By Chad Hayworth (for OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Carl Junction Lady Bulldogs return all 11 starters from a team that went 12-8 in 2025, including a 30-goal scorer up front and an all-conference goalkeeper in the back for first-year coach Glenn Helms.
“We’re really strong down the spine,” Helms said. “Center back, central mid, striker. On the outside, we’re still trying to figure things out.”
Ella Anderson returns for her senior season, having put 30 shots in the back of the net as a junior. While Helms said he expects opponents will work harder to deny her goal-scoring chances, he doesn’t expect Anderson to back down.
“She’s not afraid to shoot it,” he said. “She got a strong leg and is fast and aggressive. Ella came in as a freshman unintimidated, and she’s not let off the gas since.”
Joining her in the attack will be junior Grace Carrier, who led the team in assists last season, and Nevaeh Triplett, a junior, who only made six appearances last year in an injury-shortened season.
A pair of experienced center backs in senior Valeria Figueroa and Hartley Parrish will anchor the defense in front of senior goalkeeper Jayden Howard.
Howard was all-conference and second-team all-district in 2025, allowing just over a goal per game with six shutouts.
“She’s aggressive, has great hands and is really smart,” Helms said. “She sees the game well from the back.”
Sophomore Dempsey Helms is expected to find time in the defense or defensive midfield, which will allow for junior Lakyn Evans to play as a box-to-box midfielder.
“Where the ball is going, that’s where she is going, too,” Helms said.
Helms is also expecting significant contributions from seniors Babe Hughes, Ryleigh Palmer and Resel Rehobson, along with Morgan Stauffer, a defensive midfielder.
If it sounds like Helms has a good handle on his team, despite being new to the head coaching role, it’s because he’s served as the team’s assistant coach under Nate Loewen the past few seasons. This year, the two will trade places, with Loewen, Carl Junction’s boys soccer coach, serving as Harris’ assistant.
“I don’t think the transition will be difficult,” Helms said. “I do have my own game model, and I want to change our system of play a bit, but otherwise, there is no reason to fix what isn’t broken.”
The Lady Bulldogs can also build for the future this season, with several incoming freshmen that will push the older girls for playing time, Helms said. They include Sophie Carrier, Ashley Birch, Hope Ritter, Mila Covvey and Bricklynn Gunnett.
“We’ll have a nice mix of youth and experience,” he said.
The Lady Bulldogs open the season with a pair of rivalry games at Webb City on March 24 and at Carthage on March 26.
They’ll also participate in the Southwest Shootout at Webb City in April, taking on Columbia Hickman and Cape Girardeau Notre Dame, before diving back into Ozark Mountain Conference play.
“Our conference is a strong conference for girls soccer,” Helms said. “It’s going to be a tough season, but I think we’ll get a lot out of it. And our district will be tough as well.”
