By Aizak Miller

Sports Editor 

The Blue Springs South Jaguars girls soccer team just wrapped up the regular season and is now onto the district tournament. So far this year the Jaguars are 18-2, which is the best record in school history. South has won the Surburban gold conference back-to-back years and ended with a record of 12-2 in conference play.

Head coach Todd Findley had a lot of praise for how good this group is.

“This group is the deepest, most athletic, competitive group I have ever seen in my 27 years here,” Findley said.

As of right now the Jaguars are ranked third in the state. Coach Findley shared his thoughts on that.

“We don’t talk about it much; it’s a lot of extra pressure that isn’t necessary when you get caught up in those rankings,” Findley said.

Last season South made it to the state tournament and lost in the semifinals. This season with a lot of key players back, there might be some expectations on this group to get back to where they were last year.

“Tons of expectations, but this team doesn’t let it bother them. They work well as a team and have no weaknesses, they always are playing for each other,” Findley said.

Junior Mary Hoffman had more to add about the pressure of getting back to state.

“I would say it’s more expected of us than it is pressure to get back. Last year, falling short at state was humbling but it definitely has added so much more motivation to this year,” Hoffman said.

Coach Findley has a lot of confidence in this group.

“Our seniors provide great leadership, we picked up right where we left off of last year, from our tough-nosed defense to our athletic mid fielders, to some of the strongest forwards in the area, this team has so many weapons,” Findley said.

Junior Haley Cramer talked about the strengths of this team.

“We are a very physical and fast team; we connect so well throughout the field,” Cramer said. “Our defense is a brick wall.”

The Jaguars have had 13 shoutout wins this year and have only allowed nine goals scored on them this season. Not only does this team play defense good together but their bonds and friendships are even stronger.

“Our bonds are so strong, this is the closest team I have been a part of,” Hoffman said. “It does not matter what grade level. We are all so close and that reflects on the field.”

With the biggest games of the year coming up Cramer has big goals.

“The big goal is to win state, but before that win districts,” Cramer said. “The most important thing is taking it one game at a time and giving our best in every game because any game now could be the last one.”

Head coach Todd Findley also has some big goals for this group.

“As long as we stay fresh and hungry for each game, we will be right where we need to be,” Findley said. I would never predict a state title, but this team has the talent and capabilities to do it.”

The Jaguars next game is Friday night which is the championship game of the district tournament against Rock Bridge High School.