By KLINT SPILLER

Son of Karla Spiller

The Thomas More Prep-Marian girls' soccer team will see a familiar foe in its first-round match of the Class 4-3-2-1A regional tournament Monday.

The Monarchs (1-12) will play at 5 p.m. Monday at Wichita Independent.

Independent has defeated TMP twice already this season -- 3-0 at TMP and 3-1 at Independent.

However, TMP head coach Darryl Wellbrock said he likes his team's chances against Independent.

"It could go either way," Wellbrock said. "I think we are improving every game. I'm thinking maybe we can surprise them at their home."

Wellbrock said TMP will try to shut down his niece, freshman striker Alise Coccetella, who was a part of four of the six goals scored against TMP in the earlier match-ups (two goals and two assists).

"As a whole, they are kind of like us," Wellbrock said. "The whole team has improved since the previous years we've played them."

The Monarchs have shown a spark in the latter part of the season, scoring eight goals in the last eight games and even producing a 2-0 win Monday at Wichita-Word of Life.

Part of that success has been because of the energy TMP's freshmen have shown after receiving increased playing time.

"Out of the seven (freshmen), you'll probably see four or five of them starting," Wellbrock said. "(They show) the aggressiveness that I like to see."