By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Ozark Lady Tigers will have a new leader on the sidelines this season as Zack Owens adds “Ozark Girls’ Soccer Coach” to his resume.
Owens, who completed his fourth year as the Ozark boys’ soccer head coach in the fall, takes over a Lady Tigers team that finished 18-6 overall and as Central Ozark Conference Champions (9-0) in 2023.
“This team is coachable and ready to be coached,” said Owens, who is 19 wins from 100 for his young career. “They are looking to make improvements on themselves, as a team and finding an identity. Figuring out who we are, where our strengths and weaknesses are and utilizing that knowledge moving forward is going to set us up for a great season. We are excited to get going and see what we can do these next few months.”
Owens has an experienced group returning that includes five seniors, four juniors and one sophomore ready to lead the way in 2024.
Audrey Carlton, junior defender – Earned All-Central Ozark Conference first-team honors. “Audrey will be our anchor on the backline and we will be looking for her to be a vocal leader every chance she gets, whether that be in training or in match play,” Owens said. “We will need her to be consistent at stopping attacks. She has a big leg and can help us on restarts from a distance.”
Chloe Kondracki, junior forward – Named Class 4 All-District 5 first team and all-confernce honorable mention. “Chloe was our leading scorer last season and is looking to continue that success this year. She has grit and a tenacity that will lead her offensive venture. We are excited for her junior season to grow as a weapon for us and also be a leader on and off the field.”
Addison Shuler, junior forward – Was an all-district and all-conference honorable mention selection. “Addi will be a big part of the offense this season. We will need her finding the back of the net and taking people 1-on-1. She will be sharing the attack with others and the competitiveness will help us along the way.”
Morgan Pickens, senior midfielder – “We are looking for Mo to step up in her senior season and be a big part of this team. We will need her to be consistent and be ready to go in every match this season. She has the ability, knowledge of the game and skillset; now, we need her to put it all into action each moment.”
Natalie Morgan, junior midfielder – “Natalie will help us control the midfield with her fight and no-quit attitude. She has a demanding presence and is a strong athlete. She should be a force to be reckoned with as far as winning 50/50 balls and going into tackles.”
Kaylee Linnebur, senior goalkeeper – “We are transitioning Kaylee to goalie this season. We like her quickness and leadership qualities in that role. She is signed to play college softball as a shortstop and is used to fielding ground balls and utilizing her speed and agility in those moments. She has been taking goalkeeping lessons in the offseason and is ready to go.”
Kiara Holt, senior defender – “Kiara is going to help us defensively and be a big part of what we need to do to stop teams coming at us. She is a future collegiate player (McKendree University) looking to continue to build on her technical ability, vision and all aspects of the game. We are happy to have her and we’re looking forward to a big year from her.”
Josi Van Riessen, senior midfielder – “Josi came to Ozark a few years ago and has had a big contribution to the team, but nothing as big as what we expect from her this year. Her senior year will look for her to be a leader on and off the pitch with her team, helping the team manage expectations.” Van Riessen will play at Dordt University next year.
Brooklyn Schulte, sophomore defender – “Brooklyn had a fantastic freshman season and can play most positions. She has been successful lately with her club team as a defender. We might look to put her in a similar role if that is what the team needs. She has all the tools to be a very strong defender and possible starting center back, but we also know she can find us goals if needed. The future is very bright for Brooklyn.”
Rebeca Velasco, senior defender – “Rebeca is recovering from injury currently. We are hopeful her return will come sooner rather than later. If so, we will see her look to make a strong impact on the backline with her experience and competitive attitude.”
Owens says his team has both “offensive and defensive experts.”
“The challenge will be to exploit those strengths against good teams and when it counts,” Owens said. “We have a lot of passion for the sport and players that play at a high level year-round. We also have players who love the game and will work as hard as possible to contribute, whether that be in practice or in games. From the top to the bottom, we will have players always looking to add something positive to our group.”
And the Lady Tigers have plenty of players, from underclassmen to upperclassmen, ready to see how they can contribute this season.
Hadley Gourley, junior midfielder – “Hadley has a couple of years of high school soccer under her belt now, and we are excited to see what she might be able to contribute this year,” Owens said. “She has good speed and is not afraid to be physical. The competition for playing time should bring out the best in her.”
Annabelle Kruse, sophomore midfielder – “Annabelle continues to grow in her game and has great ball skill and vision. We are ready for her to fight for meaningful playing time on the varsity field.”
Willow Shelor, freshman midfielder – “We are looking for Willow to be an immediate impact to the team. She is a fierce competitor that plays at a high level. She can really help us in the attack and we are excited to see how she fits into the mix.”
Ella Falk, freshman defender – “Ella is coming back from injury and, as a tough defender, is looking to make a claim to the Lady Tigers as quickly as possible. She has a high ceiling and finding her a spot where she can contribute sooner rather than later to the team will be very helpful.”
Addison Salat, freshman midfielder – “Addi is fast and strong. We will look to add her to the mix as much as we can this year. We’re excited to see what she can add to the team.”
Seniors Gabrielle Salat, Maggie Kropf, Rachel Divine and Lorali Miller – “We have a group of eager seniors looking to make an impact as well to the team. Most of them do not play club but are amazing student-athletes, have positive attitudes and are hard workers. We expect them to find time for us throughout the season. We are excited for them to take their knowledge and experience as Lady Tiger soccer players and help us be successful in every way possible.
The Lady Tigers will need to find a way to overcome the loss of a talented and successful group from the Class of 2023.
Alexis Solomon, goalkeeper – Class 4 All-Region 3 first team, Class 4 All-District 5 Goalkeeper MVP and first team and all-conference first team. “Alexis was a great asset in goal and well respected,” Owens said. “We will miss her as a consistent shot-blocker.”
Shaeley Combs, midfielder – All-district honorable mention, all-conference second team; now playing at Drury University. “Shaeley was a great all-around player and could be used anywhere she was needed.”
Emma Burton, defender – All-district first team, all-conference second team; now playing at Southwest Baptist University. “Emma was a force on the backline and her leadership was a big help to the defense last year.”
Molly Rushing, defender – Class 4 All-State second team, all-region, all-district and all-conference first team. “Molly was another player that could be used all around the field and performed well in any of those spots. Her leadership will be missed as well.”
Annabelle Shuler, midfielder/forward – All-district honorable mention, all-conference second team; playing at SBU. “Annabelle was a workhorse and made teams work twice as hard just to defend her.”
Claire Wheeler, defender – Playing at the University of the Ozarks. “Claire was very helpful on the backline and her tenacity will be missed.”
Ozark will be hosting a jamboree with Catholic, Laquey and Logan-Rogersville on March 8 before opening the regular season in the Ozark Quad, which includes Columbia Hickman, Waynesville and Branson on March 16.
