by Sarah Jacobs

After warming up, the girls’ soccer players are split into teams to play a game of keep away. They practice their passes during a heated game. Head coach Julie Deuser advises the girls as they play.

“I think the soccer department is really going in the right direction,” said senior Jovie Golko as she reflected on her years playing soccer at JHS. She cited the new coach as a key factor as to why she is feeling optimistic about the current season. 

Deuser has a history with coaching soccer, having coached and played during her college years.

“I want to have a winning season and build the team back up,” Deuser said. She believes the team has a strong core group who are familiar with one another.

Sophomore Zoe Johnson cited the team’s positive attitude as a key strength. “I think our defense is our strongest point,” said defensive player Golko. 

Strong as the team may be, it’s not perfect. “We really need more girls to come out and play,” Deuser said. 

Golko and Johnson believe the team’s ability to get control of the ball is its greatest weakness. If they can’t take control of the ball, it becomes harder to get scoring opportunities.

Training drills help improve these skills, though. The team trains in a variety of ways during the off season. The entire team does conditioning, but individual players have more variety in their routine. Johnson and Golko play indoor soccer separate from the school. Junior Aubrey Cummings does wrestling.

Johnson, Golko, and Cummings said their goal for the team this season is to win sectionals. With a unified goal in mind, the team, joined by their new coach, is working hard this season to achieve that win.

Soccer sectionals begin next week.