By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Glendale Lady Falcons finished the 2023 season 20-4 overall, but it’s one of those four losses that the team is using as motivation heading into 2024.
After a second-place finish in the Class 3 state tournament in 2022, the Lady Falcons were denied a return trip when they fell to Springfield Catholic 3-0 in the Class 3 District 6 tournament in 2023.
“The one thing I love about high school sports is the fact that you have to go out every game and compete for the win,” said hall-of-fame coach Jeff Rogers, who enters his 27th year as Lady Falcons coach where he has accumulated a 445-181-37 career record, and a 1,056-395-70 combined (boys and girls) mark. “So many life lessons are taught not only in the wins but also the losses. We had a great season last year but lost in the district finals. We will use that as we move into a new season.
“We saw many younger players competing every game against good competition and had success. We will need to continue to build on those experiences as we will face another tough schedule in 2024.”
The Lady Falcons have some big shoes to fill and will look to the experience of their three seniors, three juniors and three sophomores.
Avery Givens, senior midfielder – Scored 9 goals with 17 assists; earned Class 3 All-District 6 first-team and All-Ozark Conference second-team honors. “Avery has been battling in the middle of the field for us since her freshman year,” Rogers said. “We will rely on her leadership throughout the season. She is a great competitor and understands how to motivate her teammates. She has a unique gift of getting stronger and stronger as a player every time the whistle blows.”
Trystan Mayer, junior defender – An all-conference second-team selection. “Trystan has been a valuable part of our back line since her freshman year. She reads the game well and knows when to step or hold. She also has the ability to push our offense.”
Caroline Carr, sophomore midfielder – Scored 13 goals with 31 assists; named Class 3 All-Region 3 and all-district first team and all-conference second team. “Caroline had a great freshman year. Her assists in one season are the most of any player (boys or girls) to ever wear our patch. She is very technical and knows how to put her teammates in a scoring opportunity. She is unselfish and we will rely on that mindset, but she also has the ability to score from anywhere.”
Ayla Walden, senior midfielder – Scored 11 goals with 10 assists. “Ayla really stood out last year in our midfield. She has a great motor running on the flanks. We will rely on her experience as we head to postseason play.”
Kacey McCoy, senior defender – Earned Class 3 all-district first-team and all-conference honorable-mention honors. “Kacey was a big part of a defense that had 15 shutouts in 2023. She is a very consistent defender and a great match for speed players on the outside of the field. She provided four assists for us coming out of the back, which is crucial in our system of play.”
Cate Vincel, sophomore forward – “Cate finished her freshman campaign with nine goals and six assists. I know the confidence she received as a freshman will help her in her sophomore season.”
Sophie Oedewaldt, sophomore midfielder – “Sophie had one goal and six assists as a freshman, but gained a lot of varsity minutes and experience. She is calm on the ball and looks to put teammates in scoring positions.”
Charlie Wistrom, junior midfielder – Played for her Girls Academy team, which won a national championship in 2023. “We are excited to have her back this season. She scored 14 goals and had 11 assists as a freshman. Two of her goals were in the state semis and that win put us in our first state final. Charlie is extremely athletic and can play any position on the field. She will play in the middle of the field for us and will help us both defensively and offensively.”
MJ Brawner, junior defender – “MJ played on our back line last season and started for us as a sophomore. She brings great awareness and was able to see how to communicate effectively when defending against multiple-threat players. We will rely on her to be a big part of rebuilding our back line due to the experience we lost to graduation.”
Rogers will look to a group of players who gained varsity experience last year, or are now healthy, and could make an impact this spring.
Raegan Randall, junior goalkeeper – “Raegan, like her sister Meegan, is a multi-sport athlete that enjoys the day-to-day training and competition,” Rogers said. “She has the experience and the competitive drive to work hard every day to not only make herself better but also her teammates.”
Madison Bergman, junior forward – “We are happy to have Madi back and healthy to play her junior year. She has the ability to make runs in the final third and create looks on goal. We will have the players to put her in scoring opportunities and she has the ability to finish.”
Emerson Pottebaum, junior defender – “Emerson has great speed and is able to close down attacking players. She can also use that speed as an outlet when we are attacking.”
“Tiffany Caison, Mia Whitney, Millie VonWiller, McKenzie St. Clair, Allison Olson and Mia Whitney all saw the field and played minutes on varsity. We will look to them to fill some of the positions we lost to graduation.
“I am sure we will have some freshmen that will compete for time at the varsity level, as we saw three last year start for us.”
Lost to graduation is a quartet of major contributors on both offense and defense.
Riley Whisenhunt, defender – Class 3 All-State Co-Defensive Player of the Year, first team; Class 3 Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year, first team; Class 3 District 6 first team; OC first team; playing at Arkansas State University
Reilly Heman, midfielder – Class 3 All-State first team; Class 3 Region 3 Player of the Year, first team; Class 3 District 6 first team; OC Player of the Year, first team; playing at Missouri State University
Meegan Randall, goalkeeper – Class 3 Region 3 first team; Class 3 District 6 first team; OC Goalkeeper of the Year, first team; playing soccer and softball at Olivet Nazarene University
Sage Baker, midfielder – OC second team
“Our (2023) seniors represented 73 goals, and defensively, had 15 shutouts and a .66 goals-against average,” Rogers said. “Riley, Reilly and Meegan have already made an immediate impact on their college programs. It’s hard to replace such a special group, but they played the game the right way and were great examples to our younger players and our traditions.”
Glendale will participate in a jamboree at Kickapoo on March 8 before opening the regular season at home against Republic on March 26.
“This will be the last season in the Ozark Conference as both our boys and girls will move to the Central Ozark Conference next season,” said Rogers, whose Lady Falcons finished second in the OC at 9-1. “Our conference will be competitive, but our focus has always been on the postseason.
“I’m sure we will be moved into Class 4, based on our enrollment, like we saw in the fall with the boys. We will use each game to prepare us for what will be a very tough district. This is a very coachable group and I think we will be physical with speed and several players that will be able to finish.”
