Lady Eagles look to channel momentum in Dawson’s first full season

COSBY — Maddy Dawson stood outside the fence at Virgil Ball Stadium last week, reflecting on the past year.

For Dawson and the Cosby girls’ soccer program, there have been a lot of changes.

A Cosby alum, Dawson took over as head coach in September of 2023.

She had played under James Groat and Michelle Lane, then served as an assistant before replacing longtime coach Tim Moss.

In Dawson’s second win of her interim season, the Lady Eagles took down cross-county rival Cocke County 5-2 off a hat trick from Addy Woods.

They went on to play several teams closely through the back half of the season, then ultimately lost to University High in overtime of the District 1-1A Tournament in Johnson City.

The team has since said goodbye to seven seniors, and Dawson has officially held the reins since the start of this preseason — a stark contrast to last season’s shift in leadership.

Dawson’s players have seen the effects, as she noted going into her first full year at the helm.

“It’s extremely different,” said Dawson. “We built a really good culture last year toward the end of the season. Having that from the start, and then having complete control over our schedule, our conditioning, and then the practice schedule will really make a difference.“

Dawson also dug into the specifics of her instruction, as she and her sister, assistant coach Lilly Ball, have put the Lady Eagles through their paces thus far.

“Constant conditioning, because that’s 80% of soccer — to play from start to finish and not take your foot off the gas,” Dawson said. “A lot of our drills are high-intensity, high pace, high speed, and then focusing on fundamentals.

“We have so many girls that come out but have never played before and love it, so we have to start from the ground up almost every season. So those fundamentals will be really important for us.”

Speaking of newcomers, Dawson’s team will see an immediate impact from several freshmen who come into the fold after winning back-to-back EUMSS titles with James Groat’s United team.

“James and I are in constant communication,” said Dawson. “He was my coach in high school, and what he’s doing with them is great. Our girls are relatives of their players, so they help and watch, and it’s been building toward this point when we’re finally getting some of those girls.

“They know what to expect, so I think that’s got them feeling really excited about what’s coming.”

A couple of those players consist of Ava Woods, AJ Hough and Katey Moore, and Dawson noted that they possess a chemistry and confidence beyond their age.

“They’ve already got those years together, and they’re so vocal,” she said. “That’s surprising since they’re freshmen. But they’re comfortable to talk to each other and know where that movement is, so that’s really reassuring that we have that.

“The majority of them will be starting, especially on defense. It’s a whole different ballgame coming from middle school to high school, but I do think the comfortability they have with each other will help.”

That comfort should pair well with plenty of returning faces, including sophomore defender Ansley Cobble, junior midfielder Kate Raines and junior goalie Allie Ottinger, who takes over the position left vacant by her sister, former Cosby goalie Ariel Ottinger.

As far as seniors, the Lady Eagles will be led by returners Addy Woods, Chloe Hance and Claire Holt, as well as newcomer Alayna Jarnigin.

The first three seniors have certainly seen this team’s ups and downs firsthand, and now, Dawson is excited to see what comes after the surge at the end of last year.

“We had so many games that were by one point, and having that happen so many times, we were almost there,” she said. “That momentum coming into this season is exciting, and I’m ready to see us get over that hump.”