Trojan catalyst - Gossett always in thick of the action for resurgent Park Hill girls

After two seasons of averaging the same amount of wins as losses, the Park Hill girls soccer team is looking to break the trend this season after a recent string of victories.

“We are improving daily, the chemistry and the work rate grows on a game by game basis. Up to now we’re telling the girls that this next game is the most important of the season and they should treat it as such,” coach Manny Catano said.

“I think earlier in the season one of our weaknesses was just selflessness, we weren’t playing as a team and I think we’re starting to come into our own as a team,” assistant coach Tara Southwick said.

Some of the Lady Trojans’ momentum can be attributed to the leadership and player of senior Emma Gossett. Whether it’s diving on the basketball court for a loose ball or breaking through the defense for a goal on the soccer field, you’ll usually find Gossett in the middle of the action. Although hardly a surprise, last year’s conference defensive player of the year doesn’t shy away from the physical nature of the game.

“I don’t like getting pushed around, I’m not gonna let it happen. I’ve got an older brother so I’ve kind of learned to handle my own,” Gossett said of her aggressive style.

“Emma is an asset to any team. She has a lot of determination and her work rate in games is simply our best,” Catano said of Gossett’s contributions. “She can step up and compete against our opponent’s best player and shut them down.”

Known as a tenacious defender, her skills were on display last Thursday against Raytown South, but it wasn’t necessarily on the side of the field you might expect. The loss of several offensive players to graduation and unexpected injuries this season has created the need for Gossett to play both offense and defense. Streaking through the Cardinal defense from almost a third of the field’s length, Gossett scored the first of what would be a standout three goal night.

Shared credit followed the strong performance as the Trojans’ top defender and leading goal scorer praised her teammates.

“They fed me perfect balls so I could do it,” Gossett said.

Attending Northwest Missouri State next year, Gossett will hang up the competitive soccer cleats for good at the end of this season, but a common theme has been expressed from Gossett and her team about what they’d like to accomplish before then.

“I definitely want to beat South,” Gossett said. “I don’t think we played some of our best soccer the last time we played them.”

Gossett was at it again on Monday night as she scored five goals for the Trojans in an 8-0 rout of William Chrisman. It's clear now no matter what the rest of the season brings Park Hill, you can be sure Gossett will be causing a stir for opposing offenses and defenses alike.