Sports

Senior MRH Soccer Players See Small Team Size as Advantage

The Maplewood Richmond Heights girls soccer team has 13 members this year, meaning each person will get additional playing time.

During a Maplewood Richmond Heights girls soccer practice Thursday, the team spent several minutes running up and down flights of stairs and across the gymnasium floor.

Finally, coach Amber Godfrey shouted, "Two more, ladies." When they completed their final two laps, the girls stopped beside Godfrey. Some leaned against a wall, and others hunched forward while catching their breath for a few moments.

The team practiced inside because of bad weather. But despite not being on the soccer field, the Blue Devils worked on endurance, something they're going to need this season. For a soccer program that's grown accustomed to having large teams, the 2011 roster of 13 players will require each girl to play more minutes.

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But senior defenders Theresa Peterson and Jayme Smith see the lack of depth as an opportunity to teach their younger teammates.

"We've got to lead by example," Smith said. "If we don't go hard, then they won't go hard."

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The team is small because no freshmen signed up to play this season. The Blue Devils dealt with a similar problem last year, when no subs were available by the end of the season.

Peterson remembers having 20 girls on the team during her freshman year. She said she's worked on conditioning to prepare her for this season, when she's expected to play a much larger role on the team.

Godfrey, who also works as the athletic director at MRH, said each girl will play an important role.

"It's going to be a total team effort," Godfrey said. "They all complement each other well."

The team has a good core group of girls, Godfrey said, but she hopes each player will persevere through the season. One or two injuries can overwhelm a small team.

"If I have two that don't show up, then that's a big deal. They're learning a big lesson in commitment this year," she said.

The Blue Devils' first test will come Monday when they host Jennings at 4:15 p.m.

Peterson said she's ready for the season to start. She hopes her contributions this year will prepare the girls for next season.

"I want to make sure everyone knows what to do when we leave. I want to help make the team better," she said.


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