Mt. Pleasant girls look to returning stars to lead the way

BY ANDY KRUTSINGER

Mt. Pleasant News

The Mt. Pleasant girls? soccer team will look to put on an offensive show in the 2016 season.

The Panthers scored three or more goals in eight games last season and an experienced squad is in a good position to continue to find offensive success this season.

Mt. Pleasant went 8-7 during the regular season last year and 4-4 in the Southeast Conference. The Panthers defeated Ft. Madison, 1-0 in penalty kicks, in a home district game before getting knocked out in the second round.

Returning for the Panther girls will be three of their top offensive players last season, including senior Lauren Ralls.

After leading the Panthers during the 2014 season, Ralls continued to score goals at a high clip in 2015. She paced the team with 16 goals and co-led the team with four assists, tallying 36 total points last season.

Other playmakers returning for Mt. Pleasant include sophomore Shyla Hiller, who scored five goals and dished out two assists in her freshman year, and senior Maddy Long, who had one goal and four assists in 2015.

Newcoming Midfielders Lizzi Litchfield and Mary West hope to add to the dynamic Panther offense this season.

Defensively, the team will be led by returning juniors Catherine Prough and Skyler Melville. Sophomore Kalynn Batey, who ran track last season, will also look to contribute defensively for the Panthers this season.

Goalkeepers Elizabeth Heerdt and Abbie Liechty will aim to take over at net for 2015 graduate Tiffany Liechty. Each of the two returning goalkeepers had a little playing time at the keeper position last season. Heerdt will be entering her sophomore year and A. Liechty will be a junior.

Along with T. Liechty, the Panthers lost a couple of key offensive players. Hattie Liechty was the team?s second leading scorer in 2015, with six goals and four assists, and Jasmine Craff was fourth, with three goals and one assist.

Head coach Brennan Williams says the goal this year is a conference title, and that the Panthers need to improve every day and never become complacent with their performance.

The teams to beat this season for Mt. Pleasant will be returning undefeated conference champion Keokuk and second-place Fairfield. The Panthers went winless against the two teams last season.

Mt. Pleasant will kick off their season on Tuesday, April 5, at home against Centerville. The Panther girls will play at 4:15 p.m., with the boys playing right afterwards.