Blending in: How Springfield High girls soccer found its groove again
Springfield High girls soccer coach Pat Phillips saw something in Kamryn Hoffman.
He moved the incoming freshman from her usual center back position to the point of attack last season — and what a catalyst she turned out to be.
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Hoffman poured in 26 goals and 19 assists and was among just six players from the Springfield area to be tabbed all-state by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association.
“I came in high school never playing forward, I used to be center back,” Hoffman said. “I think it’s just my teammates finding me up top and me being able to just use my speed to get past people and score if I can or find someone that’s open who can score.
“I guess he saw some potential in me at forward, and I think my speed and height helps with that.”
“It definitely worked out,” sophomore teammate Bridget Lyons added.
Promising mix
The Senators are humming with a blend of senior leaders and young talent.
Lyons also reached IHSCCA all-sectional herself as a freshman midfielder last season with 13 goals and 14 assists.
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A cluster of freshmen this year gives the Senators even more reason for optimism not just this season but beyond.
“I think we have a lot of good leaders with our senior and junior class,” Hoffman said. “They want to see the best in us. We mesh together well.”
Last season, the Senators rebounded from a sub-.500 campaign to 13-9-1 overall and 6-2 in the Central State Eight Conference.
SHS (8-2, 2-1 CS8) is now riding a six-game winning streak ahead of its conference showdown against Sacred Heart-Griffin on Tuesday.
“Basically we knew a lot of people coming in,” Lyons said. “We got started right off the bat, came in as a team and started to learn everyone’s positions. I feel like we just kind of started off good with practices and stuff. We just got right into it.”
Hoffman led the team with six goals and nine assists after the first week of April, followed by senior midfielder Maddie Foster with four goals and three assists. Lyons had five goals.
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Hoffman said her older teammates have taught her to just enjoy the moment.
Other seniors include defender Lily Lambert, goalkeeper Addesynne Sawyer, forward Savannah Murphy, and midfielders Lila Ambrose and Ayva Corbitt.
That valuable experience is reinforced by newcomers such as Kalyn Burton and Ainsley Lambert. The freshman forwards combined for five goals and five assists early in the season.
“We’ve got some really good freshmen who are just fast and good on the ball,” Lyons said. “They definitely added some help up top. We’re definitely an up-top team on offense this year.”
Soccer roots
Hoffman furnished a hat trick and two assists in a 7-0 nonconference win over Athens.
Both assists occurred on corner kicks — a new addition to Hoffman’s repertoire.
She was first drawn to soccer through her older brother, Alex Dickerson.
Lyons traced her love of the game to her dad, Kevin.
She brandishes No. 18 just like he did during his time at SHS and the now-defunct Springfield College in Illinois, but Lyons said Phillips “really is the one who drives us to win. If we’re off one day, he’ll definitely put us in check.”
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Kamryn Hoffman, Bridget Lyons make mark for Springfield girls soccer
