Jackson girls soccer team features three players who will continue careers in college

For as long as Jackson senior Chelsea Dale can remember, she has wanted to play soccer in college.

Dale's goal will become a reality. She signed in February to play for Southeast Missouri State.

She's looking forward to becoming a member of the Redhawks next fall, but she still has some unfinished business before then — her final year of high school soccer.

Dale leads a Jackson program looking to improve on its 2007 campaign, when it won its district but lost in sectionals to Incarnate Word Academy, 3-0.

The Indians have enjoyed success within their district in recent years, but have not been able to make any noise beyond that. Jackson has lost four straight sectional contests dating back to 2004, combining to score only three goals in the four games.

This year, Jackson's roster features three members, including Dale, who have signed to play college soccer next year.

Senior Jenni Tenholder has accepted an offer to play at Southwest Baptist, while senior Lauren Drewett accepted an offer from Quincy.

AARON EISENHAUER ~ aeisenhauer@semissourian.com Jackson seniors Chelsea Dale , from left, Lauren Drewitt and Jenni Tenholder already have signed letters-of-intent to play college soccer.

Dale said she and her Jackson teammates have high goals again. She added that with a roster that lacks depth with just 16 players — three of whom are freshman — her team will need to be in top physical condition to achieve its lofty goals and get deeper into the state playoffs this spring.

"It's going to be really hard, especially with such few players," Dale said. "But we've really been running our butts off this year, and I think the key is to stay in shape and keep it fast because the big teams play really fast soccer. ... Our weakness, I guess, would be the number thing because when you go up to St. Louis and the big teams, they are huge, and we don't have as many subs. But I think another one of our strengths is that we're going to be really in shape so we can handle that this year."

Jackson has a new coach, Julie Wunderlich, a former player at Southeast Missouri State, who served as an assistant coach with the Indians last year. Even though the team is small in numbers, she said it can succeed with talented players like Dale, Drewett and Tenholder.

"We all have to stay healthy this year," Wunderlich said. "We don't have the biggest varsity team out there."

She looks for Dale to serve as a leader this season.

"She can play forward and defense, and that's where she'll help us out," Wunderlich said. "Definitely this year we'll use her at offense and defense."

Playing together

Dale said Jackson's lack of depth could be offset by strong conditioning, and also the experience the girls have playing together.

Many of the Jackson girls have competed on the same Southeast Missouri soccer club team over the past couple of years during the high school offseason.

Dale said the team included her, Drewett and Tenholder and was coached by Jackson assistant coach Justin McMullen.

"We only have like 14 on varsity, but those 14 girls I've played with for a long time," Dale said. "We're all really in sync with each other and we help each other play. We all get along really well, so I don't think that's going to be a problem. We're really in shape this year.

"I think we're a really smart team. We're so in sync with each other because we've played with each other for so long."

Wunderlich likes the way Tenholder and Drewett work together in the midfield. Drewett has a strong shot, while Tenholder has good field vision and is a strong passer.

Drewett said that freshman Kasey Crowden, who they also have played with in the offseason, should make the team better.

Crowden already has made an impact, as she scored twice in Jackson's 3-0 season-opening victory over Central on March 25.

"I think our freshman, Kasey Crowden, is going to be really good," Drewett said. "Well, she has actually played with us ... She's just a good player all around. She's just a good passer, has good defense and is a good finisher."

Tenholder added that Dale is important to the team's success this spring because she brings quickness and strength.

"Chelsea, she's a smart player. She's quick on defense," Tenholder said. "She's just tenacious. She plays well. She works hard. If we need her in the back, we can use her in the back. If we need her in the front, [we can use in the front]. She's very versatile. She plays really quick, which is a good thing. We need a little speed in the back. She brings us speed and strength."

Having fun, working hard

Tenholder said with her, Dale and Drewett headed to new soccer teams next year, they all want to end their careers together at Jackson on a high note.

"We kind of support each other, so each moment we have together we just kind of have fun and joke, but we're also serious, too, at the same time," Tenholder said. "But we all just kind of want to bring that onto the field. We also just want to have fun our last year and just make it good."

Drewett said she is hoping for a state tournament appearance.

"We've never made it past sectionals, so I want to make it into the top four this year," Drewett said. "And I think one of our other goals as a team is to try to win every game."