FAYETTEVILLE — A veteran team produced veteran-like results for Fayetteville during much of the 2012 girls soccer season. But despite losing 12 seniors to graduation from a season ago, the Lady Bulldogs still expect similar success this spring.
Fayetteville finished 13-6-1 overall last year and 5-2 in the 7A-West Conference, second only to eventual state champion Bentonville. The Lady Bulldogs lost to the Lady Tigers, 2-0 in the state semifinals. But while such leaders as Taylor Hightower and Cory Murray must be replaced from the team that pushed Bentonville to the limit at times, other talented Lady’Dogs return.
Senior forward Taylor Ward — who scored four goals in a state tournament win against North Little Rock — should give Fayetteville a strong presence on offense, while sophomore Ellie Breden will provide the Lady Bulldogs will strong defense in the back once she returns to the team from basketball.
Fayetteville Lady Bulldogs
Date Opponent Time
Feb. 26 at Tulsa Union 7 p.m.
Mar. 1-2 NWA Showcase TBA
Mar. 5 Fort Smith Southside 4 p.m.
Mar. 8-9 Fort Smith Tournament TBA
Mar. 28 at Rogers Heritage* 7 p.m.
Apr. 5 Van Buren* 5 p.m.
Apr. 9 Siloam Springs* 5 p.m.
Apr. 12 at Rogers High* 5 p.m.
Apr. 19 at Springdale Har-Ber* 5 p.m.
Apr. 25 Springdale High* 7 p.m.
May 3 Bentonville* 5 p.m.
May 9-11 7A State Tournament at Cabot TBA
*7A/6A-West Conference match
Ward and Breden were Fayetteville’s two all-state selections from last year.
“I see a lot of talent,” Fayetteville girls soccer coach Joe Thoma said. “We’ve got some good returning players at a lot of different positions all over the field and then we’ve got some key new players coming in who play on some club teams from around here. So some of those girls could come in and help us and play a lot, if not start in some positions.
“Deanna Rudasill will be in goal this year and she’s a very good keeper and Taylor Ward will be wherever we need her and we’ll just see what the game dictates. And we’ll look different as we get into conference and that’s Ellie (Breden). Ellie is the big gun, she’s all-state and all that and she’ll make a difference for us in the back.
“So once we get everyone in her I think we’ll have a solid defense and a very good midfield.”
Thoma believes Fayetteville’s actual soccer ability could be improved this season. The bigger area of concern is the bench.
“I’m optimistic in what we can do. If we can stay healthy, that’s a key because we’re not as deep as we were last year,” Thoma said. “I would like more depth at this point. But I think we’re a better soccer class and we can be better at soccer with the talent that we have.
“So we’ve got a good balance of a team. It’s a matter of if we execute what we’re practicing. And with a lot of young players I think we’re going to find out real quick.”