CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Clarksville High girls’ soccer team is off to a torrid start to the season. The Lady Wildcats are currently 7-2 with each loss coming by just one goal against supreme competitor’s Pope John Paul II and Brentwood.
In district play, CHS remains undefeated and has yet to even allow a single goal through five contests.
“Our losses were against two good teams,” said Clarksville girls’ soccer coach Sara Kluttz. “In both matches we had key players and captains out due to injury. The players were held out by me to make sure they were as healthy as possible for postseason play. Both losses helped us grow as we lost many of our tough matches in August due to our county’s restrictions. Unfortunately, we missed the first month of our season. That is when we typically travel to tournaments to play the top ranked teams in the state. Missing those games puts us at a disadvantage if we can make it to the region and sectional matches.”
One of those aforementioned injured players is reigning County Player of the Year JaNiya Stevens. The talented senior was hurt in a 4-0 win against Northwest on Sept. 8, but Kluttz is hopeful Stevens can return to action sooner rather than later.
“JaNiya is expected to play in our district-semifinal game on Tuesday,” Kluttz said. “If all goes well, we will have her for the remainder of the season.”
Clarksville’s 2021 Senior Class highlighted by Stevens, Ella Roth, Ellie Wiggins, Ashley Campagne, Allie Gilmer and Carly Barnes has accomplished great feats in their four years on the pitch so far. Kluttz shared her thoughts on what they’ve meant for the program as a whole.
“Our senior class is an incredible group,” Kluttz said. “We have not had this solid of a class in years. They are three-time district champions, three-time region champions, and have made two state-tournament appearances. They are impact players and leaders for our team on the field and also outstanding young ladies off the field. I am incredibly proud of all they have accomplished together and more proud of who they have become. I am hopeful this last season proves to be the best one yet. Even in the midst of all the uncertainty that this year has brought.”
Kluttz took over for longtime Clarksville soccer coaching staple Jeff Jordan in 2019 and has since picked up where her predecessor left off, guiding the Lady Wildcats to a superb 22-4-2 record.
“I am grateful for all of my time coaching with Jeff Jordan,” Kluttz said. “I think we were like minded in our expectations and made a good coaching team. He is an incredible coach and man. I tried to learn as much as I could from him every year that we coached together. I have also had to learn to trust my own coaching intuition and rely on my experiences as a player and coach.”
As the regular season winds down, Kluttz wants her group to simply stay focused on the task at hand.
“As we approach the postseason, I am trying to assure my team that they are ready to compete at the highest level, but nothing will be given to them,” Kluttz said. “We spent the month of August doing two-a-days since they were out of school and we were unable to play our tournaments. We are fit and know how to play good soccer, but our road to the state tournament will be won play by play and game by game, as we refuse to be outworked. If this team will execute the small details, refuse to be outworked and stay committed to our team style of soccer, they could go all the way.”