Last season turned into one of the best ever for the Nixa girls soccer program.

The Eagles recorded 17 shutout wins and won 19 of 20 games at one point while outscoring opponents 86-8. Nixa beat Blue Springs South in the Class 4 quarterfinals to earn the school's second Final Four appearance, then fell to the eventual state champion (Cor Jesu Academy) and earned fourth place.

"We were 21-4 on the year and had some really great wins for us," coach Evan Palmer said. "Winning the conference in the first year of the new COC was really cool to do. Our districts are so tough year in and year out so that was a great thing for us as well, going through our district tournament and not giving up a goal. We got Blue Springs South in the quarters and we had lost the last two games to them but we were able to handle them and find a way to win. Our defense hung in there tight, goalkeeping was great and we found a way to get the late goal to beat them so that was a great win for us."

While Nixa graduated four seniors from that team, including Bailey Snyder, a second team All-State defender, and Brooke Teter, who totaled 10 goals and 9 assists and finished top 10 in all-time scoring, the Eagles return significant experience from last year's squad, including at least one All-State performer.

Click here for the full preview.