Marion Girls Soccer

Kramer's 4 goals KO Maquoketa

Senior Kristin Kramer scored all four goals and Marion beat Maquoketa, 4-1, Friday night in a Wamac girls soccer game at Marion.

The four goals boosted Kramer's career total to 34, three shy of the Marion career record. Kramer set the single season mark for goals a year ago when she scored 30.

The game was Marion's first of the season. The Indians play a boy/girl doubleheader at home against DeWitt Central on Tuesday (April 12).

AT MARION

Marion 4, Maquoketa 1

Goals -- MAR: Kristin Kramer 4; MAQ: Not available. Assists -- MAR: Ashley Kupka 2, Stephanie Shinrock, Naomi Spence.

Rogers leaves huge hole for Indians to fill

The Marion Indians are looking to rebuild after losing a strong senior class from last year's team.

Marion will especially miss Courtney Rogers, a three-time all-state selection who started 17 games as a freshman for Coe this season.

“Everyone is going to have to step up,” said Alissa Kupka. “She was usually our last line of defense. You could count on her to get those balls and now we are going to have to step it up ourselves a little bit.”

Her absence has changed more than just the dynamics of the team on the field. She was unquestionably their leader last season.

“It’s funny because last year Courtney was like the general, so she would get out there and be very vocal,” Coach Becky Herman said. “So this year it has been weird because it’s just kind of quiet. They are still just getting to know each other. I think kids will start to emerge as captains.”

Two players that may emerge as leaders this season are twin sisters Alissa and Ashley Kupka. Alissa is a defender and Ashley is a midfielder and forward.

“One is definitely offensive minded and one is definitely defensive minded,” Herman said. “But you could put them both anywhere and they get after it all the time. It’s good because it keeps everybody else going.”

The Indians are hoping their returners on the attacking side of the ball will be able to give Marion a bit of a scoring punch this season.

“We have quite a few forwards coming back and the midfield is still pretty strong I think, so hopefully our offense will be good,” said Ashley Kupka.

One such forward is senior Kristin Kramer, who is possibly the best goal scorer the Indians have ever had.

Kramer transferred from Xavier to Marion for her junior year last year and promptly set a single season scoring record at Marion with 30 goals. This year, Kramer needs just eight goals to break the Marion career record of 37.

The team also is hopeful it will find some younger players that can step in and contribute to the team right away, and although it is early in the season, they are already seeing promise.

“I’m really hopeful because I’ve played with a couple of the kids who were coming up and they are looking like they are pretty good,” said Jasmine Grindeland.

Although this season starts with a lot of question marks for the Indians, and they have to rebuild the identity of the team, they still feel confident they can have some success this season.

“It is kind of a rebuilding type year, but we definitely think we should be above .500,” Herman said.