The all-state girls soccer teams have been out for a while but I hadn’t gotten to posting them. So here they are. A little disappointing for sure as the Ozarks only garners 5 out of 57 total selections. And only one first team placing. Lorin Opfer of Glendale grabs that spot. Waynesville’s Katie Pritchard and Kaitlin Bramel of Rolla are second team selections. Sophomore goalkeeper Paige Hemphill of Ozark is the only underclasswoman selected from SW Mo on the third team. Where she is joined by Katy McClain of Kickapoo. Despite a fine season, Waynesville can’t find a spot in the final rankings with only Glendale making it at number 14.
Look, I understand that respect has to be earned, not given. I’m not just fine with that, I agree. Until we get a team to breakout and make a serious run at a state title (which will happen) our Ozarks teams are going to be disrespected in the polls. That’s the way it is. Conversely, the all-state team is supposed to be a recognition of individual excellence. Personal agendas and bias invariably intrude to some extent but ultimately we like to think that the vast majority of deserving players will be justly recognized. Yet take a close look at the first team. Nine forwards selected and not one of them hails from Waynesville. Are we honestly supposed to believe that the leading all-time goal scorer in Missouri class 2 girls soccer history is only the 10th best striker in the state this year? And of the 22 best players in the state, only one comes from outside the St. Louis or Kansas City areas? Really?
That’s the residual effect of the lack of true team success from the Ozarks. Until we can compete with teams from the state’s two metro areas on a regular basis, our players will struggle to be judged objectively on their own merits and not just on the merits of their team. But we do see some signs of progress as you’ll see in the class 1 all-state team and rankings. Patience Ozarks soccer fans. Our day is coming.
Congratulations to our all-state athletes. And thanks for a great year. Class 1 team and honors coming up later.
Class 2 All-State Girls Soccer Team
Player of the Year – Drea Barklage, Incarnate Word
Offensive Player of the Year – Morgan Marlborough, Lee’s Summit North
Defensive Player of the Year – Jen Tucker, Incarnate Word
Goalkeeper of the Year – Claire Lovercheck, Hazelwood Central
Coach of the Year, Large Schools – Pat Rocco, Hazelwood Central
Coach of the Year, Private Schools – Annie Beekman, Incarnate Word
First Team
- GK – Claire Lovercheck, SR, Hazelwood Central
- D – Maggie Baumann, JR, St. Joseph’s Academy
- D – Drea Barklage, SR, Incarnate Word
- D – Amanda Teschner, SR, Oakville
- D – Jen Tucker, JR, Incarnate Word
- F – Blake Miller, SR, Incarnate Word
- F – Julie King, SR, Nerinx Hall
- F – Kelly Meusenfechter, SR, Ft. Zumwalt North
- F – Colleen Beck, JR, Nerinx Hall
- F – Jasmina Suljic, SR, Oakville
- F – Morgan Marlborough, JR, Lee’s Summit North
- F – Megan Kelley, SO, St. Teresa’s Academy
- F – Shea Groom, FR, Liberty
- F – Bobbi Jo Schlick, JR, Jackson
- MF – Lorin Opfer, SR, Glendale
- MF – Bridget Lohmuller, SR, St. Joseph’s Academy
- MF – Katelyn Frederickson, JR, Nerinx Hall
- MF – Molly Campbell, SR, St. Teresa’s Academy
- MF – Lizzy Simonin, SR, Lee’s Summit
- MF – Kasey Clark, FR, Liberty
- MF – Ellen Jantsch, SR, St. Teresa’s Academy
- MF – Nikki Rivera, SR, Lafayette
Second Team
- GK – Mary Warwick, SO, St. Teresa’s Academy
- GK – Mariah McClain, JR, Jefferson City
- GK – Maggie Bowman, SR, St. Joseph’s Academy
- D – Curtney Danze, SR, Liberty
- D – Jacque Dedovesh, SR, Lee’s Summit West
- D – Audrey Copenhaver, SR, St. Teresa’s Academy
- D – Chelsea Dale, SR, Jackson
- D – Marisa Rapp, SR, Howell North
- D – Taylor Thomas, SR, Rockwood Summit
- D – Danielle Bergfeld, JR, Hazelwood Central
- D – Kelsey Calvert, JR, Lafayette
- F – Sharaya Sidebottom, SR, Blue Springs South
- F – Katie Pritchard, SR, Waynesville
- F – Jessica Greer, JR, Smith-Cotton
- F – Rachel King, SR, Ft. Zumwalt West
- F – Becky Handley, JR, St. Joseph’s Academy
- MF – Kaitlin Bramel, SR, Rolla
- MF – Mandy Laddish, SO, Lee’s Summit
- MF – Lauren Drewett, SR, Jackson
- MF – Allie Brazill, SR, Incarnate Word
- MF – Bridget Belli, SR, Hazelwood West
- MF – Ariel Boulicault, JR, Pattonville
- MF – Korie Klosterman, JR, Lafayette
Third Team
- GK – Caroline Stanley, FR, Lee’s Summit North
- GK – Katie Gallagher, SR, Howell North
- GK – Paige Hemphill, SO, Ozark
- D – Emily Downing, JR, Jefferson City
- D – Kaitlyn Nevels, SO, Hazelwood Central
- F – Brooke Williams, SO, Liberty
- F – Casey Vitale, SO, Pattonville
- MF – Katy McClain, SR, Kickapoo
- MF – Megan Buri, SR, Park Hill South
- MF – Caroline Gray, FR, St. Teresa’s Academy
- MF – Jenni Tenholder, SR, Jackson High School
- MF – Nikki Hoss, SR, Ft. Zumwalt West
Final Rankings
- Incarnate Word, 20-2-1
- St. Joe’s Academy, 20-3-1
- St. Teresa’s, 23-3
- Nerinx Hall, 21-4-1
- Lafayette, 19-1
- Liberty, 22-2
- Hazelwood Central, 17-11-1
- Howell North, 19-5
- Lee’s Summit, 22-2-1
- Jackson, 18-3
- Truman, 22-4
- Lee’s Summit North, 18-4
- Lindbergh, 18-5
- Glendale, 20-6
- Ft. Zumwalt West, 13-12