By Chris Parker
Hillcrest soccer will look for new leaders to step up coming off a one-win campaign in 2021.
“After graduating four seniors, our team leaders need to be the upperclassmen,” Hillcrest head coach Roy Hardy said. “The junior and senior class should set the tone for the program this spring by how they conduct themselves throughout practices, games, and in the classroom. This is important to the program overall psychological success (attitude, commitment, determination, concentration, and teamwork) because the underclassmen will be in their cleats one day and hopefully carried on the leadership.”
Senior Miquela Ewald will be the team’s top attacker at forward.
“The key player up top is Miquela Ewald,” Hardy said. “Miquela returns back as one of the two seniors on the roster. She brings toughness and grit to every practice session and really wants to do well in her season finale as a Lady Hornet.”
Mackenzie Smit (junior) along with Yenvia Gonzalez (sophomore) and Hope Davis (junior) will be key players in the middle.
“In the middle, Mackenzie Smith has blossomed after one year of playing high school soccer,” Hardy said. “Last season, she was recognized for her efforts and was placed on the district honorable mention team. Every day Mackenzie has shown the coaches that she is determined to improve on her ball skills and field vision to help the program get to the next level. Yenvia Gonzalez and Hope Davis should help add more explosiveness to the team attacking in the offense third of the field by stretching the other teams back line.”
Addison Grant (junior), Kendyl Tolliver (sophomore) and Caylee Davis (sophomore) will hold down the defensive third of the field.
“To help lock the defensive third of the field, we will be looking towards 2021 district honorable mention Addison Grant,” Hardy said. “Addison was known for her relentless play as a central defender throughout the district. Sophomore Kendyl Tolliver is back for her second campaign and is eager to help keep the composure of the team by directing the flow of traffic. Newcomer Caylee Davis will be look upon to anchor down the defensive back line.”
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Natalie Percival is in line to take over duties as the keeper.
“The strength of the team will be in experience and numbers. Last year having 17 players on the roster in which six players only had played soccer before was hard,” Hardy said. “This season, the experience along will help in just knowing the game better and having numbers that could possibly include having a JV team. Also adding Ty Heinrichs to the coaching staff will help in the experience department. Coach Heinrichs’ knowledge of the game, coaching at a high level, and having another set of eyes will be tremendous.”
Hillcrest opens the season on Mar. 22 at Kickapoo.
“In the 2021 season, my overall expectation was to keep things lighthearted by keeping the girls smiling,” Hardy said. “In 2022, my expectations are to transform that lightheartedness a year ago into a sense of urgency and an eagerness to do the little things consistently that would make one feel more confident in what they are doing on the pitch every day.”