By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Carl Junction Lady Bulldogs has won five district championships over the last eight seasons (not counting 2020) but came up just short in a PK shootout last season.
Head coach Ed Miller looks for his team to get back to the finals again this spring, after having won four straight from 2013 to 2016 and one in 2019.
“With the bulk of our team back, we are working toward having a great year,” said Miller, who enters his eighth year at Carl Junction. “They played all summer and in the offseason to get better. We were right there at the end of last year and feel we will be there again playing for a district championship.”
After an 8-1 start, the Lady Bulldogs finished 14-11 overall and 4-5 in the Central Ozark Conference and as Class 3 District 12 runner-up to Webb City.
Carl Junction lost just two players to graduation, both of whom earned All-State Academic team honors in defender Emma Lacey (also all-district second team) and Jade Smith.
“Both players were hard workers, positive and pleasant in which they led the team,” Miller said. “Emma was a starting left back and took some of our free kicks and was an outstanding defender. Jade was an energizer bunny; she came off the bench and provided us with a spark. She was very versatile and played many different positions off the bench for us.”
The Lady Bulldogs return several key players, including four who were double-digit scorers.
• Chrissy Figueroa, junior, goalkeeper (6 shutouts) – Class 3 Region 3; Class 3 District 12 first team and Goalkeeper of the Year. “Chrissy has started in goal for us since she was a freshman,” Miller said. “She understands the game and makes great decisions back there for us.”
• Kadynce Arnold, senior, midfielder (7 goals, 2 assists) – Class 3 Region 3; Class 3 District 12 first team and Defensive Player of the Year; All-Central Ozark Conference second team. “Kadynce plays with a lot of passion and energy. She is aggressive and gives everything she has on the field.”
• Lauren Burgess, senior, forward (18 goals, 6 assists) – All-district first team; All-COC second team. “Lauren has played the fullback position and we switched her to forward and now is our leading scorer from last year. Lauren also is a hard-working player on both offense and defense.”
• Lexi Carpenter, junior, defender – All-district first team; All-COC honorable mention. “Lexi did an outstanding job last year defending the other teams’ best offense player.”
• Jocelyn Brown, junior, midfielder (10 assists) – All-district second team. “Jocelyn is an extremely hard worker and hustles from 18 box to 18 box. She works hard for us on the outside, serves balls in and gets back on defense.”
• Tessa Miller, senior, midfielder (1 goal, 1 assist) – All-district second team. “Tessa is probably our best passer on the team. She can use both feet and sees the field well and is an unselfish player.”
• Hannah Franks, junior (12 goals, 5 assists) and Haley Merwin, sophomore, (10 goals, 7 assists) also return for the Lady Bulldogs.
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Miller has a couple of freshmen he is looking to make an impact this season.
“Maddie Dalton, a freshman, looks good in the offseason, can use both feet to score and will be trying to make the varsity team,” Miller said. “Emily Lee is another freshman we saw a little bit in the offseason that looks good.
“We had nine players play club ball in the offseason and around 20 players attend offseason workouts; a good turnout considering we have players in other winter sports.”
Carl Junction will host a jamboree that includes Joplin, Webb City and Carthage on March 15 before opening the regular season at home March 28 against McAuley Catholic.
“We’d like to win the district championship again,” Miller said. “This senior group has won a district championship before losing to Glendale in the sectional game. Districts are set up different this year with eight teams instead of four teams. If you win districts, you go straight to quarterfinals which is farther than this squad has gone.
“We have an experienced squad only losing one starter and two seniors total from last year’s team. We have depth this year on the varsity team. We have several players that can start or come in off the bench and help compete in any game. I feel we have many players that can play multiple positions.”
