Panther Soccer Team Aims High

Mehlville senior Hunter Westbrook has seen it all during her high school soccer career.

The midfielder was a part of two teams that won a combined 10 games, including just four in the 2008-09 season.

But she was also a key member of a turnaround team last season which won 12 games and fell just one game short of a .500 record.

Westbrook hopes to end her career on a winning team.

"We thought that a .500 record was a realistic goal last season and we came up just short," said Mehlville coach Tom Harper. "I thought we would have fared a little better in our conference, which day in and day out is one of the toughest in the area."

Mehlville was just 2-6 in the Suburban West Conference. The highlight of the season for the Panthers was a five-game winning streak, which included a championship in the Lutheran South Tournament.

The Panthers have an interesting mix of experienced players and newcomers in 2011. There are five seniors on the roster and five freshmen, two of whom are starting (center midfielder Kayla Hezel and striker Alison Wade).

There are a number of returning starters including one of their leading scorers and both of their goalkeepers.

Sophomore Kaela Luna is a proven finisher as she scored 15 goals as a freshman last season. She has already scored three goals in the first three games this season in wins over Webster Groves and De Soto and a loss to Oakville.

"Kaela is just a real bulldog out there," Harper said. "She is a little girl but the ball always finds her and she finds the goal. Sometimes I don't know how but it does."

Senior Meggin Werner and junior Claire Steward both return with starting experience in goal. Steward has played the first three games while Werner recuperates from a hamstring injury.

"Goaltending would have to be considered a strength on this team," Harper said. "I can count on both Meggin and Claire to give us a chance to win any game."

Westbrook, who is a four-year varsity starter, returns in the midfield as does Lauren Guerrero and Abby Presson.

Juniors Katie Rapisardo, Allison Johnson and Haylee Thibodeaux head up an experienced backfield.

One of the big concerns coming into the season is to find another goal scorer to go with Luna. Amy Raimondo graduated after scoring 15 goals and 15 assists last season.

"This is a team which is learning every day and there is great team unity on this team," Harper said. "The soccer skill is there and we are working on the mental side of the game now.

"We took a big step in the right direction last year but there is room to improve. We would love to finish in the top half of the conference which is going to be difficult because there are no weak teams in our league. We really don't have any gimmes on our schedule. We will need to work hard every game and this is one of the hardest working teams I have been around. I would love to be over .500 this year and make a legitimate run in the post-season."