Coach Ken Snage hopes that an experienced squad will lead to something all players want to experience: a championship.
‘We have a number of four-year players and five or six three-year players,? the Lake Orion girls? soccer coach said.
‘Those kids know how to play high school sports,? Snage added. ‘The moment never gets too big for those experienced players. They’re emotionally and physically ready.?
The team scrimmaged Novi, Dexter and Bishop Foley this past weekend at the Lakes Area Showcase.
‘We held our own against all three teams and they’re formidable, state-ranked teams,? Snage noted.
The coach said his nine or 10 newcomers got some valuable experience in the scrimmages.
He hopes that they will carry that over into the Lake Orion Invitational this weekend (see this web edition for more information).
‘We’re going to be a deep team, a veteran team and a composed team,? Snage said. ‘We will be better at the end of the season then we are at the beginning.?
The coach said some nagging injuries will be a concern at the start, but everyone should be fully healthy come the stretch-run in May.
‘In our game, you have to have all the players mesh together,? Snage said.
‘By the end of the season, we should be rolling,? he added. ‘This team should be our best ever at Orion.?
Some talented returning players will lead the team, which finished last season ranked 10th in the state.
‘We’re going to be strong in goal,? Snage said. ‘Ashley Shugar is a returning All-Stater.?
‘Jenna Hill will carry the midfield for us,? Snage noted, saying fellow senior Rachel Bemman will add a big scoring touch when she returns from injury and sophomore Niki Read also looks promising.
Defensively, Snage said Rachel Werth, Kaitlynn Young, Caitlin Clemence and Lauren Drury are all three-year players that anchor the squad.
‘They’ve got 30, 40 or 50 games of experience under their belts,? he said.
In league action (OAA I), the Dragons will be among a handful of ranked teams.
‘We’ve all basically built our teams the same way,? he said. ‘Scoring is going to be hard. You have to build your team with speed and defense.?
Rochester and Rochester Adams both finished in the top five in Division I last season, while Lahser did the same in Division II. Stoney Creek, meanwhile, advanced to the state semifinals.
Troy and Troy Athens round out the league, with all three Rochester schools included in Lake Orion’s district.