Eastern has good soccer numbers, now needs victory
Custer- Mason County Eastern has had a girls soccer team for several seasons now and with 16 players on this year's team, the numbers are good and reflect the popularity of the sport.
"We have 16 but, yes, we're young. We have a lot of newbies," says coach Lori Biers.
With the team well established, now its time for a some goal achieving.
"We want to win a game," says Biers, whose team has been winless in its first two seasons. "As far as I know, we haven't won a game yet. We scored our first goal last year."
"We're definitely going to meet those goals."
Eastern's Roster:
Jenny Hiner, Sarah Luce, Kinzie Spencer, Samantha Garland, Blaize McKnight, Beth Orcutt, April Jackson, Kaylea Spencer, Heather Freese, Alecia Wabsis, Michelle O'Neal, Beth Hiner, Shelby Smith, Gloria Norman, Brandi Lloyd, and Courtney Engelbrecht.
Veterans players include McKnight, a midfielder; Jackson, a forward/midfielder; Wabsis, a goalkeeper and sweeper; Freese, a forward/midfielder; and Lloyd, on defense."
Other defenders include Kaylea Spencer and Smith. Midfielder candidates are Luce, Kinzie Spencer, Garland, O'Neal, Smith and Norman. The two Hiners, Orcutt and Englebrecht are versatile enough to play anywhere, according to Biers.
"We have a lot of talented players," says Biers. "A lot of them play AYSO (youth soccer). A lot of the girls can play anywhere and they're willing to play anywhere."
In short, the Cardinals will be getting a lot of on-the-job training this spring.
"The beginning of the season will be new to a lot of them," Biers adds. "But once we get into the groove, I think we'll be pretty good."
The lingering winter has hampered Eastern's practice efforts.
"We've been able to have one practice outside," Biers says. "Once we go from the gym to outside, its a whole new ball game."
Eastern will play in its first tournament on Saturday, April 19, in Algoma.
Soccer is not a varsity sport in the Western Michigan D League. Beside MCE, only league members Big Rapids Crossroads Academy.
Reprinted with permission from the Ludington Daily News