Meet Emma Evans, leader of the Ames girls soccer team heading into the 2024 season

Emma Evans does not say a lot on the soccer field.

A midfielder on the Ames girls soccer team, Evans has been a quiet, but steady presence as a member of the varsity over the past two seasons.

But entering her senior campaign, she wants to change that.

“We’ve been pushing her to be more vocal,” said Ames coach Bobby Myers. “She leads by example, but she’s quiet. We’re trying to urge her to use her voice and take control of some of the situations.”

Evans is taking that advice to heart as she looks to lead Ames to its second winning season in a row and its 11th in the last 12 years.

“I want to be a leader this year,” Evans said. “I want to teach younger players about confidence, and that it's OK to make mistakes.”

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Evans started playing soccer when she was 4-years-old. She has been a part of the Ames Soccer Club, which features players from Ames and the surrounding area, including Gilbert and Nevada.

Last year the Ames Soccer Club won a tournament in Kansas City. The game went to penalty kicks and Evans converted on one to help her team prevail.

She said that is one of her favorite memories playing the sport. She wants to take what she learned from that victory and use it to help make the Ames High School team better in 2024.

“We want to get better at using each other’s talents,” Evans said. “Connecting with each other and communicating on and off the field.”

Evans was an outstanding midfielder for Ames as a junior. She helped the Little Cyclones rebound from a 6-11 season in 2022 to a 10-9 record last year after scoring 10 goals and handing out one assist.

“I’ve always been impressed with Emma’s technical ability,” said Ames midfielder Haley Prakashan. “She is definitely a player you want on the ball.”

Prakashan is a senior classmate of Evans, and she grew up playing with her at the Ames Soccer Club. Ames High enters the 2024 season needing to fill a big hole on offense with the loss of forward Alexis Winkey, who netted a team-high 28 goals a year ago. Prakashan said Evans is ready to help pick up the slack for the Little Cyclones offensively.

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“It’s definitely going to be different,” Prakashan said. “I know that we’re going to be able to fill that position and our team is going to be OK. I’m hoping Emma gets more goals this season. Although we have some big shoes to fill, I’m confident Emma is going to be able to do it.”

Myers said Ames will need multiple people to step up to make up for Winkey's production. Evans may be at the top of the list of players looking to put the ball in the net more for Ames in 2024.

"Next person up is how we look at it," Myers said. "Can she continue what she started last year, and maybe pick up the pace.”

Evans will also be counted on to help Ames control the pace of games. She was a rock in the midfield last year.

“If she’s under pressure she knows what to do with it,” Prakashan said. “She knows when to pass and when to dribble. She’s always ready to win the ball back whenever she needs to.”

Evans is looking to pick up where she left off in that department.

“I want to be confident,” Evans said. “Take the chances that are given.”

Annika Hinson, a junior, stepped up with six goals and four assists last season. She is another important midfielder for the Little Cyclones, and she credits Evans for setting the pace for her team out on the field.

“Emma’s been a person to look up to,” Hinson said. “She is a senior and she’s always been a good leader, encouraging me and helping me.”

Evans wants to help Ames gel quickly as a unit and work toward becoming a well-oiled machine by the end of the season.

“We want to get better at using each other’s talents,” Evans said. “We want to be better at connecting with each other and communicating on and off the field.”

If Ames can put everything together, Evans said she thinks the team can achieve some big goals.

“We want to grow as a team and we obviously want to go to state,” Evans said. “Last year we lost to Mason City, so we want to beat them too.”

Should Ames achieve those goals, Evans may take her commitment to being a more vocal leader to a new level. She might have to bust out a few moves after a big win, and definitely, if the Little Cyclones qualify for state.

“We used to dance together,” Prakashan said. “If we win, she has to whip out the 'Coffee Grinder.'”

Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Ames girls soccer midfielder Emma Evans taking on a leadership role