By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
A familiar face returns to the sideline as Ben Timson leads the Springfield Catholic Lady Irish this spring.
Under the hall-of-fame coach, the Lady Irish won 17 of their 18 district championships (in classes 1, 2 and 3), made 13 final four appearance and captured two state titles.
In 2022, the Lady Irish finished 15-4 overall, 6-0 in the Big 8 Conference and were edged by Glendale 1-0 in the Class 3 District 6 Tournament Championship. Glendale would go on to finish as state runner-up.
“We found a lot of success in our style of play,” said Timson, who started the Lady Irish program and coached them for 22 years, accumulating an overall record of 405-148-19. “We worked hard to improve our possession of the ball and to capitalize on our opportunities.
“We do have a small team, so our biggest challenge will be numbers this year. Our goal as a team is to be competitive throughout the season and to compete for a district title.”
The Lady Irish return seniors Sophia Cardin and Avery Bowler, juniors Olivia Swisshelm, Haley Brown and Kennedi Roubal, and sophomores Peyton Wiseman, Campbell Morgan, Izzie Belz, Bella Passanise, Maggie Mahaffey and Karsyn Bowler.
“Sophia and Avery will be crucial assets this season, not only in their work on the field but as leaders of the team,” Timson said. “We will look to Avery to control play in the middle of the field with her ability to read the field and distribute the ball effectively to maximize our scoring opportunities. Sophia moved from the midfield to the middle of our defense last season, and we expect her to anchor our back line again this year.”
Catholic has its top three scorers back in midfielder Swisshelm (17 goals, 14 assists, Class 3 All-State honorable mention, Class 3 Region 3, all-district and Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Big 8 Conference Player of the Year); Wiseman (18 goals, 11 assists, first-team all-district and all-conference) and Morgan (midfielder, 15 goals, 11 assists, all-region, first-team all-district and all-conference).
Also in the midfield this season with Bowler (an all-region, all-district honorable mention and first-team all-conference pick) will be Belz (8 goals, 7 assists) and Passanise (4 goals, 5 assists).
“Both Belz and Passanise made significant contributions last year as freshmen and we are looking for them to continue that this year,” Timson said.
“We return three of our four back line players from last season. In addition to Cardin (first-team all-district, second-team all-conference), Roubal (first-team all-district, second-team all-conference) will enter her third season as our left outside back. We will rely on her to shut down our opponents’ best attacking player on most evenings as she has done since her freshman year.
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“Mahaffey had a strong season last year as a freshman on the right back and we look forward to her carrying that into this season as well. Karsyn Bowler will move from her midfield position last year into the center back position alongside Cardin.”
Brown enters her third year in goal this season. She earned first-team all-state, all-region, and first-team all-district and all-conference honors in 2022.
“She is very technical, has good hands and communicates well on the field,” Timson said. “Her 0.74 goals against average last year was the fourth-best single season in Lady Irish history. Grace Hoerschgen (sophomore) had a strong season last year as the JV goalkeeper and could compete for some varsity playing time this season.”
Timson also said that freshmen Aden Brown, Alice Farmer and Ashbey Meyer will have an opportunity to make a big impact this season.
The Lady Irish lost three starters to graduation in Taylor Collins, Abbi Murphy and Jordyn Howe.
“All three ladies left a huge impact on the soccer program and will be greatly missed on the field and in the locker room,” Timson said.
Collins scored 9 goals with 4 assists, earned all-district honorable mention and second-team all-conference honors, and is playing Evangel University. Abbi Murphy (center back, honorable mention all-district and first-team all-conference) is playing at MidAmerica Nazarene University. Jordyn Howe (center midfielder) is playing at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis.
The Lady Irish will participate in a jamboree at Logan-Rogersville with Ozark on March 10 before opening the regular season in the Rolla Tournament on March 17-18.
“This team is special,” Timson said. “They have experienced a situation that many teams will never have to experience. Despite the circumstances, they stayed strong and unified as a team. Their mentality is team-first, and in turn leads to their successes.
“We will be strong defensively, which will keep us in every game. If we can score consistently, we will have a successful season. We are not a deep team, especially competing in Class 3, so staying healthy will be critical to our success. “
