By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Marshfield Lady Jays have posted double-digit wins every season since 2018 and have the potential to do it again in 2023.
The Lady Jays finished 15-7 overall and 4-2 in the Big 8 Conference last season before falling to Rolla in the first round of the Class 3 District 5 Tournament.
“We want to continue on the success we have had in the past two seasons, including a district runner-up finish in 2021, and want to try to improve in district play,” said Paul Lewis, who enters his 18th year at Marshfield.
Even before missing the 2020 season because of COVID, the Lady Jays posted records of 15-9 in 2019 and 12-11 in 2018. This followed seasons that saw the team go 2-16, 5-19, 6-18, 4-19 and 4-16 before they were able to turn their fortunes around.
Keys to Marshfield’s last two seasons have been juniors Calli Watson and Ava Smith, and senior Riley Manary.
• Calli Watson, junior midfielder. Watson scored 57 goals as a sophomore, putting her in the MSHSAA Top 25 for goals in a season, and has 103 going into this season. Coach Lewis said that with a solid year, Watson could pass 150 for her career. The Drury University soccer commit earned second-team all-state, first-team all-district and Co-Offensive Player of the Year, and first-team all-conference honors.
Kasandra Ginther from Summit Christian Academy holds the single-season scoring record (130 in 2017) and career goals (319 from 2014 to 2017).
“If Calli reaches 150, it would be a huge accomplishment for a young lady in our program,” Lewis said. “If she stays healthy, the sky’s the limit for her.”
• Riley Manary, a senior midfielder, scored four goals last season and is a three-year starter. She was named all-district and all-conference honorable mention.
• Ava Smith, a junior defender, will miss the season due to an ACL tear earlier this year. She is a two-year starter with a ton of experience and earned all-district honorable mention honors last season.
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“Our strength is our midfield,” Lewis said. “The key will be to get the ball to the feet of our midfielders and let them make plays moving forward.”
Lewis has a freshman and a couple of juniors who could make contributions this season.
“Brie Hanson is a freshman with select experience, whom we hope to help us at the forward position,” Lewis said. “Look for juniors Isabella Kilgore and Sydney Strain to step up and contribute on both sides of the pitch.”
Marshfield will need to fill the holes left by graduates Hayleigh Cantrell and Aimsley Devoto.
• Hayleigh Cantrell earned first-team all-district and all-conference honors and is Marshfield’s all-time assist leader as a four-year starter.
• Aimsley Devoto was a two-year starter in goal for the Lady Jays.
Marshfield will be participating in a jamboree at Lebanon with Bolivar and Camdenton on March 11 before opening the regular season at home against St. James on March 17.
“We have a little experience coming back and a very solid goal scorer returning (Calli Watson),” Lewis said. “My girls are very hard workers. We don’t always have the best talent, but we do work hard and do the very best with the ability we have.”
