It’s time to start a new streak.
Eureka’s run of five straight district championships in girls soccer ended with a 3-2 double-overtime loss to Lafayette in the Class 4 District 4 final last spring.
The Wildcats have a rich tradition of state success, having won state championships in 2013 (Class 3) and 2017 (Class 4) and placing third in 2018. They claimed district titles from 2015 to 2019 and didn’t get a chance to extend that string when the 2020 season was canceled because of COVID-19.
After two weeks of practice, head coach Gary Schneider said he’s ready to see what the Wildcats can do in 2022. They open the season at Francis Howell on Friday. The Vikings were 19-3 last season, ending with a 2-0 district loss to eventual Class 4 state champion St. Dominic. Eureka then travels to Rockwood Summit (10-11-1 last year) for a Suburban Conference Yellow pool game on Saturday.
Eureka lost only three players to graduation in 2021 and will have an experienced team on the field this spring.
“So far it’s a fun group to be with and I love the team we have,” Schneider said.
After losing their 2021 opener, the Wildcats reeled off 10 straight wins. As a freshman last year, Blaine Schutte led Eureka with nine goals (three in an 8-0 blowout of St. Francis Borgia) and she returns at forward this season. Senior forward Reese Meyers had eight points on two goals and four assists a year ago.
“I’d like to get Reese some goals and see what happens there,” Schneider said.
The midfield includes freshman Bailey Flanagan, junior Payton Lauer and seniors Emma Wickman and Olivia Beam. The three upperclassmen combined for eight goals last year.
Leading the Wildcat backfield are returning starters Grace Dunham, a junior, and sophomores Callaway Combs and Kori Robinson.
Junior Kendall Zimmer split time in the Eureka goal last year with Briana Ludwig, and it appears Zimmer has competition again, this time from sophomore Stella Eremita, who guarded the nets for the junior varsity last season. Zimmer was in goal for the 2-0 district shutout of Northwest and the district final against Lafayette.
“(Zimmer) was solid last year and she’s being pushed by Stella, (so) right now I don’t know who my No. 1 goalie is,” Schneider said. “It’s not a knock against Kendall.”
The state hasn’t released district or class assignments for soccer yet, but Schneider said he expects the districts will expand from four to eight teams like they did for the boys last fall.
“I expect some private schools to be in a district from hell,” Schneider joked.
The Wildcats haven’t played Northwest or Fox in the regular season since 2018. Schneider said he’d like to get the Lions and Warriors back on the schedule.
“They don’t want to play us,” Schneider said, half-serious. “Ask them why. We have a hard time finding people to play us.
“We had a parents meeting (March 12), and I told them my No. 1 goal is that we get along. We need to change the way things have been going and we’re looking to build on our team atmosphere. We want to play for each other.”