The 2008-2009 edition of the Sulphur Lady Tor soccer team features nine seniors playing this season for a lost teammate.
“We had an offseason setback when we lost Laura Mitchell,” Lady Tor head coach Todd Hoffpauir said on the loss. “She was a very dear player to us and we all miss her dearly. We have dedicated this season to her.”
Mitchell was killed in a car accident this summer.
“She was going to be a senior and our left back. We miss her tremendously and the girls will play every minute of every game for her. That’s going to our battle cry all season long.”
With Mitchell in the back of their minds, the Lady Tors look to have a successful season with experience all over the field.
Hoffpauir returns for his third year as head coach of the Sulphur girls soccer team and is going to use the experience to earn a playoff berth.
“This year our ultimate goal is to make the playoffs,” Hoffpauir said. “I think we are the second or third best team in our district.
“We are really looking forward to the season. We have a lot more seniors this year and we extremely excited about this year. We’ve worked a lot all summer long together as a team and we have a lot of good chemistry.”
This summer the Lady Tors played in a seven on seven summer league where Sulphur finished second to St. Louis.
“(The seven on seven league) helped us tremendously,” said Hoffpauir on the effects the summer league. “In seven on seven, you are playing short, quick balls on the ground which is exactly what I want to play.
“We gained a lot of confidence playing in that league and playing those teams. We feel that that is going to prepare us for the season.”
The bulk of the senior leadership will be on the defense for the Lady Tors this season and will keep the Sulphur team focused.
“This year I will start five seniors, and that is a lot of leadership that we need,” Hoffpauir said. “They all play in the defense and we need that kind of leadership in the back to keep us even kill and not get upset and not to play with so much emotion.
“We are a little more grown up this year.”
Everyone on the back line will be important for Sulphur this year according to Hoffpauir.
“The two main center backs Sheree Moffat and Dana Hickson control the defense and tell people what to do,” said Hoffpauir. “Our other two girls in the back, Morgan Coppels on the left and Laney Doucett on the right are two more seniors that play defense. We should be okay on defense cause they are a group of talented girls.”
Midfielder Alexandra Zambrano will be important to how the Lady Tors will do offensively.
“She should have a lot of assists this year and score a few goals,” said Hoffpauir on the expectations on Zambrano. “Her little sister Gabrilla will be getting a lot of time on varsity and will compete for a starting position. She’s a good up and coming player and hopefully we will get her a lot of experience this year.”
At the forward position, Amanda Murray and Cadence Sedano will start for the Lady Tors.
“They are very good players and have been very productive in junior varsity. Hopefully they will step up this year and we expect big things out of those two.”
Junior Hilarie Grisby is injured right now for Sulphur but Hoffpauir expects his leading goal scorer from 2007 to be back after the Pineville Tournament. The Lady Tor head coach expects his senior forward to have at least 25 goals this season.
Hoffpauir will look to Jordyn Thigpen and Lauren Spencer to come off the bench and produce for the Lady Tors.
According to Hoffpauir, Spencer has the ability to start at midfield for most teams but due to the fact that Sulphur has so much depth at the midfield position, she will be a key substitute for the Lady Tors.
“Lauren will be a good substitute for us in the back,” Hoffpauir said. “She is a very good midfielder and she could be starting on a lot of teams. We have five great midfielders, but I can’t start them all.”
Carmen Rodriguez is another player that will see time on the field.
“I can put her anywhere on the field and she will be productive,” said Hoffpauir on Rodriguez. “I can put her defense, forward, or anywhere else and she will be productive, she’s just one of those players that you need on every team.”
The only position in question for Sulphur is who will start in goal.
“In the goal, we have a competition right now,” said Hoffpauir. “Raeana Mesuch, Frankie Taylor, Amber Louviere, and Natalie Conrad. Right now I don’t have a number one, but I’m waiting on one of them to step up. Three of the four are seniors so we are pretty excited about that.
“If we get a good goalie, I think we will be in a lot more games this year.”
The Lady Tors play in one of the toughest districts in the state with 2007 Class 5A state champion St. Thomas More and state runner-up and rival Barbe.
“It’s a very tough district,” Hoffpauir said on District 2-5A. “Acadiana was actually the No. 2 seed last year and they were good enough to go to the final game also. The top three teams are very good and Comeaux’s a very good team.
“Hopefully we can get over the hump and beat Acadiana, Barbe, Comeaux, and put on a good show against St. Thomas More. STM is very good again this year and probably the number two team in the state.”
Before the district season starts on December 9th, the Lady Tors will travel to Pineville for the Pineville Tournament (November 28-29) and will play in the St. Louis Tournament on December 19-20.
“Hopefully we will have some good games and play some other teams from around the state and get a good result,” said Hoffpauir. “Our goal is to win the Pineville Tournament when we go up there and win the St. Louis Tournament. Realistically, we want to advance, take it one game at a time when we get to the knock out stage, and learn how to play in those tough games. Cause we will need it when we get into district and hopefully the playoffs at the end of the season.”
With the senior back line being the strength of Sulphur, the areas Hoffpauir and the Lady Tors will be working on are on their touch, conditioning, and communication on the field.
Sulphur, La. —
