After a dominant 2024 campaign, the Park Hill South girls’ soccer team enters 2025 with a fresh slate and a young roster eager to make its mark.
The 2025 season will show very little resemblance to 2024 for the Park Hill South girls soccer team. The Panthers come into a new year with few expectations after losing so much talent from a team that went 21-2 last year and won the conference championship.
In 2024, the Panthers were ranked No. 1 in the state for most of the season until they were eliminated in the district championship in a penalty shootout. That defeat signaled a conclusion for 10 seniors, including Class 4 Co-Offensive Player of the Year Olivia Clemons and two other all-state honorees Mackenzie Wright and Lilly Reuscher, who helped the Panthers to three district championship appearances in four years.
This season, reigning Conference Coach of the Year Jared Byrne moves his Park Hill South program into a new chapter with over half of the team still getting acquainted to the varsity squad. The Panthers return just six varsity players, including three seniors and all-conference junior defender Savanna Pittman.
“With so many new players, it’ll take us some time to build that on-field chemistry,” Byrne said. “They recognize it and are committed to it, though. The girls have great attitudes, are extremely hard working, and are intentional about getting better on the field and closer off the field.”
Returning junior Anna Pudenz has taken over starting goalkeeper duties following Kayla Thompson’s departure while Sarah Listrom leads the team’s midfield. On the attacking front, seniors Arianna Perschau and Gabrielle Weith lead the way with newcomer Olivia Dallas also an option.
Byrne has faced a rebuild before. When he took over the program in 2018, the Panthers were coming off a 7-12 season. Within two years, he turned them into a 13-7 team, ensuring his first year remained the only losing season of his tenure.
While the process may be frustrating at times in the beginning stages, Byrne holds confidence that his team will be ready to make a run once the playoffs arrive.
“The girls have a great perspective and long-term view of the season,” Byrne said. “We know we won’t start the season where we’ll end, so they’re really embracing the process of improving and developing.”