By MATT SCHUCKMAN
Herald-Whig Sports Writer
His days as a Boy Scout may have long passed, but Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer coach Mark Longo shares his motto with the largest youth organization in the United States.
Be prepared.
That's why nearly every player on the QND roster -- excluding the freshmen -- received some varsity playing time last season.
"When you have people graduating, you there is going to be a void," said Longo, the only coach in the program's 19-year history. "You try to avoid letting that happen. You play some of the younger girls enough so they feel comfortable stepping in. It's something we've always tried to do."
It's always led to high expectations.
"Based on what we accomplished last year and the players we are returning, on paper, we should be pretty good," said Longo, whose team went 16-2-6 and lost in the sectional semifinals to Chatham Glenwood. "It's hard telling where we are right now. We need to play a game to see."
On Tuesday night, the Lady Raiders get that chance. They open the season at home at 6 p.m. against Jefferson City Helias.
"The key for us will be we have to outwork people," Longo said. "We told them this past summer during team camps, it's your work ethic that wins you games."
To illustrate it, Longo looked at the number of shots his halfbacks and defenders blocked, which took pressure off freshman keeper Megan Rabe.
"We blocked so many shots I couldn't keep count," Longo said. "We need to do that again."
Although, if the Lady Raiders aren't as proficient at that, Rabe is better equipped to stand up to the challenge.
"She has a world of confidence," Longo said. "We expect big things from her again."
It helps having a strong defense in front of her.
Sophomore Alex Reis will start at sweeper, but she could move to midfield if needed when senior Genivieve Niemann is ready. Last year's starter at sweeper, Niemann missed a bulk of the preseason while on a trip to Spain.
"Alex is talented enough to play anywhere," Longo said.
She'll be flanked by sophomore Kayla Struck at stopper, with a host of experienced players -- Alicia Bower, Hannah Stroot, Jamie Pyatt, Mariah Genenbacher and Trianna Stark -- rotating as the wing defenders.
In the middle of the field, the Lady Raiders will be young as juniors Hilary Obert and Jennifer Adam and sophomores Brooke Burgess and Claire Obert will play a bulk of the minutes. Seniors Katie Holm, Emily Hilbert and Tia Long and junior Alex Coleman will figure into the rotation.
"We have to be a very unselfish team with so many players capable of contributing," Longo said. "We don't care who gets the shutout as long as we get a shutout. We don't care who gets the assist as long as we get an assist.
"And we don't care who scores the goal as long as we get the goal."
Longo knows the goals will come.
Senior forward Erin Thomas, one of just five all-staters in school history, returns after scoring more than 20 goals last season, and she'll be flanked by senior Mercedee Esterlein, who had 24 goals as a sophomore but battled injuries throughout her junior season.
Sophomore Leigh McLaughlin adds speed to the mix up top, while seniors Janell Vermeire and Kaleena Giesing will contribute.
"As a group, they certainly know how to put the ball in the net," Longo said.
That's what years of preparation can do.
-- mschuckman@whig.com/221-3366
