The Poplar Bluff soccer team opens the season Friday in good health -- knock on wood --and hope to keep it that way to make a run at the program's second district title this spring.
"If injuries don't plague us this year I think we've got a good opportunity to fight for a district championship," Mules coach Rusty Crafton said.
The Mules kept the medical staff busy last season and ended up 8-10 with only six players not missing time. One was Poplar Bluff's only senior, but 13 players return with at least three starts.
Unlike last year, there will be seniors all over the field for the Mules -- from keeper Shelby Sievers and defender Jordynn Caldwell to midfielders Jayla Matlock, Valeria Palma-Ramirez, Neida Grimaldo and forward Shelbey Johnson.
"They've been in the system for awhile. I think we're ready to roll all the way around," said Crafton, entering his fourth year back leading the program.
Following a team-record 35 goal season, Johnson will spearhead Poplar Bluff's attack once again. Having rewrote the team record book the last two years, Johnson has signed to play soccer at Westminster College. She was an all-state honorable mention selection last year to go with first-team honors for the region, district and conference.
"Other teams know her and are going to key on her," Crafton said. "I think she just has to overcome it. But, I think it will create opportunities for Neida, for a holding mid(fielder) and Sophie (Rowland) as a center mid, it will create things."
Rowland more than doubled the team record for assists in a season with 21 to go with five goals last year. The junior, who missed the district playoff with an injury, returns to the center of the offense. Rowland, who was an all-conference and all-district selection last year, has 20 career goals with 28 assists.
Despite outscoring opponents by 14 goals last season, it didn't show in the record. The Mules, who were 2-5 in games decided by a goal, were 8-1 when scoring multiple goals in a game and were shut out three times, twice by Seckman, the district runner-up after a 1-0 lost to Jackson.
Poplar Bluff, which opens at home against West Plains on Friday, will get an early test at Seckman on Monday.
"We'll just have to see where we're at," Crafton said.
Poplar Bluff's defense led by Sievers and Caldwell posted five shutouts last season and gave up just one goal in another game, all wins.
Sievers topped 200 saves with a 1.987 goals-against average last year and plans to play soccer at Lindenwood University-Belleville as well as softball.
"We can trust her game in and game out," Crafton said.
Caldwell, who Crafton called a "hard-nosed, tough player," returns as captain of the backfield along with sophomores Emily Spencer and Ady Kingree, who started all 18 games last year. Brylee Misner, who scored a goal in six games before suffering an injury, is back at center back.
Grimaldo, who scored six goals and had five assists last season, returns to the midfield where the senior will be an attacking free player, Crafton said.
"She's another passing option and another weapon we're going to look for," he added. "She's got great foot skills, not the fastest player but makes smart decisions."
Matlock, one of five returning players to have scored over the last two seasons, will be a defensive holding midfielder, Crafton said, that can play in the middle or as a wing. Palma-Ramirez is also a versatile player that can fill in at midfield or forward, Crafton said.
Audrey Cisne, Savannah Hicks and Emily Nelson also return having started last year as freshmen while junior Braelin Aldridge is back to fill in at midfielder.
Abby Gregory joined the team after playing when she was younger and the junior will play a wing, Crafton said.
Among the 10 freshmen out this season, three were named to the varsity roster including Sierra Sievers, who Crafted said will be the backup keeper, Hannah Corcimiglia and Zoe Savat on the wing.
"She has a knack for that left side and she makes good crosses so we're going to see what she can do as a freshman," Crafton said of the left-footed Savat.
Crafton said that about half of the freshmen played on the Junior High team.
"Some came out, some didn't but I think it helped us get more numbers out," Crafton said.
Still, an injury or two could once again hold the Mules back.
"We've been working really hard. I think they've gotten better," Crafton said. "The ball possession, I think, we're moving the ball through the field a lot better. I think we're getting better at seeing the whole field."