Heading into the new year, when the northwest Louisiana soccer season begins heating up, the Captain Shreve girls are in an unfamiliar situation.<\/p>\n
The Lady Gators (16-0) are undefeated, rated No. 1 in the state in the power ratings and have set themselves up as the team to beat over the next month. There aren\u2019t a lot of secrets for the success.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur girls are best friends and they would run through a brick wall or throw themselves on a hand grenade for each other,\u201d coach Erik Lane said. \u201cThere are zero egos.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Among the key contributors is Emma Bradford, who leads the team with 20 goals in just 13 games. The forward has missed three games with a hamstring injury, but is expected back for the Jan. 5 contest against West Monroe<\/p>\n
Emily Moffett has 16 goals and then there\u2019s Brooklyn Lattier with a team-high 21 assists.<\/p>\n
One of the most dangerous Lady Gators is junior Willow Snider, a technically skilled, two-footed athlete who can play anywhere on the pitch, according to Lane.<\/p>\n
\u201cWillow is also the best athlete on the field no matter who we play,\u201d Lane said. \u201cHer pace, physicality and ball skills make her very difficult to beat one-on-one. She works hard at training and is always one of our most fit players.\u201d<\/p>\n
Snider\u2019s versatility was evident in Shreve\u2019s blowout 6-0 victory over Natchitoches Central before the holidays when Lane\u2019s two starting forwards were out. She scored three goals with an assist on another in just one half of play. And Snider has played every minute of the season.<\/p>\n
Lane said his talented club is \u201ca highly effective counterattacking oriented team.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are able to play in a more relaxed, possession-oriented way when we need to because of Willow\u2019s calming influence in the back,\u201d he said. \u201cShe can clear with either foot, find a penetrating pass to start an attacking movement or can take players on successfully though she is rarely in a position to do so because of her position and our style of play.”<\/p>\n
Snider\u2019s skill as a center back allows Shreve to play with three center backs instead of a more traditional four-back set.<\/p>\n
\u201cThough we do play with four when it makes sense to do so,\u201d Lane said.<\/p>\n
Snider was one of just three Louisiana girls selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-Southwest USA High School Team as a sophomore.<\/p>\n
\u201cWillow absolutely has what is needed to be successful at a Division I, mid-major type program,\u201d Lane said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Lady Gators have had just four players miss games for quarantine issues and they\u2019ve kept injuries to a minimum, except for Maddie Aubrey who is out for the year with a knee injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefensively, we have been rock solid. We have allowed seven goals in 16 games with 10 shutouts,\u201d Lane said. \u201cEmily Watts (goalkeepeer), Snider, Isabella Hamilton, Reagan Titus and Laney Fouts have done a great job in the back for us.\u201d<\/p>\n