By Chris Parker
Logan-Rogersville girls soccer made a second-consecutive trip to the Class 2 final four and finished fourth place last season.
The Wildcats are looking to make it three trips in a row this season with nine starters and all but three letter winners returning.
Everything starts with junior Maddie Lou Shuburte. Shuburte scored 55 goals with four assists as a sophomore. She was named Class 2 Co-Offensive Player of the Year. Shuburte has 132 goals and 15 assists for her career.
“She has the footwork, speed and power to be one of the best around here. She sees the field well and knows where the goal is all the time,” Rogersville head coach Brett Wubbena said. “In the past she was an underclassman and did a good job of fitting in and letting the older players lead. This year, I can see her being more assertive and helping the younger girls along.”
Wubbena has big expectations for the senior class.
“Our senior class has a lot of experience and is a solid class,” Wubbena said.
“Some of the names are Allie Richter, Abbi Perkins, Sydney Wubbena, Macie Holland, Aiden Nicoles, Taylor Wray, and Zianna Parkison, but this year we bring in Sydney Prenger, who will be an impact player too. She is also a senior.”
Richter earned honorable mention all-state honors last season.
“She is a great athlete and is playing her best soccer right now. She sees the field well and is a great defender,” Coach Wubbena said. “She has learned from some good defenders in the past, It is her time to lead now.”
Macie Holland scored seven goals and had eight assists last season.
Sidney Holland, Maya Coyan and Brooklyn Wubbena all saw a lot of minutes last season and are expected be key players. Sidney Holland contributed four goals and two assists in nine games last season.
Elle Wray had a strong freshman season in goal and returns.
Coach Wubbena is looking at a trio of seniors for leadership.
“The leaders that stand out for one reason or another are Allie Richter, Sydney Wubbena, and Taylor Wray,” Wubbena said. “All of them bring a team centered focus to the way we approach practice and games. They are all seniors, one is a center back and the other two are center mids.”
Bella Cornelly (freshman), Jaidyn Philpott (freshman) and Prenger are newcomers to watch.
“All of them are new to our program and have been playing well this preseason,” Coach Wubbena said.
Rogersville opens the season on Mar. 24 at home against Ozark.
“It is my hope that we can compete in all of the games that we have this season and get better each one,” Coach Wubbena said.
