COVID, and her sophomore season after tearing her ACL during club ball. “Charlae has an unbelievable passing ability. She knows how to get the ball to her teammates at the right time. She is very knowledgeable of the game, and we will ask her to help control the field.”
Waddell hopefully has some offensive help on the way – as well as help in the goal – with the newcomers to the Lady Tigers’ squad.
Kenadie Limb is a freshman defender, who Waddell says brings great size and skill. “She is a year-round club player, who has amazing control of her skills. We will ask her to provide stability to the defensive end of the field.”
Katelyn Magee, freshman forward, is another year-round club player. “She has the ability to put the ball in the back of the net. Her speed is going to make it hard for teams at times. She will have a lot of pressure on her to replace all the goals we lost from last year.”
Madison Foley, junior midfielder/forward, will provide the Lady Tigers with another scoring option. “She is very skilled and is able to put the ball on frame from almost anywhere.”
Morgan Hall, senior midfielder, and Mia Davault, sophomore midfielder, will be asked to support the forwards and midfielders. “They both can run for days and have good foot skills. Their background from other sports helps with their understanding of defense and reading angles.”
Karli Wheeler is a sophomore goalkeeper playing just her second year of soccer. “She has a great frame for the goal with amazing hands. At times, she stepped up and played some varsity keeper for us. She had 34 saves during her time in the goal and she looked very comfortable back there.”
Waddell said the Lady Tigers’ biggest challenge will be revamping their offense with the loss of their all-state player and leading scorer but is encouraged by the work his team has put in during the offseason.
“We started back in November, in the weight room and on the field,” Waddell said. “They all have been working hard and are ready for the upcoming season.”
Willard opens the season on the road with games at Hillcrest (March 24) and at Greenwood (March 29).
“Our biggest strength is our attitude and our effort,” Waddell said. “We always talk about how those two things are the only two things that you can control. This group of young ladies is a joy to be around. They work very hard and want to compete all the time.”
