Lady Eagles begin season of rebuilding

The Liberty Lady Eagles Soccer program is in a year of rebuilding. Last year the team graduated six players with a combined 18 years of experience on the high school pitch. Another change for the program is the new head coach and assistant coach.

Head Coach Ashley Roegge has been focusing on soccer basics, passing, shooting drills that all encompass running while Assistant Coach Bailey Wagner has been conditioning the girls in anticipation of playing full games without subs.

This year the team boasts 6 returning players and 6 new players. Returning players to make an impact this year will be (Sr) Abby Woolsey, (Sr) Litzy Lopez and (So) Sydney Radford. Those three will lead the team as captains. Another solid returning player will be (So) Tatiana Chavez who comes with plenty of speed and skill. Rounding out the team will be the two freshman players, Kaydence Farris and Kaylie Wagner, having multiple years of club soccer to glean from.

The season began as it always does at the Heritage Bank Lebanon Kickoff Soccer Tournament the weekend of March 18 and 19. The Lady Eagles were matched up against the favorite to win the tournament, Southern Boone. The weather was cold, wet and the Lady Eagles had no subs, but they fought hard against the currently undefeated Southern Boone Lady Eagles. The game ended with a score of 0-8. 

The following day, the Lady Eagles were up against the Webb City Lady Cardinals. Liberty had a fantastic showing of heart and grit as they held Webb City to a 0-1 loss. The following game, which happened to be played thirty minutes later, was against McDonald County. The thoroughly exhausted Lady Eagles once again played with heart as they held McDonald County to a 0-4 loss. Southern Boone ended up winning the championship title, shutting out every team they were matched against at the tournament.

"The girls were set up for failure, having their first game against a top ranked state team," began Head Coach Roegge on the tournament. "Then they had to turn around and play two back to back games without subs the entire time. They fought hard and when playing Webb City fresh, they did well. They are already a totally different team from when I first laid eyes on them. I expect them to only grow from here."

On Tuesday, March 22 the Lady Eagles hosted their first home match of the year at the Eagle's Nest against the Branson Lady Pirates. Once again the Lady Eagles struggled to combat the cold, wet weather and having only one sub for the game. The final score of the game was the Lady Pirates over the Lady Eagles 0-8.

"The girls didn't want it today. They had no aggression or desire to go to the ball. The weather was no help either," reflect Head Coach Roegge on the game.

For the first away game, the Lady Eagles traveled to Nixa where they met the Neosho Lady Wildcats to play. The game didn't end in a win for the Lady Eagles, but it was a massive step in the right direction for the team. (Fr) Kaylie Wagner scored the first goal of the game/season with 11 minutes remaining in the first half from 10 yards out. The score was 1-2 Liberty. Following a mere five minutes later, (Fr) Kaydence Farris took her shot on goal from 15 yards out tying up the game 2-2 before the half. At the final whistle, the Lady Eagles fell to the Neosho Lady Wildcats 2-3.

"The girls took what they learned in practice and applied it in this game," stated Head coach Roegge." They attacked and pressured the ball in the other teams defensive third and possessed the ball. They took shots and were successful. However, due to the lack of subs and fatigue from this week, they lost their aggression in the second half and were unable to come out with the win. I do believe they are starting to click more as a team and figuring out how to attack with numbers."