Girls Soccer: Freshman Kelly Anderson, Geneva bond in trip to St. Louis

GENEVA – Juggling nerves for her first varsity soccer practices, Geneva freshman midfielder Kelly Anderson wasn't sure what to expect.

Acclimating to a new team is never easy. It's especially the case when the Vikings return 11 players from a team that won conference and a regional titles en route to a 21-2-1 season.

So far, though, so good.

"It's been great so far. Everyone has been super supportive, and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season," Anderson said. "It's definitely inspiring. You kind of want to carry on the legacy that the seniors left last year, and just help the team in whatever way possible – whether that's just cheering on the bench or if it's playing in the game."

With a handful of freshmen in the mix, Anderson included, team bonding becomes all the more critical for a team looking to build upon the success from a season ago.

To help facilitate that process, Geneva travelled to St. Louis for a weekend trip that included laser tag, a high ropes course and soccer versus new competition.

Geneva played in a different tournament than in years past, the Parkway College Showcase, and took on Incarnate Word Academy, a private school, on Saturday afternoon. Geneva fell 3-0, but junior forward Stephanie Howe was named Geneva's 2018 Parkway Showcase Player of the Game.

Vikings coach Megan Owens has taken the team down to the "Gateway to the West" for the past several years. Geneva has traditionally come back from the trip stronger as a team, and the program finds value in it.

"The main focus is fun, and just integrating the group," Owens said.

Senior captain Lauren Albrecht, a fourth-year varsity starter, will be one of the key foundational pieces for Geneva this season. Albrecht, a Miami (Ohio) commit, knows how important team chemistry is as an ingredient for success. She appears ready to do her part.

"We're just really trying to make them feel like they fit in, and just supporting them because I know the first couple games were a little scary for them," Albrecht said. "We're just trying to get them in, get them touches on the ball [and] just getting them comfortable so that they'll be prepared for the big games to come."

So far, so good for the Vikings. The program has victories over East Aurora and Elgin to begin the season. The team's game against Streamwood that was scheduled for last Thursday had to be rescheduled for later in the season.

"I'm very impressed with how well my offense and midfield is clicking right now," Owens said. "Just to see [Missouri State commit and goalkeeper Katie Montgomery] step up and be a vocal leader [and] get that opportunity has been great as well."