By Jim Fryar
jfryar@joplinglobe.com
If an experienced Joplin High School soccer team can find a little more consistent offensive production, the Eagles could be conference and district contenders, coach Ed Miller believes.
The Eagles open their season today with a home game against Neosho, beginning with the junior varsity at 4:30 p.m.
“We have a lot of experience back,” Miller said. “We have people on the bench who have played a lot of varsity as well. The key is, we have to put the ball in the back of the net. We had a six-game stretch last year where we just couldn’t score.”
The Eagles return nine starters off a team that won 15 games.
Sophomore Kelsey Sanders, the leading scorer this past season, and senior Jessica Baker, the leading scorer in the 2005 season with 20 goals, are back at forward.
Returning starters at midfield are senior Lindsay Altman and juniors Lauren Swab and Stephanie Taylor.
Senior Saysan Jones, junior Kelly Yount and sophomore Stephanie Loden return at fullback. Altman, Swab, Taylor and Jones are the team captains.
Junior Randi Russell returns as the goalkeeper.
Junior midfielder Samantha Phillips and sophomore fullback Stephanie Loden are expected to complete the starting lineup.
The major change is the move of Yount to the middle on defense to replace departed standout Rachel Driver.
“We feel good about that,” Miller said. “Kelly is a solid defender.”
More key veterans are seniors Jenny King, Megan Emrich, Laken Neal and Katie Cabrera and junior Katie Stringer.
Miller, who’s assisted by Tom MacQueeney for the seventh consecutive year, started with a turnout of 40-plus players. There are 37 on the combined varsity and JV rosters.
“We have a lot of girls who have been with this program for a long time,” Miller said. “They know what we expect and what we’re trying to accomplish.”
At the top of the team list of goals is a district title. The Eagles have been district runner-up the past two years.
Kickapoo scored with four minutes remaining to trip JHS 2-1 in the district title game last spring.
The Eagles were 5-4-1 in the Ozark Conference last year. Both Kickapoo and Rolla were hit hard by graduation, Miller said.
Waynesville will rank along with Kickapoo, Rolla and Joplin as early league favorites.
Joplin begins Ozark Conference play on April 3 with a home game against Glendale.
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Veteran Eagles expect to contend for titles
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