Liberty North girls soccer completes successful season
LIBERTY, Mo. — Since its inaugural season in 2011, the Liberty North girls soccer team has seen a steady growth in style of play, performance and results. The 2022 season saw the girls break through to the state final 4 tournament, ending their season as the Class 4 third-place finisher. Let’s take a look back at that historic accomplishment and highlight the new season to come.
The Eagles began 2022 with a trip to Tulsa to play two of the state’s most consistently performing schools, Jenks and Bishop Kelley. The season was going to rely on a lot of younger players in leadership roles and they used the trip to answer a lot of questions. The Eagles posted a win and a draw and returned home with optimism.
That early momentum snowballed into an undefeated regular season, winning their 6th Suburban Conference Title since 2015. Maintaining regular season success through the MSHSAA playoffs has always been a challenge, but the ghosts of seasons past were exercised earning their second district title, beating cross-town rivals Liberty 4-0 in the final. St. Teresa’s Academy awaited the Eagles in the State Quarter-final, with a bid to their first final 4 on the line.
Surviving the Quarter-final gave the Eagles an opportunity to face the three-time defending State Champions from St. Dominic High School in the MSHSAA Class 4 state Semi-final. In the most exciting and challenging match the Eagles played all season, they came up short losing their first game all season 1-2 conceding the game-winning goal with under 2 minutes to play. Exhausted and emotionally drained, LNHS took the field the following day beating Rockbridge 2–1 to secure 3rd place.
Individually, the Eagles collected numerous post-season honors. Four players were selected to the Class 4 All-State team. First team members were scoring duo Megan Hinnenkamp and Ekaterina Theoharidis. Lauren Wood and Emilee Person were selected to the second team. In addition to being selected to the Class 4 first team, Hinnenkamp was selected Suburban Gold Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Class 4 Western Region Player of the Year and Class 4 State Offensive Player of the year as well as Liberty North’s first United Coaches Soccer Association’s All-American.
Even with the graduation of several key players, Liberty North’s prospects for the 2023 season still remain full of promise. The Eagles return both of their dominant scoring threats, Theoharidis and Hinnenkamp, an experienced midfield including Julia Behounek, Emily Ngo and Lauren Wood and a back line anchored by Emilee Person, Aubrey Seltman and Ella Kramer. All of these players played a significant role in the 2022 team and understand the commitment necessary to replicate those accomplishments.
The Eagles open 2023 at home verses the 2022 Class 3 state champion from Smithville. Then they will host Oklahoma soccer power Broken Arrow before settling into the balance of their season. Hopes are high for a similar performance in 2023 and the Eagles look forward to seeing everyone out for a game soon.
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