The high school soccer season is already underway across the state, helping coaches and players to leave behind the bad memories of last season’s aborted campaign due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. While the 2021 Lady Bulldogs are somewhat lacking in depth and overall experience, they are long on youth and potential, according to Head Coach Andrew Post, and they are off to a good start.

Greenwood opened its season on February 25th with a match at home against Cossatot River, winning 6-0. Four days later Smith-Robinson Stadium was also the scene of a 3-1 victory over Dardanelle. Our telephone interview with Coach Post occurred after those matches and before a 2-0 loss to 5A West conference foe Greenbrier last Thursday, also at home.

As evidence of the youthful nature of this year’s team, Coach Post began the interview talking about one of his best and youngest players. “We have a new freshman this year that’s been playing club [ball], and she’s scored seven of our nine goals so far this year, which is a good start for a freshman.”

The longtime GHS coach was speaking of Abbey Gatesman. “She plays travel ball in Northwest Arkansas,” continued Post. “I’ve been familiar with her dad. He’s an official, so I’ve known him for a few years. She’s been playing for a long time and she’s a good addition this year.

“For her club team she’s a defensive player, and I didn’t know how she was going to perform in [her new] role [as a midfielder]. It was good to see her do well and find the goal as many times as she did. She had some impressive goals in both of those games. It was surprising that she did so well.

“She’s still getting accustomed to the physical side of varsity soccer, [but] she doesn’t play to her size. She’s quick and plays much bigger. She naturally puts herself in position to score. She also had an assist, so she’s been involved in eight of the nine goals we’ve scored,” added Post.

“She’s still learning the position of center-mid, but seems to have a nose for scoring so far. Teams probably don’t want to let her shoot the ball much, because she seems finds the net when she does. It’s only been two games, so it’s hard to gauge how she’s going to do against better competition. But it’s good to see that start for her to give her some confidence.”

Of course, no coach or team can hang their hopes on the performance of a single player, no matter how impressive, and that’s especially true of a freshman. But Gatesman’s unexpected emergence in the early going is a refreshing and hopeful sign for a team trying to redefine itself after losing six seniors to graduation and almost a whole year of development and experience for its younger players.

“We lost so many players from last year’s squad,” admitted the coach. “I think we’re only returning three starters from last year,” referring to senior Emory Brewer, junior Kayla Rogers, and sophomore Ava Thomas. “We lost six seniors, all starters, and that was unfortunate. It was heartbreaking. They were really given the short end of the stick,” referring to the cancellation of the 2020 season in mid-March.

Are Lady Bulldogs rebuilding or reloading? The coach found it difficult to define. “It’s hard to say after what happened last year with the shutdown. We’ve got a lot of new faces this year and a lot of younger players, [but] we still have some seniors that are going to contribute. I start four seniors that have been with the program for at least three seasons, but I’ve also got four or five freshmen or sophomores that will start [too].

“We’ve got a few [players] with some experience,” continued Post. “Kayla Rogers is in her third year. She’s been starting or getting significant playing time since she was a freshman. Ava Thomas is a sophomore, but she’s played a lot growing up. She started for me last year, so she has some experience.

“You could characterize it as rebuilding. Our numbers are down, and I think that’s indicative of what’s going on in the state with a lot of [teams]. What happened last year really hurt [spring sports] programs,” said the coach.

“We’re young, but we’re trying to make the playoffs this year, and we’ve got some players that can help us do that. We’re just not very deep or have a big roster, and those are concerns I have to worry about because of injuries, contact tracing and Covid, so it’s going to be a very interesting season having to deal with all those dynamics.

“We’re probably not going to have a JV team this year because our numbers are so low. There are 22 [girls] on my roster and I’ve [still] got some in basketball right now. We were closer to 30 [last year] and had enough to have a JV team.”

But Abbey Gatesman isn’t the only promising newcomer this season for the Lady Bulldogs, though she is the most skilled and experienced at soccer. The team will also benefit from the services of multi-sport athletes like sophomore Madelyn Wilkinson and senior Shea Goodwin, plus foreign exchange student Jerrelyn Grootfaam from the Netherlands.

Concerning Wilkinson the coach said, “She’s a runner, but she’s also played soccer in the past and wanted to come out this year, and she’s helped out immediately. She scored in her first game and she’s someone we can rely on. She’s got a motor on her, that’s for sure. She can go the whole 80 minutes and not have to come out, and that’s a positive. But it’s been a few years since she played soccer, but I think she’ll be up to it.”

The GHS sophomore is one of the state’s top performers in cross country and in long-distance track events. As a freshman she helped the Lady Bulldogs win a state championship in cross country (2019) and finish as state runners-up last fall.

