Tates Creek is back to attack - and contrary to this photo - won't relax. The Commodores are out to repeat as Kentucky state champions, using depth as a weapon.
Photo by Wayne Litmer
Depth is a great thing to have in high school soccer - especially when you have to find a way to replace 47 goals and 13 assists from two players.
The
Tates Creek (Lexington, Ky.) Commodores definitely will miss prolific scorer Destinie Graves, because after all, no team feels good about losing 35 goals and five assists. But they also know that the girls who were juniors last season are well-trained in what it takes to win.
"We have high expectations at Tates Creek. Our players train and prepare
year-round to be the best individual players they can become. In turn,
that helps our program have a lot of quality and depth on our roster," said coach Bo Lankster.
Mallory Eubanks
Photo by Wayne Litmer
The Commodores are coming off a 23-1-4 season and a state title in Kentucky. The program's quality and the leadership from Lankster make Tates Creek one of 10 girls teams nationwide to be named a national title Early Contender, presented by Dick's Sporting Goods and adidas.
See all the 2013 Fall Soccer Early Contenders This squad was prolific last season in
taking the title (a 5-4 shootout win over Notre Dame), as the MaxPreps Computer Rankings placed Tates Creek at No. 4 nationally and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America had the squad at No. 16. That state crown certainly required a team effort, but it also had the Lankster family name scrawled all over it.
Then-sophomore
Bailey Lankster knocked in the decisive penalty kick to win the title. Then-junior
Aaron Lankster scored the previous goal. And now-graduated goalkeeper Arly Lankster was the one in goal the whole time. It all came together to give Bo Lankster his first state title as the girls coach at the Lexington school.
Interestingly, Bo Lankster won a state title as a player at Lexington Catholic under the tutelage of his father, coach Jim Lankster.
The team has seven seniors coming back and a pair of juniors returning who played key roles last season. What the Commodores are banking on is that the depth can offset the loss of a star (Graves) who moved on to the University of Kentucky, and the production of Elaine Simpson.
"We just want to play to our highest potential. And if we can do that, the wins and losses will take care of themselves," coach Lankster said.
See the entire Tates Creek photo galleryLocal look: "Coming off a 23-1-4 season, Tates Creek should contend for another Kentucky state title. Senior
Mallory Eubanks has a knack for putting the ball in the goal and Tates Creek should give teams fits with a veteran midfield that features Aaron Lankster,
Mazie Fry and
Alex Tussey, and a back line that includes
Ashley Whaley,
Abby Van Bussum and
Katie Workman."
- Mark Maloney, Lexington Herald-Leader (@MarkMaloneyHL)
