Sikeston soccer to rely on hungry freshmen in 2022

SIKESTON — The Sikeston Girls soccer team played a brutal schedule in 2021, losing several close games while having trouble finding scoring.

Sikeston held always-tough Notre Dame to 2-0, lost to Cape Central in double overtime, along with a myriad of other close games.

This year the Bulldogs will have to stay healthy along with improving their offense as they will add a hungry group of freshman with hopes of adding to the win column in 2022.

Sikeston loses key forward and center back in Jordi James and Nia Arnt, while the toughest loss is three-year starting goalie Lydia Hodgkiss.

Hodgkiss’s place in the net will be the hardest to replace with freshmen Hailey Presley and Natalie Wright, who have not played soccer in several years, vying to fill Hodgkiss’s gloves in the net.

Sikeston will utilize a young squad of 12 freshman, 6 sophomores, 3 juniors, and 4 seniors to try and improve on last year’s record of 2-17.

Head coach Gabe Dement is hoping an adjusted schedule will help to improve last season’s results. The Bulldogs will be playing in a new tournament in Hannibal this year.

Sikeston’s bench is full of girls who are hard workers but are inexperienced. Several girls are playing soccer for the first time in several years this season, with seniors Karris Allen and Amayri Blissett, who led the girls’ basketball team, expected to be the leaders on the playing field.

“We have a very young team of girls who are hungry and athletic, but will be learning on the fly this year,” Dement said.

Kelsey Anderson is the top returning goal scorer, followed by Allen.

Freshman, Ashley Roth, will be one of the freshmen to watch this season. Roth, who spent last year playing a lot of soccer, will be center-mid for the Bulldogs.

“I think if we stay healthy, my expectations are that we improve on last years record. We played well in this district last year and I’d like to upset our district this year,” Says Dement.

Sikeston is already off to a good start, opening the season with a 3-1 win over Anna-Jonesboro, Illinois, before dropping a 3-1 decision to Carterville, Illinois, on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs will travel to Kelly Thursday.