“We have some players that got some time last year, but we’re very young this year,” Catano said of his team’s makeup. “I don’t think we’re going to be super deep, but the first eleven will be pretty strong.”
Returning starters include senior Emma Gossett who was last year’s conference defensive MVP. Joining her will be midfielders Heather Schieber and Melani Rodriguez along with defenders Rayci Lee and Holly Maier.
Junior Michele Rupard will be in front of the net for Park Hill as she brings her athleticism and aggressiveness to the soccer field for the first team.
Marisa Manzy, Shelby Blanchard, Catherine Netwall, Dani Wilber, and freshman Sydney Hultz will also see a significant amount of playing time this year.
After tying for second in the conference last year behind Park Hill South, Catano says they are probably favored to repeat again, but the Trojans wouldn’t mind taking a shot at the title themselves.
With 55 girls coming out for the program this year compared to last season’s 42, Park Hill has used their numbers so far to focus on the heavy stuff including conditioning and fundamentals.
“We haven’t worked a whole lot on any patterns,” Catano said of their progress. “We haven’t focused on any schemes we’re going to play.”
He’d rather his team take a more composed approach to the game and focus on taking advantage of those important chances they get presented with in each game.
“We want to be able to possess and compose a possession, don’t want to hurry and then blow the cover off the ball,” Catano said. “That’s really going to be the struggle with any group by not panicking and enjoying the ball, just play.”
Park Hill will kick off the season at the Lee’s Summit Tournament featuring some of the area’s top teams. Some other tough challenges this season will be district foe Liberty and Lee’s Summit North.
“We have some new faces and a couple of players who are a bit special,” Catano said. “It’s going to be an interesting season.”
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