New coach set to lead Lady Tigers into 2022 season
Aug. 12—LEBANON — There is a new person in charge of the Lebanon girls soccer team this year.
Former player Sam Parsons takes the reins from Nick Hyatt, who stepped aside in the off-season. Parsons had served as the Lady Tigers JV coach for the past few seasons.
Parsons said overall the transition to her coaching style has gone fairly well, and the fact that she is familiar to a lot of the girls was a definite plus.
"We have a lot of underclassmen," Parsons said. "A lot of the sophomores I coached on JV last year, so they were used to it. The older girls, there was an adjustment because it is different, but they have adjusted well. It is a different team, a different program, and we will keep some of the same stuff, but we are going to move on too."
The squad has been at it officially for nearly two weeks, along with a full summer of training.
Parsons said there have been the normal bumps in the road as the group gets used to playing with one another, but the more the group plays together, the more they are clicking.
"Just like any season, it can be rough at the beginning, but the girls are working hard and they have gotten a lot better," Parsons said. "They are really working as a team, they are playing off each other and making things happen."
When looking at the leaders on the team, Parsons said there is a core group of returning players that will be big for the Tigers success this year.
"Addison Lollar has definitely been a leader," Parsons said. "Maiya Newsom, Ava Lehmkuhler and Ciarra Hiatt are our other upperclassmen who have been key for us. Those four have really come into their roles as leaders. They know being upper classmen that they have to step up.
While there is some inexperience at the varsity level, Parsons said the Tigers still have high hopes for that they can do this year.
One thing that has really stood out to her so far has been the mental mindset of the group.
"We can accomplish a lot," Parsons said. "We aren't going to give up. Like in our black and gold game, we were playing 11 v 11 with no subs. That's something we are really going to focus on."
Lebanon opens it's season at home on Aug. 18 against Covington.
With a little bit of time before the first game, Parsons said there are a few things she wants the group to emphasize prior to the opener.
"We are making sure our passes are clean and crisp and that we are getting people in the right spots," Parsons said. "We went to make sure we are making those combinations and are able to work around the defense."
Will Willems is the Sports Editor of the Lebanon Reporter. Follow him on Twitter @Will_Willems.
