Coming off a season plagued with injuries, the City High Women’s Soccer team is optimistic about the coming season with a new assistant coach, more players, and an emphasis on ball control. After finishing with a record of 2-15-1 last year, the team hopes new found health and many returning letter winners will play to their advantage.

“We’re much healthier than last year,” head coach Torsten Opitz said. “We don’t have as many injuries and everyone is back. Hopefully we can keep it that way.”

The newest addition to the coaching staff, varsity assistant coach Edgar Arceo, brings multiple years of playing and coaching experience.

“I’ve coached since I was 16 but this is my first time coaching a girls team,” Arceo said. “I’ve been on the good teams and I’ve been on the bad teams so when I saw the record from last year it didn’t discourage me.”

Both Arceo and Opitz agree that there are many things the team has to improve on to succeed.

“The main emphasis this year is being tough on the ball, keeping possession, and winning battles in the air,” Opitz said. “We also need to be a little bit more cooperative with each other. Team chemistry is important, we need to be one team.”

The team’s first game is against Mt. Vernon at the Washington Jamboree on April 3. The Little Hawks need to maintain control over the ball, run their offense at their own tempo, and make sure to keep a solid defense throughout the whole game. Opitz has high hopes for the team’s first game and the coming season.

“We have the element of surprise on our side this year,” Opitz said. “Everyone thinks we’re going to be done for this year but we are going to come back with a vengeance and show that we are willing to fight.”

By Oli Peters and Annika Wasson