The Parkway West girls’ soccer team is off to an outstanding start to the 2022 season and is ranked second in the first Missouri Coaches Power Rankings and is currently in the fifth spot in this week’s HSSC/Scoops with Danny Mac Top 10 list.
One of the reasons for the Longhorns’ success is the play of Mary Hardy. The senior is leading the team in goals with 11 and has 6 assists on the year to propel Parkway West to a 10-0 record to start the season.
“The season has been going well for us as we are bouncing back from last year’s defeat to Fort Zumwalt South in the quarterfinals of the state tournament,” stated Hardy. “I think that everyone is energized about this year, and we are looking good so far.”
Hardy is the primary offensive threat for the Longhorns with her team-high 11 goals, with three of those being game-winning goals. She is very pleased with how the season has begun and how she has developed into a leader both during games and in practice.
“I feel that this year, I have had to take on more of a leadership role on the team since we lost a great leader from last year’s squad who was a key player for us,” said Hardy. “I feel like it has been my job to step up a little bit and help with being that leader. I have gained a lot of confidence this year and it is showing on the field.”
Hardy has established herself as a leader that wants to lead by example and show the younger players on the team how things should be done.
“I consider myself to be a little bit more of a quiet leader and lead by example,” stated Hardy. “I use my work ethic and speaking. I think that everyone feeds off everyone’s energy, so when I go out and work hard, other people will look up to me and they will work hard as well.”
As many of our athletes have talked about, juggling practices, games, and being a student can be challenging, especially during the season. Hardy knows that it is what it takes to be successful as it will prepare her for the next level.
“It is a lot as we are getting ready to play our fifth game in the last six days, so it is definitely straining on my body and I am exhausted right now,” stated Hardy. “I just keep pushing through because we are almost over the hump of this part of the schedule. It can be a lot because high school schedules can be very grueling, especially in soccer. You just have to buckle down and stick it out because it is only a month and a half season. There are a lot of late nights to get it all done.”
The goals for the Longhorns are the same as most teams in the state of Missouri, make it to the final four at the World Wide Soccer Park in Fenton, but Hardy and Parkway West have some fuel to the fire to make it that far.
“At the beginning of the season, Coach Wayland has us write out our team goals and what we wanted to accomplish this year,” said Hardy. “We want to win districts and then we want to make a run at state and make it to the final four. We want to play Fort Zumwalt South again and bring everything that we have. We have that fire to play them. They are ranked higher than us right now in the coaches’ poll that was just released, so I consider us still an underdog and I think that will be an advantage for us as it gives us a reason to work harder.”
Hardy will be heading to Murray State in the fall to continue her academics and soccer career and she was very excited to make that decision earlier this year.
“I will be heading to Murray State in the fall to play soccer,” stated Hardy. “The recruiting process for me personally was a great experience and it was not too stressful for me, I mean, there was a little bit of stress, once I found Murray State, everything just fell into place, and it worked out perfectly as I knew that is where I wanted to go.”
Congratulations to Mary Hardy from Parkway West on being named our HSSC/Scoops with Danny Mac Student-Athlete of the Week and we wish her and the Longhorns the best of luck this season.
Jim Powers has been covering prep sports in the St. Louis area for 15+ years and a part of the Missouri State High School Activities Association Championship Broadcasts for the past 11 years. Powers is also a part of the Fox 2 Verlo Mattress Prep Zone Friday nights at 10:10 during the football and basketball seasons. If you have a prep sports story, please contact Jim at japowers2421@yahoo.com. Follow Jim at @hssportscaravan
