Ava Leiniger remembers Southern Boone Girls Sopcer won the regional championship in 2022, beating Thalton 2-0 in the District 6 final. She remembers the excitement of heading to the state tournament and the opportunity to do another week of practice and compete with teammates.
“I remember being very excited,” Leniger said. “I have a lot of fun teammates around me, which makes me like this moment more; it’s very special.”
That was three years ago. Leiniger is a freshman who limits five consecutive regional champions. Dynamics slowed in 2023 and 2024. Although Boone of the South has won 18 and 20 games between the two seasons, the program has not taken over the district championship.
However, the Hawks' 2025 is different (19-4). After a 7-4 start, Southern Boone won 12 straight games. In the second division, the 1st seed Hawks beat California and Osage with a total of 18-1. South Boone beat Thalton 2-0 at Osage Beach in the regional championship game.
“I love the ability to play together,” said South coach Wade Vandelicht. "Not only will there be a pass, but it's a purposeful pass. We're running out the ball, making the defense move and opening up space, and it's just the ability we're done when we fall down in the box."
Southern Boone's six seniors - Leiniger, Allie Scheer, Baylee Feeback, Julianne Long, Sofia Wiley and Zoey Davis - saw the team's last regional title and helped them not finish their high school career without anyone.
“They want one,” Van der Licht said. “Mentally, they really know their career is getting shorter and shorter and are trying to convey the lower graders to the present, hey, it’s now or never.
On the offensive end, the Eagles have always been the Sword Saint. The Hawks averaged six goals per game and scored eight or more goals in 12 of 23 games. Leiniger has been at Boone's offensive success.
In the team's victory over California in the regional quarterfinals, Leiniger collected her 100th professional goal, boosting the Hawks with eight minutes left in the first half.
"About two and a half weeks ago, I found out I had 88 games left," Leniger said. "I don't know if it can arrive, but I ended up getting my first game, which was very exciting and definitely achievable because now I'm 102."
But that's not the end of Boone in the south. Scheer and sophomore Lillian Brooks have been key to the Hawks. Brooks scored five goals in the team's victory over Osage, while Sher scored two in a 2-0 victory against Thalton.
"It will definitely help that we all get along and communicate and know where each other usually goes," Leniger said. "Besides shooting, make sure to hit the goalkeeper we did in the regional championship game; that's how we scored two goals."
Anyone on the team can score at any time and every opponent must be able to defend the entire team.
"The greatest thing is that we have a real team of forwards this year," Van der Licht said. "We have three people who scored goals, which was by chance. They worked together... When the team looked at us, they couldn't see one person who could close and win the game."
The match to advance to the Level 2 finals on Saturday, May 31st continues to move forward. Southern Boone played the Wildcats in 2024 and lost 2-1, but the team thought it was a good game to reach the Division 2 quarterfinals.
"Our formation is perfect for their playing," Vandelicht said. "I look forward to some opportunities for our forwards." If we put them in, if we were like against Thalton in the championship game, it would be up to them. ”
South Boone will play Logan-Rogersville at 3:00 pm