Why Pleasant Plains girls soccer has what it takes to compete in 2A this year
PLEASANT PLAINS — Bring it on.
That’s how the Pleasant Plains girls soccer team feels about moving up to Class 2A this year.
Coach Greg Bryan constructed a tougher schedule than usual after claiming third place in the Class 1A state finals last season. That’s because bigger schools such as Chatham Glenwood, Rochester and Springfield High now stand in the way of another banner season.
It just means they need to elevate their game another notch.
“We’re going to be playing more competition, which I think is going to be really good for our team,” senior center back Adi Fraase said. “I think it’ll just show how much better our team has gotten if we can rise to the occasion.”
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Experienced back line
Plains returns 10 of its 11 starters from last year’s 27-3-1 team, including all 150 goals.
The Cardinals certainly have the firepower to cope with the new slate, fueled by sophomores Bailey Leach (28 goals and 29 assists), Raelyn Brammer (21 goals and 17 assists), Grace Sabatka (14 goals and 10 assists), junior Ella Wilcockson (22 goals and 8 assists) and senior Sophia Smith (19 goals and 10 assists).
The defense wields perhaps just as much — if not more — experience.
Fraase and junior Kendall Sims provide the bulwark in the center while juniors Abby Royer and Miley Crow also support the back line for senior goalkeeper Elle Walker. Royer missed last season due to injury.
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Fraase and Sims also worked together as center mids in the 2022 season. The latter hails from the New Berlin coop.
“I think that playing with each other all three years has definitely helped,” Sims said. “I feel like being friends on and off the field helps with the chemistry we have, even our two outside backs — Abby and Miley. I think being close on and off the field really helps being able to play well on the field during the games.”
Sims scored the go-ahead penalty kick in a 1-0 victory over Sacred Heart-Griffin in the 1A Riverton Sectional final. She ended with seven goals and two assists while Fraase had four goals and two assists.
Fraase will play both basketball and soccer at Lincoln Land Community College. Sims recently committed to NCAA Division III Simpson College in Iowa.
“I feel like we command the field more (on defense) because we can see everything, so we have to be talking and making sure people are listening and are in the right spot,” Sims said. “But I feel like there’s definitely a lot of pressure because we’re the last line of defense. But I think we handle it well and our midfields are great, so they kind of help with that, too.”
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Premier goalkeeper
If the ball does manage to sneak past the defense, Fraase and Sims have faith that Walker will snuff out the threat.
Walker recorded six saves in a 1-0 victory over Rochester on March 18. Plains (7-1 overall, 1-0 Sangamo Conference) also eked out a 1-0 double-overtime victory over Williamsville on March 29. It was Walker's sixth shutout of the season.
Walker will also play at Lincoln Land. Ditto Smith.
“That was a great win, but I think we all stepped up,” Walker said of the win over Rochester. “We all matched our physicality. That’s been something we’ve been working on is pace of play and physicality because we know 2A is going to be faster and more competitive.
“I can’t take all of the credit for the shutout because my defense did a great job of not allowing them to have a lot of shots — or quality shots — on it.”
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Toughness could be especially key this year “because bigger schools are going to be aggressive and some of them are going to be faster,” Walker added. “We just have to figure out a way to match that and I know we’ll do a good job of competing at least.”
Bryan believes that the team will only get stronger as the season progresses and described the 3-0 loss to Sacred Heart-Griffin as a positive learning experience “to make sure we look for those signs and avoid them.”
Sims is more than content not being in the spotlight. She champions the team more than anything else and knows the feeling is mutual.
“I don’t need all of the limelight, but having a team that also doesn’t want it ... that’s a really nice thing to have,” Sims said.
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This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Adi Fraase, Kendall Sims lead defense for Pleasant Plains girls soccer
