By Chris Parker
Cassville girls soccer will be looking to get back above .500 after finishing 9-14 last season. Five starters return from 2022. That group along with a large contingent of letterwinners bring back a good chemistry.
“This is our fifth year as a girls’ soccer program,” Cassville head coach Jake Forste said. “Something we’ve had from the beginning is exceptional team chemistry centered upon positive reinforcement. If one of our girls makes a good play at practice, there are cheers and hugs to go around. Positivity and a growth-focused environment make our time together feel special for everyone and it is an absolute joy to be a part of.”
Senior Dulce Rivera along with juniors Audrey Gosvener, Emma Berndt and Scotlyn Richardson will be team leaders.
Forste on Rivera: “Dulce is a vocal leader for us and has spent most of her three previous seasons at center-back/center-mid. She can fill a number of different roles for us and will be key to overall team success no matter where she slots in.”
Forste on Gosvener: “‘Dre’ has improved steadily and has turned into our target player up top. She returns seven goals and three assists. She hopes to shatter our team record for goals in a season (12). I am excited to see what she does with another year of growth and offseason improvement.”
Forste on Berndt: “Emma registered four goals and six assists last season. She is a versatile, talented attacking player who spent most of her time as an attacking midfielder last season. She can create with the pass or the shot. She has the makings of a 20-point player, with double digits in both goals and assists.”
Forste on Richardson: “Scottie is another returning two-year starter on the defensive side (center back). She is a player we want to see take the jump from role player to vocal leader. She continues to improve and will be an all-conference contender this season, as well.”
Joining Gosvener at forward will be senior wrestling standout Annie Moore and sophomore Gracen Hilburn.
Forste on Moore: “Annie was a first-year player last year who registered three goals and one assist. She is fast and strong. We’re looking forward to seeing what Annie does in her encore season.”
Forste on Hilburn: “Gracen came off the bench for us last year. She continues in her soccer development and has the makings of a strong winger for us in ‘23.”
Berndt and Rivera will be key players at midfield along with Dakotah Anderson and Suzi Perez.
“Suzi and Dakotah were both part-time starters who lettered as freshmen but weren’t with the team in ’22,” Forste said. “Emma and Dulce will provide consistent playmaking for us in that spot. Getting Dakotah and Suzi for us really enhances our depth in the midfield. Suzi captained our offseason club team and has honed her leadership skills in a big way. Dakotah is a state qualifier for cross country who has a very high motor and a great head for the game. We also have a most-improved player candidate in sophomore Ashley Alonso looking to make an impact in the midfield.”
Richardson will anchor the defense with sophomore Isabella Rodriguez-Muise.
Forste singled out Rodriguez-Muise and Alonso as two players who have made big improvements.
“Isa (Rodriguez Muise) and fellow sophomore Ashley Alonso have made incredible strides in the offseason,” Forste said. “They were part-time players in ‘22, and look poised to make the jump to full-time players for us in ‘23. We will be incorporating lots of new faces, so I’m excited to see how things come together here in the next few weeks.”
Macie Walker and Treva Samuel are two seniors who are coming out for soccer for the first time. They along with an athletic group of freshmen and a couple other players will look to fill out the lineup.
Cassville opens the season Mar 17-18 at the Cassville-Monett Tournament.
“These ladies want to get back to a winning record,” Forste said. “We came close last year with nine wins (9-14 overall), and feel we let a few games slip away. Missed opportunities on set pieces and penalty kicks were the difference between a winning and losing season. I expect we will see a lot of growth from start to finish, and we will be highly competitive with each and every game.”
