Not ready to talk of four-peat

Siloam Springs' girls soccer team won its third straight Class 6A state championship last spring, but there haven't been any talks of a four-peat. At least not yet.

Siloam Springs won its last three matches in the playoffs to close the 2016 season, including a 1-0 victory over conference rival Russellville in the state finals; but prior to that, the Lady Panthers hardly looked like a championship team.

Siloam Springs went into the state tournament having lost five of its previous seven games, and the team finished with eight losses overall.

"We've talked about the fact that we lost eight games last year that were by no means perfect, and we still have a lot to work on," Crenshaw said. "Last year was great, but we still had eight losses. What can we fix to make us better?"

Crenshaw is honest when it comes to the Lady Panthers and that's not necessarily a bad thing. For a team that's had plenty of accolades the last three seasons, it's often needed a kick in the pants to get motivated.

That may be the case again heading into the 2017 season. The Lady Panthers play Class 7A Springdale Har-Ber in a benefit game on Friday and then open up the season Tuesday at Van Buren.

"Honestly, they've lacked motivation," Crenshaw said. "We've had to have quite a few talks the last couple of weeks. If they lack (motivation), we're going to give it. Hopefully they'll get through this funk that they're going through."

The Lady Panthers already have some challenges that weren't as big a factor in recent years. Experienced depth will be one hurdle to clear.

"We're not very deep," Crenshaw said.

Part of the reason for that is not all of last year's players decided to return to the team. All-state forward Maycee Lance, who led the team with 18 goals in 2016, decided not to play her senior year. Maggie Hubbard, a starter at defensive back, also did not return, nor did senior Emily McClelland, junior striker Averie Headrick (eight goals) and junior goalkeeper Caroline Dinger.

"We did lose some players, but the fact is we're not going to change our expectations," Crenshaw. "If we work hard. There's a reward for that at the end."

The reward is a fourth straight state championship, and Crenshaw believes another title is possible.

The Lady Panthers aren't deep, but they're plenty talented.

Senior Anna Claire Lewis returns in goal for Siloam Springs after having started the last two years for the Lady Panthers. Lewis signed with Harding earlier in February.

"Anna Claire does a good job," Crenshaw said. "One thing she struggles with is her communication skills, and we'll continue to work with her on the things she's got to improve on."

Lewis has great technical skills and she's a team captain, he said.

The four defenders in front of Lewis will mostly be the same from last year with the exception of Hubbard.

Meghan Kennedy anchors a strong back line at center back along with returning starters Mackenzie Jones and Abigail Cole.

Kennedy missed some games last year with an arm injury and the Lady Panthers didn't fare well in her absence.

"She's a great leader back there for us," Crenshaw said. "She's big, fast and strong and smart. Her understanding of the game is above some college players. It shows in the classroom too."

Jones is a three-year starter at defensive back and provides a physical presence for Siloam Springs.

"She plays her role exactly how we ask her to do it," Crenshaw said. "She's an important part of our line back there."

Hailey Dorsey is also expected to play in the backfield once she rejoins the team from basketball. Lily Slater, Brittany Pilcher and Paige Thompson could also play in the back for the Lady Panthers.

Junior Brooklyn Buckminster has missed a good bit of the offseason while playing basketball, but when she returns, she'll add an all-conference presence at center midfielder. Buckminster finished with seven goals and four assists last year.

"We need (Buckminster) to win the 50-50 balls in the air," Crenshaw said. "She's one of our few girls that will go up and head a ball. She's good enough to win when we get into attacking third. We need her on corner kicks. We have plays set up just for her because she's so good at it."

Also in the midfield is sophomore Laura Morales, who came on so well as a freshman last year that she was promoted from a junior varsity player to the varsity squad and wound up being an all-conference selection.

"By the last three weeks she had taken over a starting position at center mid," Crenshaw said. "She continues to get better. She's only a sophomore and will grow speed- and skill-wise. She's an attacking player, which I like."

Megan Hutto, a junior, was an all-state midfielder as a sophomore and the most valuable player of the 2015 state tournament her freshman year. As a sophomore Hutto finished with seven goals and a team-high 12 assists.

"She's looked impressive this offseason," Crenshaw said of Hutto. "She's looked really confident. Last year I think she lost a little confidence. She wasn't putting the ball in the back of net. This year we're asking her to do a different role. She's an attacking midfielder. She's still going to create chances for us."

Sydney Bomstad and Paige Thompson, along with Shelby Johnson and Hadley Crenshaw will play out wide at forwards for Siloam Springs.

Up top is junior Audrey Maxwell, who scored 14 goals and had nine assists last season and was the MVP of the state tournament.

Maxwell scored the game-winning goal against Russellville in the state finals. She's already committed to play soccer at NCAA Division II Rogers State in Claremore, Okla.

"There's so many little things she does," Crenshaw said. "She's fast, athletic and aggressive. We put her up top because she's good at it. She has the speed. It's hard to find girls that can play with their back to the goal and then be able to turn and outrun them. She does both of those things."

The Lady Panthers have some tough nonconference games in the early part of their schedule before beginning 5A/6A-District 1 play against Greenwood on March 16.

"We've got some decent games early to see where we're at," Crenshaw said.