Kevin Goodwin/Liberty TribuneFreshman Shea Groom, pictured, and freshman Kaycie Clark will miss six Liberty games during the next 10 days while playing for the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program girls 1992/93 Region II team in Costa Rica.
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Missing, but in action
Liberty's Kaycie Clark and Shea Groom to play for US Youth Soccer Olympic Development region team
By Kevin Goodwin
Kaycie Clark and Shea Groom haven’t played like typical freshmen in the 4-1 start by Liberty High’s girls soccer team.
That’s because they are elite soccer players — no matter their age. The Blue Jays will find out what it will be like to play without them later this week.
The duo will miss six Liberty games because of their involvement in the Costa Rica International Tournament that starts today and lasts through Saturday, April 12.
Clark and Groom will be playing for the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program girls 1992/93 Region II team. Liberty eighth-grader Delaney Kiely is also on the team.
The girls will compete against the under-17 national teams of Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica, and the under-20 national teams of Chile and Honduras.
Clark and Groom will miss Liberty’s game with Park Hill on Friday, April 4, a home game against Blue Springs South on Monday, April 7, a road game at Lee’s Summit on Thursday, April 10, and the Springfield Kickapoo tourney on April 11 and 12.
Liberty coach Tom Rottjakob said he’s anxious to see how the Blue Jays respond to playing without two of the team’s top players.
“It might be one of the best things for this team,” Rottjakob said. “We are going to miss them big time, but it’s going to give us a chance to have some people step up and play. I think it’s going to make us a better team when they come back.”
Groom has scored five goals in Liberty’s first five games, and Clark’s speed has been a benefit to the Blue Jays on both ends of the field.
“Kaycie’s one of the hardest-working players on the team,” Rottjakob said. “She can take players on, get the ball and find the right player to pass the ball to almost every time.
“Shea is so fast, and something that we’ve been talking about is not trying to rely on her speed all the time. We are trying to find some balance and attacking with numbers. We’ve done a pretty good job at that, and we’ll learn a little more over the next 10 days.”
Clark and Groom will return in time to play in Liberty’s game at North Kansas City on April 14.
“We hate that they are going to be gone, but they will miss only one conference game,” Rottjakob said. “Hopefully, we can take care of business without them.”
Sports writer Kevin Goodwin can be reached at 389-6652 or kgoodwin@npgco.com.
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That’s because they are elite soccer players — no matter their age. The Blue Jays will find out what it will be like to play without them later this week.
The duo will miss six Liberty games because of their involvement in the Costa Rica International Tournament that starts today and lasts through Saturday, April 12.
Clark and Groom will be playing for the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program girls 1992/93 Region II team. Liberty eighth-grader Delaney Kiely is also on the team.
The girls will compete against the under-17 national teams of Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica, and the under-20 national teams of Chile and Honduras.
Clark and Groom will miss Liberty’s game with Park Hill on Friday, April 4, a home game against Blue Springs South on Monday, April 7, a road game at Lee’s Summit on Thursday, April 10, and the Springfield Kickapoo tourney on April 11 and 12.
Liberty coach Tom Rottjakob said he’s anxious to see how the Blue Jays respond to playing without two of the team’s top players.
“It might be one of the best things for this team,” Rottjakob said. “We are going to miss them big time, but it’s going to give us a chance to have some people step up and play. I think it’s going to make us a better team when they come back.”
Groom has scored five goals in Liberty’s first five games, and Clark’s speed has been a benefit to the Blue Jays on both ends of the field.
“Kaycie’s one of the hardest-working players on the team,” Rottjakob said. “She can take players on, get the ball and find the right player to pass the ball to almost every time.
“Shea is so fast, and something that we’ve been talking about is not trying to rely on her speed all the time. We are trying to find some balance and attacking with numbers. We’ve done a pretty good job at that, and we’ll learn a little more over the next 10 days.”
Clark and Groom will return in time to play in Liberty’s game at North Kansas City on April 14.
“We hate that they are going to be gone, but they will miss only one conference game,” Rottjakob said. “Hopefully, we can take care of business without them.”
Sports writer Kevin Goodwin can be reached at 389-6652 or kgoodwin@npgco.com.