Kaitlyn Cervantes tallied a hat trick against Todd County Central
After a three-year run of losing seasons, the Fort Campbell girls’ soccer team returns an experienced group with an eye on getting back on the good side of .500 and making some postseason noise in 2019. The Lady Falcons last posted winning records in both 2014 and 2015, with a first-round 8th-District tournament win in 2014 providing the team’s last trip to the 2nd-Region tournament.
After winning four of their first six matches last season, the Lady Falcons dropped six of their last eight regular-season games before a 7-0 loss to eventual champions UHA in the 8th-District tournament. Three seniors graduated, but a six-player senior class returns, led by midfielder Kaitlyn Cervantes and defender Hannah Eastes.
The Lady Falcons bring back all of their scoring, after Cervantes led the team with 18 goals, Eastes added 8 and sophomore Aria De Silva chipped in 5 last season. Cervantes and De Silva each had 4 assists to tie for tops on the team.
De Silva is expected to play on one wing, with senior Cat Martineau taking up the same position of the other side of the field. Returning in the midfield along with Cervantes is senior Kylie Gamblin, while Eastes will get help on the defensive side from returnees Halee Brugge, a senior, and juniors Emmie Ellis and Regan Oakley.
After splitting time with Hannah Salas last season, senior Angel Manalang will take over goalkeeping duties full time after allowing 1.9 goals and making 8.1 saves a game in thirteen appearances last year. Sixth-year head coach Michele Ellis also expects contributions from freshmen Abigail Eastes and Lindsay Molinelli.
The Lady Falcons will play their final preseason scrimmage on Thursday when they travel to Cadiz to face Trigg County, after earning a narrow 1-0 victory over the Lady Wildcats last season. The season gets underway for real on August 12 with a trip to face Todd County Central, with the Lady Falcons playing their first district match on August 19 at home against Hopkinsville.
At a recent practice, Coach Ellis previewed the 2019 Lady Falcons.
