Despite the loss of 11 veteran players at the conclusion of the 2014 season, the new LTHS varsity girls soccer team plans to play cohesively in hopes of success. In order to build a team as strong as the LT varsity girls soccer teams have been in the past, the players are determined to develop a bond that will include the old and the new players alike.

“We lost a lot of leadership from last year,” Head Coach William Lanspeary said. “We’re going to need players to step up and fill roles, and I think this year with so many new players a lot of it is going to be growing into their roles and gaining a lot of experience as the season goes on.”

In previous years, the senior team captains have contributed greatly to the close relationship shared by the players. Their comradery off of the field has translated to a unity on the field which strengthens the team as a whole, Kristen Janicki ‘15 said.

“[The team] is definitely going to be a lot younger,” Margaret Lynch ‘15 said. “We’re really going to have to work on team unity early because there will be so many new players.”

Many other teams in the West Suburban Silver Conference (WSC) also have a decent number of open spots for the 2015 season, Janicki said.

“Every season is exciting, and this one there are just a lot of unknowns and that can be exciting in a different way,” Lanspeary said.

This season the girls will compete in two tournaments—the Pepsi Showdown at Olympic Park in Schaumburg from April 11-18 and the Naperville North Invitational at Naperville North High School from April 23-May 2. They at least hope to advance to the quarter finals in both of the tournaments, Lanspeary said.

Many teams who define the WSC, such as York, Oak Park and Downers Grove North, will pose a challenge to the team, but its toughest opponent will be Hinsdale Central. Regardless of the skill of their opponents, the team’s aim is always to win conference, Lanspeary said.

“The ultimate goal is that we are healthy and playing our best soccer going into the playoffs,” he said. “If we do that, then we give ourselves a chance to make a pretty good run in the state tournament.”

The season will begin on March 17 at home against Waubonsie Valley High School.