It isn’t easy to put a freshman or a group of freshmen into the varsity spotlight but that is what the Lady Braves soccer team did a year ago with a front line that sported three freshmen in the 4A West.  Wins were hard to come by, but the varsity experience by young and talented players is the payoff that the staff hopes will lead to wins in 2012 as members of the 3A West.  Last year the Lady Braves’ front line included Jess Woodford and Shelbey Brog as freshmen.  With a new spring, a new classification and a new conference, who knows what that lineup will look like on Tuesday as the program hosts Pinedale.

“We are looking to carry about 32 kids;  It is really difficult with over lapping seasons.  We will have really low numbers of girls playing this weekend due to either not enough practice or injury from their previous sport/activity,” said head coach Allison Hicks.

This weekend, the girls making up the varsity crew will be in Cody as part of a jamboree while the JV will be in Lander.

With only Kallie Nicoll departing due to graduation, Hicks will have virtually her entire team back this spring.

Those freshmen who will now be competing in their sophomore season include Mariah Hamilton along with Brog and Woodford.  The team will have to cope with the loss of Shay Schwab on the front line due to volleyball.

Abby Nicoll headlines the juniors along with Lindsey Christensen, Cody Nield and Anna Garner.

Finally, the seniors will try and counter the younger portion of the squad with experience and toughness.  Jess England returns in goal where she had success last season.  K.C. Schooner, Saydi Gardner and Savannah McClain should be a physical group defensively  while Ashley Hall and Bailey Brog will be counted on to combine often with the youngsters to produce goals.

Hicks also pointed out two promising newcomers in Kenedey Brog and Dakota Bateman

She is not looking at wins or losses this weekend with a shorthanded team.  “The games are really short,” Hicks said.   “It is more of an opportunity to see which groups of girls are going to gel with each other and what formation best suits itself to the strengths of this group.”

The Lady Braves will host the Pinedale Lady Wranglers this upcoming Tuesday, March 20, at 3:30 p.m.

2012 Lady Braves Soccer
Date        Location
3/17        @ Cody Jamboree
3/20        Vs Pinedale
4/6          @ Pinedale
4/13        @ Cody
4/14        @ Powell
4/20       Vs Jackson
4/21        Vs Worland
5/1          @ Rawlins
5/4         Vs Powell
5/5         Vs Cody
5/8         @ Jackson
5/11        Regional Play-In
5/17        @ State (Sheridan

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