By John Miller (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
When you return the best goal scorer in program history, you tend to have high hopes for the upcoming season.
That’s certainly the case for the Rogersville girls’ soccer team, which returns 11 players from last year, including goal-scoring machine Sophia Nixon.
Last May, Nixon shattered two Rogersville records on one night. In a 10-0 win over Monett, Nixon set a new school record for most goals in a game (6) and goals in a season (28).
Just a freshman last year, expectations are there for Nixon to continue her goal-scoring ways this season for Rogersville. Repeating or improving on her production last year won’t be easy, though. After sneaking up on teams as a freshman last season, Nixon is a known commodity now, and opponents will have her at the top of their scouting reports.
Last year, the team finished 13-7-2, including a 1-2 mark in conference play. They advanced to the district championship, where they fell to Springfield Catholic 6-2.
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“We are athletic and love to have fun,” said coach Brett Wubbena. “They are a lot of fun to be around. I expect us to be competitive in all of our games.
Gone from last year are six key players: midfielder Lexi Christopher, defenders Jenn Branstetter, Shawna Clement, and Sarah Posey, and wings Katie Jones and Jaiden Leonarduzzi.
The losses of Christopher and Branstetter, in particular, will be tough to replace.
“Lexi was our go-to player last season,” Wubbena said. “Everything moved through her. Jenn was our leader in the back and had the pulse of our team.”
A challenge for the Wildcats early in the season will be to find that leadership on both ends of the field, trying to replace what Christopher and Branstetter provided on a daily basis.
“Shawna and Sarah were our work horses,” Wubbena said. “They didn’t get hurt or get tired. Katie and Jaiden were really hard workers for us, and we’ll miss that about them.”
This year’s Rogersville team will have to forge its own identity, and it will be important for its returners to help establish it. Having Nixon returning will help, but she will need assistance from her teammates for the Wildcats to have another special season.
Along with Nixon, Rogersville welcomes back three more top returners: midfielder Lexie Vernon, forward Taylor Overstreet, and midfielder/wing Shelby Ince.
“Lexie is one of the best all-around players we have had at Rogersville,” Wubbena said. “Taylor brings a team attitude and will be a solid returner for us, as will Shelby. She’s the hardest working player I know.”
With 11 total returners – including the top-goal scorer in Rogersville’s nine-year girls’ soccer history – it’s easy to see why hopes are high that the 2018 season can be a very fun one for the Rogersville Wildcats.
