The Parkview Lady Vikings opened their season on Friday night with a 7-0 win over Carthage. The Vikings’ potent offense picked up where they left off last year, anchored by mainstays Shelby Stewart and Jessica Maerz. Maerz scored and had an assist, and Stewart scored as well. Kelsey Loderhose picked up two of her own, and Mckenzi Payton dominated the midfield for the majority of the game, getting into the offense as well by hammering in a ball that came out of the box on a misclear.

While the Vikings were clearly lead by their seniors and a few key juniors, the freshmen were able to get into the mix as well. Aubrey Durst and Amy Greene both started on the back line and held their own quite well, and Emily Courtney played solid at outside mid for the injured Melanie Allen. Senior keeper Caylin Manary picked up the shutout in goal.

Steve Olson of www.sgfsoccer.com was at the game, and wrote up a report of his own. It’s always good to get extra press, so thank Steve for coming when you see him at games (he’ll be the one on the sidelines holding a camera, and most likely walking around barefoot when it warms up). For those that don’t know, “Ole” is the reason we have a website, and the only consistent, reliable, midwest soccer news source around.

Scoring Summary: Kelsey Loderhose 2g, Jessica Maerz 2g 1a, Shelby Stewart 2g, Mckenzi Payton 1g Caylin Manary shutout.

The Junior Varsity squad won their opener 5-0, with four different people getting into the scoring action. After hammering the goal for the first half, Amanda Leckrone received a forty yard pass from Marissa Deffenbaugh, and was able to score with a few minutes left to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead. Leckrone was later able to score again, as was Mary Langebartel, Alex Shupert, and Keyuna Mays. Maddie George earned the shutout in the net.

The JV photo above was taken by Joe George (Maddie’s dad). Joe has been at essentially every game the last few years, taking pictures and sending them to me so I can get them up on the website. Click on the “comments” link on this article to find out how you can view more of Joe’s PHS Soccer photos.

Scoring Summary: Amanda Leckrone 2g, Mary Langebartel 1g, Alex Shupert 1g, Keyuna Mays 1g, Maddie George shutout.

The next Parkview game is on Tuesday against the Nixa Eagles. The match is at 4:00pm on the PHS Grass Field, with the Junior Varsity match scheduled first, and the Varsity to follow around 5:45pm.

Last year the Lady Vikings finished 14-10, and right smack in the middle of the Ozark Conference at 5-4. The Parkview girls will look to continue their recent trend with another increase in victories in the 2010 season. The first match of the season for the Vikings will be March 26, with a Varsity kickoff of 5:30pm.

Anchored by returning seniors Shelby Stewart (forward), Jessica Maerz (midfielder), Caylin Manary (keeper), and Melanie Allen (midfielder), Parkview will actually be returning 10 of last years 11 starters. The Vikings also have a stellar Junior class, including last year’s sweeper Mckenzi Payton, Kelsey Loderhose (14 goals in 2009), Holly Messick (defense), Anna Withers (defense), Molly Robb (forward), and many more who will look to contribute at the Varsity level this Spring.

The 2009 Spring season was a successful one for the Vikings, but with expectations raised and the bar set even higher, the Parkview Ladies know that they will have to work hard once again to continue their winning ways in 2010.

The girls soccer season begins March 1st with our first official practice starting on Monday from 3:15pm to 5:30pm. Athletes should take care of all their paperwork prior to their first practice, including turning their physical forms in to the PHS Office, as well as their signed citizenship cards. Varsity and Junior Varsity designations will be made in the first week of practices, so athletes should make sure to attend every practice.

Check out the team Calendar for me details about the practice schedule.

If you have questions feel free to use the “Coaches” or “Contact Us” links to speak to one of the coaching staff members.

Jessica Maerz and Shelby Stewart have both officially signed with 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 signed with Missouri State University, 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. Stewart is also mentioned, among the other new recruits, on MSU’s website (Women’s Soccer Adds 10 Players…)

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.

(Signing Day picture provided by Coach Clint Nurnberg)

Check out www.sgfsoccer.com to see the full article on Jessica Maerz. Thanks, as always, to Steve Ole Olson for his constant soccer coverage (even in the offseason). I’ve included his video interview with Maerz below:

Shelby Stewart was recently featured on www.sgfsoccer.com. I’ve embedded the video interview below, but you’ll have to visit the article to see the rest of the write-up.

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).