By Chris Parker
Waynesville girls soccer returns seven starters and nine letterwinners this season. It is a tightknit group.
“Our strength lies in our team community,” Waynesville head coach Josh Mize said. “We strive to create an atmosphere that fosters a strong sense of belonging and purpose beyond soccer. We believe that having that locked in as our core will allow us to do some things this season that will surprise us and others.”
Sophomore Kate Zamiska and senior Myah Harris be at forward. In the midfield, Riley Grosvenor, Regan Grosvenor and Adrianna Cruz return.
Senior Ivy Smith is returning at defender and will anchor the defense.
“Ivy Smith has been working very hard in the off-season,” Mize said. “She has grown in both her skillsets as well as in her role as a team leader, helping run a lot of our preseason workouts.”
There is an open competition for goalkeeper.
“We will have some competition at goalkeeper as we graduated our previous varsity keeper but have some decent options as we enter the season,” Mize said. “Nobody to be named just yet.”
Developing the defense will be key.
“We have graduated out a lot of our backfield so goalkeeper and defense is where we need to address things prior to games starting in order for us to be successful,” Mize said.
Waynesville opens the season on Mar. 23 at Camdenton
