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The Rolla High School girls’ soccer team will be looking for more offense this spring.
The Lady Bulldogs had a strong defensive effort throughout 2009, allowing just 17 goals all season long.
However, RHS simply couldn’t find the back of the net enough on the other end of the field. Rolla finished with a 16-7-3 record last year, reaching the district tournament championship game.
From that squad seven starters and 10 varsity lettermen return.
Rolla is scheduled to begin the season on Friday, March 26, opening the Central Federal/RHS Girls’ Soccer Classic against Washington at 5 p.m. on Kiwanis Field. RHS is also scheduled to play Springfield Catholic at 9 a.m. and Columbia Hickman at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 27 in the event.
Veteran RHS head coach Mike Howard is changing up the team formation this spring in search of more offense.
“Defensively we had the best numbers we’ve ever had in the program last year, as far as goals given up,” Howard said. “We just really struggled to find the back of the net (on offense).
“We’ll change the formation up a little and go with three up top. We’ll be a little more direct than we have in years, to see if we can out-athletic people.”
Leading the charge for RHS is senior goal-keeper Adrian Pogue, an all-state selection last season. Pogue recorded 14 shutouts last season and is the Lady Bulldog career shutout leader with 34.
RHS will start three defenders - senior Katherine McCaulla, sophomore Kendra Wood and junior Ashlee Rightnowar.
Starting outside midfielders are senior Katelyn Maddy and sophomore Taylor Tronstad while the center midfielders are sophomore Taylor Banholzer and senior Jaclyn Standfast.
The three forwards are seniors Olivia Cox and Kaylyn Stoll and junior Ellen Spooner.
Key players off the bench include midfielders Caitlin McFarland, a senior, and Sarah Threadgill, a junior.
Standfast, who has already signed to play soccer at Missouri S&T, led Rolla with 11 goals and eight assists last spring while Cox had 10 goals and eight assists; Maddy had three goals and an assist; Spooner had three goals; Banholzer and Stoll had two goals and two assists, and Wood two goals.
“One of the reasons we decided to do this (change formations) is we’re very confident in our backs and goalie,” Howard said. “It will be a little riskier in the back, but the hope is it will pay off with more balls in the goal.”
Springfield Glendale, which defeated Rolla in overtime last year, will be the team to beat in the Ozark Conference race, according to Howard.
“Glendale was a Final Four team last year and has just about everybody back,” Howard said. “(Springfield) Kickapoo will also be very tough.”
LADY BULLDOG NOTES: After hosting the Central Federal/RHS Classic, the Lady Bulldogs will play five straight road games.
The Rolla High School girls’ soccer team will be looking for more offense this spring.
The Lady Bulldogs had a strong defensive effort throughout 2009, allowing just 17 goals all season long.
However, RHS simply couldn’t find the back of the net enough on the other end of the field. Rolla finished with a 16-7-3 record last year, reaching the district tournament championship game.
From that squad seven starters and 10 varsity lettermen return.
Rolla is scheduled to begin the season on Friday, March 26, opening the Central Federal/RHS Girls’ Soccer Classic against Washington at 5 p.m. on Kiwanis Field. RHS is also scheduled to play Springfield Catholic at 9 a.m. and Columbia Hickman at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 27 in the event.
Veteran RHS head coach Mike Howard is changing up the team formation this spring in search of more offense.
“Defensively we had the best numbers we’ve ever had in the program last year, as far as goals given up,” Howard said. “We just really struggled to find the back of the net (on offense).
“We’ll change the formation up a little and go with three up top. We’ll be a little more direct than we have in years, to see if we can out-athletic people.”
Leading the charge for RHS is senior goal-keeper Adrian Pogue, an all-state selection last season. Pogue recorded 14 shutouts last season and is the Lady Bulldog career shutout leader with 34.
RHS will start three defenders - senior Katherine McCaulla, sophomore Kendra Wood and junior Ashlee Rightnowar.
Starting outside midfielders are senior Katelyn Maddy and sophomore Taylor Tronstad while the center midfielders are sophomore Taylor Banholzer and senior Jaclyn Standfast.
The three forwards are seniors Olivia Cox and Kaylyn Stoll and junior Ellen Spooner.
Key players off the bench include midfielders Caitlin McFarland, a senior, and Sarah Threadgill, a junior.
Standfast, who has already signed to play soccer at Missouri S&T, led Rolla with 11 goals and eight assists last spring while Cox had 10 goals and eight assists; Maddy had three goals and an assist; Spooner had three goals; Banholzer and Stoll had two goals and two assists, and Wood two goals.
“One of the reasons we decided to do this (change formations) is we’re very confident in our backs and goalie,” Howard said. “It will be a little riskier in the back, but the hope is it will pay off with more balls in the goal.”
Springfield Glendale, which defeated Rolla in overtime last year, will be the team to beat in the Ozark Conference race, according to Howard.
“Glendale was a Final Four team last year and has just about everybody back,” Howard said. “(Springfield) Kickapoo will also be very tough.”
LADY BULLDOG NOTES: After hosting the Central Federal/RHS Classic, the Lady Bulldogs will play five straight road games.
