COLUMBIA As assistant soccer coach Don Trentham split Missouris players into groups during a team practice, he called the names of two of his top forwards: sophomore Sarah Luebbert and senior Jessica Johnson.

"Sarica!" Luebbert remembers the coach yelling before catching himself. "Oh, I mean Sarah and Jessica. Youre on this team!"

Luebbert loved Trentham's slip-up. She calls herself and Johnson a dynamic duo the two scored a combined 15 goals in 2016 and she wants the nickname "Sarica" to catch on.

Though Missouris players have not yet started calling the two forwards by their combined name, Luebbert and Johnsons chemistry is essential on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

Head coach Bryan Blitz trains his players to aggressively defend the whole field, comparing his style to a full-court press in basketball. The defense begins with the forwards, and Blitz said Johnson and Luebbert embrace this mindset.

"You might score 20 goals, but if you dont defend, you won't start," Blitz said. ... "If you do both (offense and defense), thats when you can start. And thats what those two exhibit for us."

Luebbert is coming off a monster 2016 season in which she scored 10 goals, including four game-winners. She led the Tigers in points and was named SEC Freshman of the Year.

Johnson also put up solid numbers, tallying five goals and five assists. Luebbert said the senior excels when fighting for the ball.

"Sarah's direct success was because of all the dirty work Jessica does," Blitz said.

Heading into her final season with Missouri, Johnson has emerged as a leader. Luebbert said she has a calming presence; the senior doesnt have an in-your-face style, which makes her more relatable to teammates.

"We all are leaders on this team as seniors," Johnson said. "Definitely getting into that and growing into that role has been pretty awesome so far."

Blitz said he asked Johnson to lead the offense in 2017. He does not want to put too much pressure on Luebbert after her standout freshman year, and he stressed Johnson's improved finishing abilities, which will complement her speed.

"Shes really fast, so its fun to use our speed against other teams," Luebbert said. "We both really like to work together to try and confuse defenders and switch positions and play off of each other."

The sophomore vividly remembers working well with Johnson during a specific play during the 2016 season. Missouri was playing a road game against Mississippi in its SEC opener, and the two forwards were running toward the Rebels' goal with the game tied at zero.

Luebbert took the ball at the side of the field and quickly crossed it to Johnson, who took a shot in front of the goal.

Ball met net, and the Tigers were on the board.

Luebbert still smiles when thinking of the play. It was "Sarica" at their finest, and its a sight Missouri fans could get used to in 2017.

Supervising editors are Brooks Holton and Pete Bland.

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Johnson and Luebbert embrace chemistry heading into 2017 season - Columbia Missourian