Jessica Maerz and Shelby Stewart have both given verbal commitments to separate schools to play college soccer. The two seniors will part ways after playing together both at Parkview High School and with Springfield Soccer Club for the last several years.
Maerz, a soon to be four year Varsity starter, has played sweeper, center mid, and striker for the Vikings in various years and circumstances. She will be headed to Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. The Lynn Fighting Knights ended their 2009 campaign in the Sunshine State Conference with a 9-9-0 record. Maerz has accumulated 53 career goals in her first three years as a Viking, including 26 her Junior year.
Stewart heads into her senior year with the Vikings as a soon to be three year Varsity starter after not playing her freshmen season. She has verbally committed to attending Missouri State, joining another SSC alumni, Tara Bailes. The Missouri State Bears finished the 2009 season with a record of 9-6-3, making it to the semi-finals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. Stewart scored 25 goals to go along with 11 assists her junior year at Parkview.
Congratulations to these two ladies, who have both put in a lot of hard work and dedication over the years in order to get to where they are now. The Vikings will be counting on Seniors Maerz, Stewart, and keeper Caylin Manary to help anchor a Varsity squad that returns all but one starter from last year.
(As always, thanks so much to Steve Olson at www.sgfsoccer.com and Joe George of PHS soccer for helping with this website and for taking a great number of the photos that appear on this site).
