smnw.com » Girls’ Soccer

Slechta carries cougars

Nick Feighner — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:09:24 +0000

After just 15 minutes of the first half, senior Mollie Slechta had already recorded the first hat trick of the season, scoring three goals against the defense of Lawrence High.

It came to no surprise to the Cougar fans, considering Slechta has carried the team through the first 4 games of the season, but the senior standout has definitely begun to open the eyes of coaches around the league.

That was all the Cougars needed to beat the Chesty Lions on Saturday afternoon at SMAC. The girls won 3-1, relying on their defense to hold strong for the remainder of the game.

The Cougars face Shawnee Mission West Tuesday night at 7 pm.

Girls soccer off to strong start

Nick Feighner — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:08:46 +0000

After losing a large amount of talent from last years’ seniors, the girls soccer team faced the challenge of filling many key positions this year. Another question mark would be who would contribute to the offense after Taylor Isenhower scored 70 percent of the teams goals last year.

Through the first five games of the season, the Cougars remain undefeated. They won their opening game against Shawnee Heights 1-0, with the only goal coming from senior Mollie Slechta in the final minutes of the second half.

“It’s always nice winning your first game to such a good team,” said Slechta.

Another impressive victory for the Cougars came on April 6th when they defeated Olathe Northwest, a team NW has beaten in the last five years.

There’s no doubt in anyones’ mind that this team isn’t loaded with talent. The only question remaining is whether they can keep the momentum going into league play.

The girls face the Vikings of Shawnee Mission West Tuesday night at 7 pm at SMAC.

Spring sports preview: Girl’s soccer

Admin — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:48:06 +0000

After losing key players and failing to make it to state last year, the girls’ soccer team is looking for players to step up. Coach Todd Boren hopes the seniors with experience at the varsity level will move into leadership positions.

According to Boren, forward Mollie Slechta looks like a promising contender for leading goal scorer, replacing Taylor Isenhower. As for the two captains who left, Isenhower and Morgan Knight, seniors Sydney Jones and Haylee Allen are showing promise.

“Haylee has been stepping up and being a leader out on the practice field by organizing the girls,” Boren said.

Jones is a fourth year varsity player with experience.

“As a player, I need to control the middle, stay focused on the game and push everybody else to do their best,” Jones said.

Another problem Boren is facing is that the two goal keepers, senior Jenni Pinkelman and freshman Chloe Weishaar, are battling for the starting position.

“It’s not that they’re playing poorly,” Boren said, “It’s just that they’re not really separating themselves from the other one saying, ‘Yeah, I’m the one who’s going to start.’”

Boren is pushing the team to win the games they can and to come together to win the tougher games.

“If we finish under fourth in the league, I’m going to be disappointed,” Boren said, “I’ll see it as an underachievement.”

The girls’ team began the season last night at Shawnee Heights. They play Topeka West and Olathe NW next Monday and Tuesday, respectively, at the SMSD soccer fields across from Oak Park Mall.

-Tyler Gilliam

Twelve Seniors ink college choices

Ryan McCarthy — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:09:10 +0000

One of the largest groups of Seniors in school history will sign letters of intent today at 3 p.m. in the SMNW cafeteria. A total of 12 seniors will sign their letters on intent.

The following seniors are:

Track:

Erica Brand, Duke University

Cross Country and Track:

Christne Nelson, University of Wyoming

Lisa Imgrund, Missouri State University

Girls’ Soccer:

Cara Lightle, Park University

Boys’ Soccer:

Jon Kankam, Xavier University

Sam McCrills, Barton County Community College

Lippi Souza, Barton County Community College

Baseball:

Cody Ball, Fort Scott Community College

Cody Parks, Fort Scott Community College

Adam Giacolone, Neosho County Community College

Jake Thompson, Iowa Western Community College

Taylor Berthusen, Butler County Community College

Former soccer standout continues success in college

David Catt — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:34:00 +0000

Taylor Isenhower was shredding up the soccer field for the Lady Cougars last year, garnering All-Metro and All-Sunflower League honors. Now, as a freshman forward for Memphis University, she can add a few more honors to her resume.

Taylor Isenhower, a former NW soccer player has continued her success in college playing for the University of Memphis.

Isenhower was recently named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team for her performance this season.

Starting eight of 19 games, she helped the Tigers to a 16-7 record and a third consecutive Conference USA (C-USA) Championship title. Isenhower scored two goals in a 6-2 win in the first round of the conference tournament against SMU. She was selected as the Offensive MVP for the tournament.

“It was awesome. I wasn’t really expecting it,” Isenhower said.

Isenhower has had a total of six goals and two assists this season and was also named C-USA Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 25.

“It feels like I’ve accomplished a lot. At first I just wanted to make the traveling team, but then I realized I should be playing.Whenever you get to go in games, you have to go all out and hopefully the coach notices,” Isenhower said.

Memphis earned an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships with its conference tournament win but lost in the first round to Texas A&M, 3-1.