As for Shea Goodwin, the coach said, “I’ve been watching Shea play basketball for years, and she definitely has some athleticism. She’s never played soccer before, but she is friends with [seniors] Olivia [Walker] and Madison Philpot, and they convinced her to come out. I will find a place for her on the field. Sometimes being an athlete will make up for a lot of deficiencies [in experience and skill]. We’re excited to have her out, [but] we might not get her until after spring break.

“Emory Brewer has been with me since she was a freshman and played [goal] keeper for me all four years, and we’ll need that experience going forward,” said Post of his starting keeper. “She’s probably one of the more experienced goalkeepers in the league. She’s pretty athletic and comes from an athletic family.

“Her uncle is a former basketball player for the Hogs, Ronnie Brewer, and that athleticism shows.” A member of Coach Eddie Sutton’s famous “Triplets” at Arkansas, Brewer also had a long and successful career in the NBA.

Asked about the younger Brewer’s height and length, both important assets for defending the goal, the coach admitted that the senior wasn’t as tall as he would like, especially following in the footsteps of departed senior Camryn Presley who stood about six feet tall.

But Post is confident that Brewer is up to the task, though she will need support during the season. “My backup [goalkeeper] is taller,” said the coach of foreign exchange student Jerrelyn Grootfaam. “She plays basketball and is closer to 6-feet-1.”

Brewer is one of Greenwood’s five seniors, all very important to this year’s squad, not only for their skill and experience on the field, but for their leadership on and off the turf as well. The other twelfth-graders include the aforementioned Shea Goodwin along with Olivia Walker, Kylie Gonzagowski, and Madison Philpot.

Walker is small in stature but is a multi-sport performer, having played both varsity basketball and golf. “She’s a starter for me at mid-field and she has a quick leg that will help her tremendously, even though she’s on the shorter side,” said Post.

“Kylie has been with me since she was a freshman, but not in a starting role,” recalled the coach. “[She was] probably the biggest surprise the other night. I put her in [during] the first half, and she did very well. We were pretty impressed with how she played. She plays outside back for me, left or right back, and she brings a little bit of speed back there.

“[Madison] Philpot plays forward for me, and this will be her first year to start,” continued Post. “She has improved quite a bit from last year, being able to hold the ball up and be a target forward for us. We are pleasantly surprised and happy that she is doing so well. She had an assist the other night.”

Moving on to his junior class, the coach talked about one of his three returning starters, Kayla Rogers. “She got significant minutes as a freshman, but missed her last few games with a concussion. She has grown up playing soccer and she started for me last year through the five or six games we played, and was looking really promising at center-mid.

“She’s got a decent leg on her and she’s just a hustler, so she will rarely come off the field,” he added. “She’s a good, solid player I can rely on, and we’re going to [count] heavily on her [this year].”

Anna Tommaro is a junior, a foreign exchange student, and is currently a JV player with the basketball team trying to win another state championship. “She has a knack for understanding the game, but hasn’t played soccer much,” said Post. “She’s just a sweet girl and a hustler and is not afraid to get physical. She’s come out for a couple of scrimmages we’ve had. She’ll probably be thrown into the rotation with the defenders as well.”

The coach next talked about Molly Dennison. “This is her second year and she will be an outside midfielder for me. She’s progressed quite a big since last year. She’s got a background in gymnastics and is pretty athletic, she just hasn’t played a lot of soccer, but she’ll continue to get better throughout the season.”

Junior Bree Steinfeldt is the older sister of Bulldogs’ freshman [football] kicker and soccer player Brodie Steinfeldt, and has a chance to see significant playing time this season for the Lady Bulldogs. “This is her third year with me and she started out as a goalkeeper, so she is our emergency backup keeper. But she starts at center-back and she’s done very well. She’s not afraid to be physical. She has a background in basketball and has worked hard to put herself in a position to be a starter.”

Moving on to his team’s sophomores, the coach had still more to say about Madelyn Wilkinson. “She can run and run and run,” he said of the cross country star. “She’s a real impressive young lady. “Obviously, she’s very good at track. She’s so committed, that the day of our game with Dardenelle, she got up about 4:30 am and ran about five miles, then came back and played [soccer] that evening.

“She’s going to play outside-mid forward and center-mid for me. She’s learning how to be a little more physical and she’s got a bit of touch [on the ball] and is going to be a tremendous help for us this year,” he said with confidence.

“Brooklyn Wann has changed roles from last year,” revealed the coach. “I asked her to play the outside-mid role and she has done well with it, so much that she is now a starter. She’s doing everything I need her to do right now, and I think she will get better. She’s physical and she’s not afraid to mix it up and knock girls around, and that’s what I need.” Brooklyn is the younger sister of Riley Wann, perhaps the best soccer player for the GHS boys, according to Head Coach Tyler Woods.

