Eagles girls soccer aims for deep postseason run in 2024

by Michael Smith


Last season, the Grain Valley girls soccer team was one of the best teams not only in Kansas City, but in the state.

The Eagles had a sparkling 20-4 record going into the Class 4 District 6 Tournament, but fell to Blue Springs South 3-1, ending their stellar season.

This year, Grain Valley will have a chance to have an even better season as it returns the bulk of its varsity players from the 2022-23 squad.

It will be without defender Lexi Nicholson, who graduated in 2023, and senior Annabelle Totta, who is out due to her battle with cancer.

The heart and soul of the Eagles, senior Thiessen, returns as a four-year starter. She is a forward who scored 21 goals and 15 assists in 2023 and was a Class 4 all-state honor mention selection. She and sophomore Radleigh Childers will provide a bulk of the scoring for the Eagles. She finished with 27 goals and 19 assists as a freshman.

“It will be an adjustment we will have to make,” Childers said of the team scoring goals without Totta. “It’s definitely going to take a toll, but we will push through it. We’re going to play this season for Anna and do great.”

They will be supported by a midfield that consists of senior Meghan Knust, juniors Mia Cole and Ally Gilbert – all of whom could see playing time at the wing position, as well. While those three will see a lot time in the midfield, they will likely be used at other positions, too.

“They will be cycling in and out of those winger and midfield roles,” head coach Brett Lewis said. “Opposing defenses will key on certain players and we’ll keep other teams guessing. We have a lot of girls who are versatile and can play multiple positions.”

Grain Valley also returns three out of their four starters on the back line including seniors Sevreign Aumua and Sophia Giuliano, sophomore Taylor Nicholson and junior Isabel Lopez. Knust likely will rotate to the back line, as well.

“She close space down fast and she tackles hard,” Lewis said of Lopez. “She’s going to be good back there. Our back line is going to be pretty solid. They have played a lot of minutes together.”

Added Thiessen: “I think Taylor is going to take a big step up. She has already shown that. She’s aggressive. Sophia has shown a lot of strength and growth, too.”

At goalkeeper, sophomore Alayna Maybell will return as the starting goalkeeper. She played the position for the first time last season and Lewis and the rest of the players anticipate she will improve from last season.

Players like sophomores Avery Stumpenhaus and Aubrie Henson, who received a little playing time on the varsity team last year, likely will receive a significant bump in playing time.

Grain Valley should have a strong offense as it scored 4.6 goals per game last season, but endurance will be something the team will have to count on as it doesn’t have a lot of depth. Lewis said he anticipates the rotation to go 13 deep.

“We don’t have a ton of depth, but we have a good, solid core,” Lewis said.  “We’ll get some girls some rest here and there, but I told the girls, we have to be fit. We have never really had a lot of depth in past years. It’s nothing new for these girls, they will rise to the occasion.”

With a bevy of experienced players returning, the Eagles have high expectations this season and are aiming for a deep postseason run.

“We want to get back to the district championship and we want to beat South, : Lewis said. “We want to beat the good teams like Rock Bridge, Hickman and Blue Springs.”

​Added Thiessen: “Every year, we have a chance to make deep run in the playoffs. All 10 of us are coming back and we have great coaches to help keep us on track.”

Sophomore Radleigh Childers, left, and senior Emma Thiessen combined for 48 goals and 33 assists in 2023 and the duo will guide the offense for the Grain Valley girls soccer team this season. Photo credit: Michael Smith