The 2026 soccer season closed last week for the Lady Liberators in Class 3 District 5 semifinals. A season marked with consistent challenges, Bolivar fought for the success they found this spring and worked to build toward more in the future.
“The 2026 team was about putting the work in, being willing to be challenged, and learning to work together as one unit,” said Head Coach Jason Ingold.
In the late season, May brought rain, injuries and some of the season’s toughest competition as the Lady Liberators fought through five physical games in two weeks to finish the year. Bolivar moved into May facing the challenge of two state ranked teams from Logan-Rogersville and Springfield Catholic in the same week. The Lady Liberators hosted the Lady Wildcats of Rogersville in a rainy senior night match May 5 before traveling to Springfield to take on the Lady Irish on May 7.
In cold and wet conditions after a full day of rain and more throughout the game, Bolivar gave up an early goal to Rogersville in the eighth minute. The Lady Liberators responded with aggressive offensive attacks, intense defensive pressure and some gutsy saves in net by goalkeeper Cydny Wolhoy for the 0-1 finish to contain a Wildcat offense that averaged 4.8 goals per game this season.
“We played one of our best games of the season vs. a top 5 state ranked team in LR,” said Ingold. “Our girls battled hard all night and showed tons of grit, determination, and togetherness.”
With just a day to recover and down two starters to injury following the Rogersville contest, Bolivar dropped a match to Springfield Catholic on the road before resting and rebounding with a solid 4-1 final regular season home win over Camdenton on May 11 as the Lady Liberators looked ahead to districts.
“Coming away 1-1 in those games was good and the girls were prepared mentally and physically for district play,” said Ingold.
Jumping up to Class 3 this season, Bolivar was ranked fourth in a strong field of District 5 competitors and traveled to Capital City High School in Jefferson City to face Warrensburg on May 16. The Lady Liberators earned the 3-0 shutout with consistent effort on both ends of the field and goals from Adrianna Meneses-Lilly, Marah Thiessen and Kimber Vest. Playing round one without the team’s lone senior and captain who sustained an injury two days before postseason play, Bolivar fielded a young roster that gained valuable postseason experience and could all return for the 2027 season.
“It was the first district game for many of our girls,” said Ingold, “and we felt as though our team played solid through the whole match.”
The Lady Liberators made the long return trip to Jefferson City on May 19 for a semifinal contest with the top seeded Summit Christian Academy. Bolivar’s defense battled in the box, breaking up multiple attacks and sending shots out of the Liberator backfield to hold Summit to one goal in each half but the Lady Liberators were unable to convert any shots for goals on the offensive end.
“The girls executed our game plan well and we played solid through some injuries,” said Ingold. “Unfortunately, our team came up on the short end of an 0-2 score but both their effort and attitude were on point for the whole match.”
With the district semifinal loss, the Lady Liberators finished a 13-10 season including a second place Ozark Mountain Conference finish and first place Willard Tournament win. Faced with multiple challenges at the outset of the season, Ingold worked to create a team that could adjust with the challenges, build for the future, and stay unified through the process.
“We focused on adapting everyone’s skills to fit the overall concept of how we wanted to play, as well as having fun together as a team,” said Ingold. “Additionally, it was imperative that we learned to care about one another, pick one another up and encourage one another when things got hard. We always want the girls to create both life long relationships and memories that span way past the end of a single season or even high school career.”
The conclusion of the season was the end of a four year varsity soccer career for the Lady Liberators’ only 2026 senior.
“We will definitely miss our captain, Josie Thomas,” said Ingold. “She led by example, was a servant leader, cared deeply for her teammates, pushed her teammates and continually played through pain and injuries. She left her impression on our program and her shoes will be difficult to fill next season.”
With lessons learned this season and the anticipation of a large group of returners next year, Ingold is excited for the future of the program as he continues to push for the development of both talent and team. Looking to the 2027 season, he said the focus is clear.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go FAR, go TOGETHER.”
