Lady War Eagles Look To Build On Last Year’s Success

— The Rogers Heritage Lady War Eagles soccer team enjoyed its first taste of state tournament success last season and they want more.

Senior Ellen Lundy smashed the single-season school record for goals scored with 19 a year ago to help Heritage advance all the way to the Class 7A state semifinals.

Despite losing a tough 1-0 decision in the semifinals, Lundy can’t wait to get this season started.

2013 Rogers Heritage Lady War Eagles Soccer Schedule

Date Opponent Time

Feb. 21 at Harrison 5 p.m.

Feb. 26 Tulsa Metro Christian 6 p.m.

March 1 at Little Rock Christian 5 p.m.

March 2 at Episcopal Collegiate 10 a.m.

March 6 at Fort Smith Northside 6 p.m.

March 8-9 at Texarkana Invitational TBD

March 14 at Mountain Home 4 p.m.

March 28 Fayetteville” 6:30 p.m.

April 2 Monett, Mo. 6:30 p.m.

April 5 Springdale Har-Ber* 6:30 p.m.

April 9 at Springdale High* 5:30 p.m.

April 11 Bentonville* 5 p.m.

April 16 Verdigris, Okla. 4 p.m.

April 18 at Van Buren 6:30 p.m.

April 19 Springdale (Mo.) Kickapoo 5:30 p.m.

April 25 at Siloam Springs* 6:30 p.m.

April 26-27 at Laker Invitational, Camdenton, MO. TBD

May 2 at Rogers High* 5 p.m.

May 4 at Green Forest 4 p.m.

May 9-11 Class 7A State Tournament TBD

“Oh yeah, I think we have the chance to be good again,” Lundy said. “I haven’t been to practice yet, but the girls said the freshman are really good and coach (Craig) Franks has been pushing them all hard.”

Even Heritage coach Craig Frank expressed his excitement for the upcoming season, which begins Thursday afternoon with a benefit match at Harrison.

“Oh the day we lost in the state tournament, I couldn’t wait for this season to start,” Frank said.

However, she and as many as three other potential starters will miss a few nonconference matches since they are part of a Lady War Eagle basketball team, which has already qualified for the state tournament for the first time in school history.

Frank, who took over the Lady War Eagles last season, said the biggest issue a year ago were getting the players to trust in their abilities.

“They needed to trust themselves and their abilities and take some chances out on the field,” Frank said.

Junior Kendra Wilichowski, a two-year starter at sweeper, agreed trusting in Frank’s different style wasn’t easy.

“But as soon as we trusted things turned out OK,’ Wilichowski said. “It was kind of like a weight was lifted off our shoulders to have a coach who believes in you and is with you all the way.”

Junior forward Raya Jones returns, but will be sidelined for a few weeks with a knee injury, Frank said. She will be replaced by junior Kaleigh Begneaud.

The Lady War Eagles, who finished 16-5-1, lost a few key players to graduation, but Frank believes this year’s team can be just as good as a year ago.

“They need to build on what they did last year,” Frank said. “And execute a little bit better. Right now they are just working on time and getting comfortable with each other.”

The goalkeeper tandem of junior Stacey Schimmel and senior Emily Henbest both return this season. They split time in goal a year ago.

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