SAN MARCOS, Texas – A preview of the midfielders and forwards of the 2020 Texas State soccer team.
 
Midfielders
The Bobcats will have plenty of options in the midfield with 13 players including eight returners. Pacing the group is senior Renny Moore, who has started 39 consecutive matches and is the program's active leader in goals and assists with five apiece.
 
"Renny is starting to really feel her groove and getting better each day," said head coach Kat Conner.
 
The coaching staff is looking for Ally Kewish to have a huge offensive impact this season. The junior finished 2019 with a goal and an assist while starting six contests.
 
Other returners battling for playing time are Bailey Peschel, Hannah Solano, Kayla Streber and Karlee Torisk. Peschel netted one goal, that coming in last year's season opener, and started six contests. Solano led the Texas State with four assists and Torisk was credited with one in her freshman campaign. Streber saw her playing time increase at the end of last season, registering over 40 minutes off the bench in the final four matches.
 
Among the freshmen, the highlights during preseason practice have been Alana Clark, Trinity Clark and Emma Jones. The Clark twins were both selected to the TASCO 6A All-State First Team and UIL 6A All-State Tournament First Team in 2019. Jones was a four-time all-district first team honoree and named the 2019 EXOS Select 50 National Player of the Year.
 
"You have Alana and Trinity, who have come in and very surprisingly to me shown how well they can control a midfield, how well they can play and that they can play with everybody else," said Conner.
 
Forwards
The forwards will have big shoes to fill after the graduation of Kaylee Davis. The first professional player in program history netted 33 goals in her Bobcat career, the second most all-time, with eight coming last season.
 
Mackenzie Smith started 18 matches alongside Davis up top. The Cypress, Texas native finished with two goals and one assist. She will also look at getting playing time in the midfield.
 
"Kenzie is working really hard up top and doing a lot of good things," Conner said. "I think she'll start to do well once we pair her up with Sydney, but she's doing a lot of teaching and giving the pace that needs to be had with the freshmen to understand that pace and effort needed."
 
Sydney Kammer has shined during preseason after missing all of 2019 because of injury. She enters this season having found the back of the net twice and assisted on three other goals.
 
"Up front we like Sydney. She has been stellar in practice and scrimmages," said Conner. "Her fitness is the best we've probably seen. She is moving really well and lighting it up. These goals aren't slacking, they are really well-placed shots."
 
Other returners that look to make an impact up top are Kiara Gonzales and Kamaria Williams.
 
Two freshmen that have been made a big impact are Haley Shaw and Wimberley Wright. Shaw played her final two years of high school for an Olympic Development Academy team. Wright was named the District 8-5A Midfielder of the Year after totaling eight goals and 13 assists in her shortened senior year.
 
"I guess the big surprise for us in the freshmen lineup for forward is Wimberley [Wright]," said Conner. "There's not a day I don't' sit there and think, 'wow, that's a nice touch' or 'how did she do that?' She is going to be a nice addition the crew."
 
"Haley has got some wheels. You let a little bit open and there she goes. She also has a cracker of a shot."
 
The regular season begins on Friday when Texas State hosts Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m. at the Bobcat Soccer Complex for the team's annual Teal Match. The contest will also be streamed on ESPN+.
 
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