Girl’s soccer ready for another season

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Expectations are pretty high this season for a Two Harbors girl’s soccer team. The team reached the section semifinals last season losing out to Hermantown.

“I don’t see us stumbling,” said head coach Jeff Peterson. “(Last season) I didn’t think we played at a level we are capable of.”

Some of the top returners on a team that finished 11-9 last season include seniors center and midfielder Kaila Carpenter, defender Kristi Olson and Sierra Tietge (a “very versatile player” as Peterson put it).

Returning juniors include defender Nina Bukowski, defender and midfielder Mary McMahon, midfielder Katelyn Adams, forward/midfielder Emily Zeimet and yet another versatile player in Haley Horgan.

Sophomores looking to help the cause include goalie Lucy Bukowski, last year’s leading scorer Lacey Myrdal and defender Abby Nordeen.

“I have been really fortunate not to have problem teams,” said Peterson, who is in his seventh year coaching varsity.

All of these players will try and make up for the losses of last season’s MVP in center/midfielder Margaret Alvarez, captain defender and midfielder Kasey Cable and captain midfielder Sara McDannold; all of whom were lost to graduation.

“We’re pretty speedy and solid defensively and in the goal,” Peterson said. “We’re a pretty deep team. … There are a lot of girls on the junior varsity.”

On Tuesday the team played in a jamboree. They are independent of a conference.

There is a total of between 43 and 44 players on it, which is down one or two from last season.

Sara Byrns will be coaching the junior varsity team. Joe Tietge will not be an assistant coach this season, but will be sadly missed, according to Peterson.

The team’s first game of the season was Thursday at Hibbing. The team’s first home game is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29 against Osseo.

Tags: two harbors, sports, girls soccer