Like teams across the state, the rug was pulled out from under the Manistee girls soccer team last spring.
Now with the field back beneath their feet, the Chippewas are looking to pick up where they left off.
"Lots of excitement this year," said Manistee coach Jaclyn Kaminski. "The girls are just so happy to be out there on the field again."
The program had been on an upward trend before last year's abrupt halt. In 2019, the Chippewas finished with a winning record (8-7-3), despite falling short of powerhouse Whitehall in a district quarterfinal.
Manistee was on tap to return seven seniors a season ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic cut that group's time with the program short. Fortunately, however, many Chippewas played on the varsity squad as sophomores and will continue their prep careers as seniors this spring.
Among those is Manistee’s Olivia Smith, who will be looking to lead the charge after being named a first-selection on the All-Lakes 8 Conference list in 2019, having played a role in six of her team’s seven goals in conference play.
"She was voted captain her sophomore year among a lot of juniors and seniors (at the time), and she's our captain again this year," Kaminski said of Smith, a center midfielder. "She's been a leader since she was very young — always looking to make things happen for everyone out there — so we're looking for her to continue that leadership."
Fellow senior Alora Sundbeck will also look to build off an all-conference sophomore campaign, having appeared on the second team as a defender two years ago. Sundbeck is part of a senior-laden backline, which includes fellow defenders Lauren Mendians and Madelyn Schmutzler as well as goalkeeper Rachael Owens.
"Having four seniors back there makes for such a strong line," Kaminski said. "They're all so comfortable back there and the team trusts them as leaders too."
Manistee's Brynn O'Donnell, Haylee Pepara and Taylor Murray round out the team's senior core, while the rest of the roster is comprised of five juniors and four sophomores.
"In the past, our moto has been to give a perfect effort out on the field," Kaminski said. "Especially after last year, we're really focused on just being in the present. We don't know what tomorrow will bring, so when we're out there playing, we're going to give it our all."
The Chippewas kicked off their season Tuesday with an impressive 8-0 victory on the road against Hart.
Manistee will host Shelby for its home opener on Wednesday at Chippewa Field.
April 07, 2021 at 07:07AM
https://ift.tt/3t1Ak8w
Chips hungry to pick up where they left off - Manistee News Advocate
https://ift.tt/2RGyUAH
Chips
No comments:
Post a Comment