By Chris Parker
Marshfield soccer is poised for big things with all but one graduated player returning from last season’s 17-win team.
Senior Ava Smith started her first two years but missed last season due to injury. She will step back into the starting lineup as a senior giving Marshfield 11 returning starters despite one senior who graduated.
“Our experience should be our biggest asset,” Marshfield head coach Paul Lewis said. “All of these young ladies have competed together now for several years. We don’t really have very many girls that do not have playing time at the varsity level.”
Leading the way is one of the best scorers the state has ever seen in senior Calli Watson.
Watson, a Drury signee, has scored 175 career goals entering her senior season.
“She is the best player I have ever coached here at Marshfield High School,” Lewis said. “She has size, speed, strength and ability on and off the ball. Her work ethic is unmatched, first on the pitch and the last to leave. She has put the time in to master her craft. She plays outside of Marshfield on a club team in Springfield. Her dedication to the weight room has also helped her skill level. As for my expectations for her, the sky’s the limit. We expect her to lead by example as team captain and continue to do what she does, by making her teammates better. She holds every major offensive record at Marshfield.”
Watson will control things in the midfield with fellow senior Isabella Kilgore.
Senior Sydney Strain and sophomore Bre Hanson will handle the forward duties and work to take scoring pressure off Watson.
Smith returns to the back line with juniors Ryleigh Cantrell, Allie Tackett and Alaina Wipf forming a formidable defense.
Sophomore Katie York returns in goal after playing there in every game last season.
Lewis will look for his team to play fully as a team.
“We have to play solid defense to help us have a chance versus conference teams like Catholic and Rogersville, and not only those two teams but all the teams in the Big 8,” Lewis said. “Those teams continue to improve each year. We also have to find a way to take some of the scoring pressure off of Calli. She is very capable, but we have to find a way to play total team soccer.”
Marshfield opens the season on Mar. 15 at St. James.
“The goal is to always win a district championship, which we have never done,” Lewis said. “We have been a number one seed several times but have not got over that hump yet. We would love to have that chance and hold that trophy.”