“Kaylee Coble is one of my most dedicated players,” Post continued. “She never misses a practice and is a hard worker. This is her second year, but she does not come from a soccer background. She’s played a little outside-mid and outside-back, [but] she’s still learning her position. She actually scored the other night and was super excited about that. She’ll get better and can give us a few minutes off the bench. Hopefully, the next couple years she can move into a starting role as well.

“Tula Wittington is in her second year,” said the coach. “She’s pretty fast and I put her at outside-mid and this year she’s starting for me. She is physical and her speed will help us. She got an assist in the first game we played. I’ll need her to score and give us some assists and really contribute, so her expectations have risen since last year, and I think she will be up to it.

“Ava Thomas is the daughter of Ben Thomas, who has been involved with soccer in Greenwood and Fort Smith for years,” said Post of his final tenth grader. “She grew up playing soccer and gives us some height in that back line that I haven’t had for a few years. She’s got a knack for being a good defender and has improved even more since last year. She’s a cornerstone on that back line.”

Lyric Graves is the last of the team’s sophomores, now in her second year with the Lady Bulldogs. “She got a lot of playing time last year,” said her coach. “She’s another hard worker who comes from a soccer background. I’ll put her at forward and maybe outside-mid. She’s coachable and wants to learn. Hopefully, she’ll be with us for the next couple of years.”

Several ninth graders also figure in Post’s plans this season, not only supporting the 2021 squad, but gaining invaluable early experience as they advance in their high school athletic careers. “The benefit of having a smaller roster is so those freshmen can get varsity minutes. It’s a good thing for younger players,” said Post.

Briefly mentioning newcomer Abbey Gatesman again, the coach turned his attention to his remaining freshmen. “Abbey is a starter and will get significant minutes, but I’ll rely on some others to really step up and help us in different positions.

“Laynee [Post] is my oldest daughter and she’s a volleyball player, but I said she’s going to have to play at least a year for me. She has a lot of potential. She doesn’t realize the potential she has. She’s probably the tallest freshmen we have and she’s got some natural ability to be a good soccer player,” observed dad.

“She’s playing outside-mid for me and she’s gotten minutes in both games. She’ll continue to progress, and if she sticks with it, she could be a starter in the next few years. She’s the first of my kids that I’ve coached, so it’s an interesting dynamic to have,” he added with fatherly pride in his voice.

“Regan Zimmerman has played some [recreational] soccer and is also a volleyball player. She’s in her first real organized soccer experience, but if she sticks with it, she will grow and can contribute quite a bit. Her dad is one of the choir teachers here [at Greenwood]. She’s a hard worker and wants to learn the game,” offered Post.

“Emma Wirth has a little bit of a soccer background and she’s learning the role at outside-mid. She’s got some natural ability and is learning to put some touch on the ball. She got some minutes in the first two games and she can be a good player for us in the future,” suggested the coach.

“Gracyn Newcity hasn’t played [soccer] but has a track background in junior high. She came to us this year and has started to learn the role of a defender. She’s a taller girl and she’s not afraid to be physical, but she still has to work on her touch. She’ll get some minutes at outside-back and she can be a pretty good defender in the future as well.

“Abby Webb is a volleyball player and I asked her to come out to be a keeper,” revealed Post. “But she’s been injured [wrist] and hasn’t been able to practice with us. We’re hoping she will get some good news [soon] and be released and can start training at keeper.”

Including goalkeeper, eleven players can take the field at once in soccer, or about half of the Lady Bulldogs’ roster this season, if everyone is healthy and available, so avoiding both injuries and Covid-19 will be paramount to their success.

“Obviously the biggest area of concern is our [lack of] depth in a year where contact tracing and Covid could wipe out several players, and that would hurt us tremendously,” admitted the coach.

“We’ve got some positives, but we have a lot of growing to do. We will get better, but it’s going to be a grind trying to keep kids healthy and keep them from getting quarantined. That’s [something] I haven’t had to deal with before, but that’s why we play the sport, because the variables away change. You either adjust to those changes and get better, or you sink. All the teams have to deal with this type of thing.”

So, the Lady Bulldogs offer some athleticism and have several players that possess good speed or height. “This is probably not the fastest team I’ve had, but not the slowest either. I’ve got a couple girls that can run,” said the coach. “But our biggest concern is not having a lot of players with varsity experience.”

Asked to briefly sum up the conference race this season, Post said, “Siloam Springs, Russellville, and Greenbrier will be the top three teams in our conference. I’ve also heard Van Buren is improved. Losing Little Rock Christian helped us, but we’ll see how Mountain Home is, and Alma. Vilonia is down, I hear. We’ve just got to win the games we can win. We’ve got to beat four of those teams.”

Van Buren and Mountain Home are both new to the 5A West this season, replacing Beebe and Little Rock Christian. The GHS girls and boys returned to action this past Friday in non-conference play at Prairie Grove, but results were not available. They will travel to Farmington on Monday (March 8th) then return to league play next Friday at home against Russellville.