Optimism abounds for HHS girls soccer team
Despite losing seven starters last year to graduation, Highland girls soccer coach Josh Oswald gained a lot of optimism during optional off-season workouts
“Doing some optional stuff and we were consistently getting 24 or 25 girls showing up was a great sign,” Oswald said. “With basketball going on and having four or five basketball players, the most we could get was 26 if everybody came. It was optional and 24 or 25 were showing up consistently. That’s inspiring.”
Of the seven starters lost to graduation, the most difficult to replace will be long-time stalwarts Morgan Sikora and Abbey Johnson. Sikora finished her illustrious career with a 19-goal season and was Highland’s all-time leading scorer. Johnson was a solid mainstay in the net for the last 3 1/2 years.
But Oswald chooses to look at it from a positive perspective.
“It’s something new, it’s a young team,” said Oswald, whose team begins its season at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Columbia to open the Metro Cup Tournament. “I am looking forward to the challenge and these girls have put in so much work. It has made us coaches so excited to see the kids put in all of the extra work and show a lot of improvement from last year to this season. This is my fourth year with the girls and my 10th season coaching here at Highland and I feel blessed to be here with such a good group. I am excited to get the season started and see what we can build with them. I think we can win some games and I think we are going to be competitive, even against the top teams. I am really excited because we had so many girls put in so much work. We’ve lost a lot and we’ve got a tough schedule, but at the same time we’re excited to get going and see where we stand.”
WELCOME BACK PONCE
A more than welcome surprise is the huge return of senior striker Amanda Ponce, who comes back to soccer to cap off her standout high school career after skipping her junior year to focus on basketball. After having signed with Maryville University for basketball in the fall, she entertained thoughts of a return to the pitch while leading the girls basketball team to an historic season that culminated in a third-place state finish in Class 3A. Recently, Ponce hinted to coach Oswald’s father, Terry, that she may actually return to soccer.
“She told Papa Oz that she thought she was gong to be able to play,” Oswald said. “I then seen her somewhere and she thought she was going to play but she wasn’t certain, so I kind of left it at that and had optimism that she would. I just kind of sat back and let her focus on basketball until the season was over. And here she is ready to play. She instantly makes the team better and she immediately will help with what Morgan (Sikora) brought for us that we’re losing. So that’s huge. Amanda will be at striker for the majority of the time and we look forward to what she can do for us.”
Ponce, who recently was named to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Girls 3A/4A All-State Third Team, can immediately provide the Lady Bulldogs with more offensive punch. Ponce followed up a breakout freshman campaign in which she scored seven goals by sharing the team lead with 18 goals with Sikora, who is now playing at the University of Missouri Science and Technology in Rolla, Mo.
ANCHORING THE DEFENSE
Another key returner will be senior Kate Sikora, Mogan’s younger sister. Kate missed all of last season after tearing her ACL to open the year at Columbia. She is versatile and can play just about anywhere on the field, from any defensive position on up to either center midfield or forward.
Junior Abby Melosi has been finishing up mending from an injury suffered during the basketball season and she should be cleared for contact any day now. Oswald said that Sikora and Melosi give him two strong center backfielders to help make the defense formidable.
“Abby is coming off an injury and will anchor our defense again as she’s the one starter from the back four returning,” Oswald said.
Katelyn Wills spent some of her freshman year last spring at forward and did well, as evidenced by finishing as the team’s second leading scorer with five goals to go with a team-leading six assists. Oswald said she will most likely move to her more natural position of outside back and give the team a solid attack out there.
Senior Lily Happold and junior Taylor Townsend will also help bolster the defense after putting in a lot of work in the offseason to get stronger.
EXCITING UNDERCLASSMEN
Sophomore Kallie Painter possesses good ball skills and will most likely see the majority of her playing time at center midfield. She had a good offseason and Oswald said she showed up in really good shape.
“The first time I saw Kallie this year I instantly saw an improvement in her speed,” Oswald said. “I complimented her on it and she said she goes to the gym everyday and doesn’t miss. And I told her that I noticed and her hard work has paid off. The one thing I thought she could improve on was her speed and she did that and I think she instantly becomes a key player for our team this season. Her decision making and passing skills are superb. She will be and intricate part of our team.”
Another underclassman Oswald is excited about is freshman Katelyn Marti, who helped the girls cross country team qualify for the Class 2A state meet in the fall before competing in basketball this winter.
“As a freshman, I think she can instantly step in and help our team,” Oswald said. “I was impressed with her when she traveled with the team to Iowa this offseason. Her knowledge of the game and the ability to be able to think ahead, process and see the field is outstanding. I think she’s capable of having a good season and being a key to our success. Along with Katelyn, we have a good group of incoming freshmen and I think many of them will see time for me at the varsity level this season.”
Two additional options who could play up top and contribute offensively are juniors Alisse Koishor and Abby Stulir.
BATTLE BETWEEN THE PIPES
There are four goalies on the roster who are battling it out to see who can step up in order to help fill the large void left by Johnson’s departure. Katie Bussett was the JV goalie last year and will look to take the next big step. In addition, sophomore Morgan Zobrist has had some experience in the net and then there are two incoming freshmen — Lauren Townsend and Jamie Hickamwith — who have shown promise as well.
“Between the four of them, it’s going to be a close battle,” Oswald said. “It’s exciting to see kids battle for positions, but at the same time trying to pick each other up and make the team better.”
NO CAKEWALKS
Oswald said there will be no cakewalks in Mississippi Valley Conference play. It doesn’t get any tougher than perennial powerhouse Triad, which has never lost a conference game in the two decades of its existence.
Waterloo was extremely tough last season at 20-4. Three of Waterloo’s losses came to Triad by competitive scores of 3-1, 1-0 and 1-0 and the only other loss was a 2-1 defeat to large-school power Edwardsville. Oswald said there will be no cakewalks in the Mississippi Valley Conference.
Highland’s non-conference schedule is also littered with tough tests, starting with the Metro Cup Tournament. Also on the docket are Alton, Litchfield, the Mater Dei Tournament, Mater Dei, Granite City and Rochester.
This story was originally published March 14, 2016 at 9:15 AM with the headline "Optimism abounds for HHS girls soccer team."