Wolves Work Together

The Newsome High girls soccer team is counting on its experience during the next few weeks. The team has 10 seniors, eight of whom have twice seen the Wolves' season end in the region finals (2006, '08) and once in the state semifinals (2007).

Coach Kelly Townsend said her team is focused on the next game but is prepared for a deep trip into this season's state tournament.

"This team works together, because they are all aggressive, all fast," Townsend said. "They do it. They do it all consistently."

The Wolves (22-3-1) will look to continue their run Tuesday at 7 p.m., hosting River Ridge (18-2) in the 5A region semifinals.

Eight of the Wolves' 10 seniors have been on the team since they were freshmen, and Townsend said that breeds a tremendous trust and cohesiveness.

"They are all pretty good friends, on and off the field," Townsend said. "A lot of how they play together has to do with trust because they know what each other are capable of, and that has helped us all year."

Newsome's offense is everything Townsend said it was. Aggressive. Fast. Consistent.

Senior midfielder Ana Cate might be the epitome of those things, as the offense is run through her in most of the Wolves' set attacks.

Newsome has been paced this season by sophomore forward Karina Gutsche, who leads the team with 21 goals.

But it might be the Wolves' defense that deserves the most credit this season. Anchored by seniors Kayli Kishel, Morgan Sammons and Samantha Simpson, the defense has trapped, cleared balls and shut down opponents as Newsome has held opponents scoreless in 17 of its 26 matches.

The Wolves have a four-game shutout streak going, with three wins in the 5A-8 district tournament and a 4-0 win against Land O'Lakes in a region quarterfinal match in which the Wolves outshot Land O' Lakes 25-0 on Thursday.

Kishel, Sammons and Simpson have started together for the last three seasons. In the Wolves' 67 matches since 2007, the defense has allowed only 36 goals. In three years, Newsome has allowed a little more than half a goal per match.

"The defense doesn't get a whole lot of recognition because there are not stats to go along with what they can do," Townsend said. "There aren't stats for how many traps or clears they have."

Backing up the defense is goalkeeper Kendall Graham. The senior, who missed 16 matches this season with two illnesses, is healthy and ready for Newsome's potential deep playoff push.

In the Wolves' 1-0 district semifinal win against Freedom, Graham made her presence known. In an overtime shootout, she looked poised and anticipated well, blocking four penalty kicks and getting her hand on the only Freedom kick to find its target - a laser from Monique LaMotte.

Townsend said this defense is ready to give up everything for the Wolves to succeed.

"They are ready to give up their body for the stop," Townsend said. "That's the kind of sacrifice they are willing to make. That's just what they do."