With the 2021 Po-Hi soccer season nearing its official opening, both Girls Coach Lewis "Bubba" Smethers and Boys Coach Ben Steichen are enthusiastically optimistic.

Part of their optimism may come from the sheer excitement of the possibility of their teams playing an entire season. Memories of the 2020 season ending after just three matches having been played are not pleasant to recall. Junior varsity teams will begin action Friday, March 5 with home matches against Guthrie's varsities. The girls varsity has its first match March 9 at Booker T. Washington. The boys varsity's first action will be in the Choctaw Tournament March 12.

GIRLS TEAM

Lewis Smethers doesn't beat around the bush when asked what he expects his Ponca City girls soccer team to be like this year.

"In my opinion, this is one of the best teams I've ever coached," he said.

Smethers is beginning his second year as Lady Cats head coach, but he has been around the game for a long time, coaching club teams and having a successful stint as head coach of Newkirk's girls team.

Last season the Lady Cats were able to play only three games before the school shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ponca City's girls won all three matches they played.

Smethers says that while he lost some seniors off of last year's outfit, he has lots of experienced players returning.

Among them are three seniors, striker Chloe Lawver, defensive back Abby Anderson and strikermidfielder Baylee Broughton.

"They are good," the coach says about his seniors.

There are 39 players on the team and Smethers says that 20 of them are good enough to be starters.

"We are very deep. This is one of the deepest teams I've been around," he said.

The team's depth is part of Smethers' optimism. The fact that there is a lot of athleticism on the team is another factor.

He has four freshmen on the varsity and two will be in goal for the team. McKenzie Creech is likely to be the starting goalkeeper and Sanaya Rabb will be the backup.

One asset that the team has is that Coach Brent Parker, who is a track coach at Po-Hi, has been working with the soccer players.

"He has been working with us on speed and acceleration," Smethers said.

As far as competition is concerned, Ponca City is in a tough district, a fact of life almost every year. In the district are Muskogee, Stillwater, Bartlesville,. Owasso, Sapulpa, Enid and Jenks. Ponca City will play Bartlesville, Owasso, Sapulpa and Jenks on the road, but will host Muskogee, Stillwater and Enid.

The Lady Cats varsity opens March 9 at Booker T. Washington in Tulsa. Then comes a tournament at Choctaw. The first home match will be March 23 against always tough Bishop Kelley. Three early junior varsity games will include games against Guthrie, Woodward and Alva's varsities, all three in Ponca City.

BOYS TEAM One reason Ponca City boys soccer Coach Ben Steichen is excited about the upcoming season is that he has a large group of seniors that he feels is prime for a breakout season.

There are 15 seniors on this year's roster, to go along with nine juniors, 13 sophomores and seven freshmen. Steichen's job is to replace the three starters who graduated.

"I am very excited about our young players," Steichen said as well. He said he believes the younger players are ready to make some strides forward in what is hoped to be a full season.

Last year wasn't a full season as the COVID-19 shutdown came after two matches had been played.

"It was heartbreaking," Steichen said about the lost matches last year. "I really felt we were ready for a very productive season."

The graduation losses came at the midfielder position.

"It will be tough to replace our midfield," Steichen said. "But I am excited about the seniors we have this year. I like to support the seniors. And I am excited about a player that we picked up. I expect great things from this team."

The veteran coach hesitated in highlighting some of the top players. "We are team oriented, so it is difficult to point out individuals," he said.

How well will the Wildcats fit in district competition?

"I think we fit in the district pretty well," Steichen said. "We are in the same spot as we were last year when we felt like we could complete well in the district. I think wee have a great chance to make the playoffs. We have our first seven matches to build on and then comes district play. I think we'll do all right. We know who we are and what we are about."

Weather has interrupted the season preparation. Practices were lost due to the recent cold/snow snap as well as the Spring Thaw in Stillwater, and the Big 8 Tournament in Midwest City and Ponca City.

The district involves teams from Muskogee, Stillwater, Bartlesville,. Owasso, Sapulpa, Enid and Jenks--not an easy foe in the bunch.

The boys varsity will open its season by participating in the Choctaw Tournament March 12-13. The first home match will be March 23 against Bishop Kelley.

PONCA CITY SOCCER

2021 varsity schedule

March 9 -- at Booker T. Washington (G), 5:30 p.m.

March 12-13 --Choctaw Tournament (GB)

March 23-- Bishop Kelley (GB), 6/8

March 26-27-- Stilwater Cup (GB)

March 30-- at Mannford (G)

April 2-- Muskogee (GB) 6/8

April 5-- Stillwater (GB) 6/8

April 9 -- at Bartlesville (GB) 6/8

April 13-- at Owasso (GB), 6/8

April 16 -- at Sapulpa (GB) 6/8

April 20-- Enid (GB) 6/8

April 23 -- at Jenks (GB) 6/8

April 24-- Alumni Games