Year in and year out, expectations are high for the Glendale girls soccer program. After finishing with an 8-12 mark last season, the team hopes to re-establish itself as one of the top programs in the state with a strong season this spring.
Last year’s team featured a lot of youth, mixed in with standout seniors Kristin Knetzer and Emma Bunselmeyer. Knetzer led the team with 21 goals while Bunselmeyer anchored the defense. Bunselmeyer currently plays for Drury.
“Kristin led us offensively and Bunsy was our defensive brains,” said longtime Glendale coach Jeff Rogers, who was recently enshrined in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in January. “We were young last year and had some starters that didn’t have a lot of soccer experience. Both girls led us in a positive direction.”
Playing a difficult schedule paid dividends last year for the Falcons. After struggling through its non-conference games, the team finished 6-3 in the Ozark Conference and a made a run to the district finals, losing to Rolla 4-0.
Rogers has scheduled up again, hoping some early-season bumps will lead to a smoother ride in the postseason.
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“We will continue to play a tough schedule, knowing there are local and statewide teams that will put more talent on the field against us,” he said. “We will work hard every day to set ourselves up for success in the postseason.”
This year’s team will rely on a group of six starters, led by three seniors: Kate Arthur, Kaileigh Clark, and Rachel Williams. Arthur brings versatility to the club, while Clark and Williams will be needed to score, especially with Knetzer’s departure. Juniors Alison Hawkins, Mary Powell, and Marissa Bannigan will also be expected to contribute, as will sophomores Brooke Briscoe, Alexi Martinez, and Emma Miller.
Miller (nine goals, three assists) and Arthur (seven goals, eight assists) had the most points last season among Glendale’s returning players.
“This is still a young team,” Rogers said. “The varsity experiences this group had last year versus the competition we faced will make us a more competitive team this season. This group gets along well, and they really understand team concepts.
“I know we will get better every 80 minutes we play and, as is with all teams, if we stay healthy, we can put ourselves in a position to be successful in postseason.”
