ROGERS — First-year Rogers High girls soccer Taylor Hayes is anxiously waiting the end of basketball season.
The Lady Mounties kickoff the season Feb. 26 but they will be shorthanded as several key players will still be with the basketball team at the Class 7A State Tournament.
Included in that group are seniors McKinzie James and Samantha Warren. James has signed with Arkansas while Warren is a returning starter. Several underclassmen are also playing basketball and will also join the soccer team in early March.
Rogers Soccer Schedule
Feb. 26 at Russellville 5 p.m.
Mar. 2 Cabot Tournament TBD
Mar. 5 Claremore, Okla. 3:30 p.m.
Mar. 8-9 Ft. Smith Tournament TBD
Mar. 11 Harrison 4 p.m.
mar. 12 Berryville 4 p.m.
Mar. 16 Pryor, Okla. 5 p.m.
Mar. 26 at Nixa, Mo. 6 p.m.
Mar. 29 Van Buren* 5 p.m.
April 2 Joplin 5 p.m.
April 5 at Springdale High* 5 p.m.
April 9 at Bentonville* 5 p.m.
April 12 Fayetteville* 5 p.m.
April 17 at Carl Junction, Mo. 5 p.m.
April 19 Siloam Springs* 5 p.m.
April 26 at Springdale Har-Ber* 5 p.m.
May 2 Rogers Heritage* 5 p.m.
May 3 Siloam Springs 5 p.m.
*7A/6A-West Conference Game
But Hayes said her first team is accomplishing a lot. Hayes, who played for the lady Mounties and at Arkansas-Little Rock, has several key returning players at practice, including Meagan Johnson, Kate Schmandt, Rosy Zamaron, Aubrie Hanson and Natalie Scott.
“We are really getting to the point where the girls can knock it around,” Hayes said. “They are coming into their own. I’m excited for what the season holds, and I am looking forward when we have the whole team together.
“We have several that are playing basketball, and I am glad that they are doing that. We should have good depth once the basketball girls get here.”
Hayes said she has been especially impressed with Johnson and Schmandt during preseason workouts.
“Kate and Meagan are great leaders,” Hayes said. “They have been playing since their ninth grade year. We have a lot of young players on the team, and their leadership has been helpful.”
Junior Alyssa Corral is currently working at keeper for Rogers but Hayes said junior Alex Moisson will also get a look once basketball season is over. Junior MC Childress is expected to be one of the Lady Mounties top defenders.
James has been the Lady Mounties leading scorer the past two seasons and she said she is looking forward to her senior season.
“I’m excited about our new coach, that will be fun,” James said. “Soccer is a lot more endurance, but the big difference is getting used to using your feet again after you have been using your hands for so long.”
Hayes graduated from Rogers in 2007 and was a part of three Class 7A state championship teams and she knows that the Lady Mounties can’t overlook any team in the 7A/6A-West Conference.
“It’s always a difficult conference to play in,” Hayes said. “Every team is competitive, and I feel like we will be competitive as well.”