By Tyler F. Thompson (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Lebanon girls soccer head coach Jacob Woolsey enters his fourth season at the helm of the Lady YellowJackets.
The team went 3-15 last year, but this year, returning seven starters, five seniors and 12 lettermen offer cautious optimism to the spring campaign.
Returning seniors include Shayla Mejia (MF), Josie Wadley (MF), Miah Orcutt (F/D), Jaylin Keller (MF) and Zoey Durbin (MF).
“Jaylin sees the field very well, great leader and extremely tough,” Woolsey said. “Will be a very important part of our midfield this year. She is a very well-rounded player who sees the field well.”
Last year, Keller was expended to the goal, but this spring she will make her return to the midfield.
Starters, to date, include Mejia, Wadley, Orcutt, Keller, Michelle Sarto (D), Natalie Skoufos, (MF) and Ashlin Baum (D).
“Ashlin and Michelle will be pivotal in our defense this year. Both work extremely hard and work very well together,” Woolsey said.
Freshman Kaylynn Barker will take over duties in the net.
Barker’s progression has been tangible.
“During the summer, very quick decision-making, ability to take feedback constructively, and ability to adapt to our style of play,” Woolsey said of Barker.
For Woolsey, team chemistry for a team that went 3-15 last season will be vital as he looks to create offense via defense, forcing more turnovers to gain added possessions.
Said Woolsey: “I feel like our chemistry is already better this year. The girls are really working hard. Chemistry with girls soccer is important. I would like to see us be more defensive minded, personally. I think our attacking will be a little bit better this year as far as the offensive side of the ball goes. As a coach, though, I focus more defensively and work myself forward.”
The team scored eight goals last season, so maintaining longer possessions illuminates the game plan.
Playing with more balance throughout the Central Ozarks Conference East Division schedule is another goal for Woolsey.
“I would like to see us play more competitive as far as conference goes,” Woolsey said. “I feel that if we played some of those early games later in the season, we would have done a little bit better. I would like to start that way this year.”
The YellowJackets went winless in the Central Ozarks Conference last year.
Lebanon will host a jamboree at 5 p.m. on March 16 at its grass field and will feature Marshfield, Bolivar and Crocker.
Woolsey said he looks for certain tangibles and intangibles at the annual exhibition.
“A lot of time, we will go in and look at who our strongest 11 are,” he said. “And we will do a mid-range, do some matching. We are looking to see girls’ chemistry, if a girl can play competitively at a position we have been having her practice in, and what meshes.”
The YellowJackets open the season March 24 at Cassville.
The home opener is March 26 against Nixa.
Lebanon closes out the month at Joplin on March 31.
