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The girl’s soccer team was one of the most successful teams at RHS last year, placing second in league play and going on to win a section title against the Whitney Wildcats.

The team was a bit of an underdog heading into last season, as both players and coach Paul Stewart did not expect such a successful season.

“I had a feeling this group of girls could win the whole thing, but I didn’t think it would be last year,” Stewart said. “Winning sections was incredible, and we did it one year earlier than I expected.”

Even though the girls won sections, the path to the championship and their playoff run was not an easy one. According to Stewart, it was a very close race for the league title and a playoff spot.

The team has a similar outlook this year, having most of their key players returning from last year, including team co-MVPs keeper Ashlynn Hernandez and forward Mackenzie Gill. Hernandez led the league in saves last season, and Gill lead the league in goals scored.

Although the team lost some key players like Allison Palmer to graduation and Molly Branigan to transfer, junior defender Hannah Heaton thinks that the team will fare just fine.

“Ally was a captain, so we’re going to have to find a new captain with the same leadership skills,” Heaton said. The players we lost were really good, but we made some new additions that will fill in well.”

Junior forward Kelsey Gill thinks the team will be able to repeat the success that they had last season.

“In the preseason, we have some really tough games,” Gill said. “Once we get past that, I think we can win both league and sections this year.”

The team is off to a fast start this year, as they are undefeated, and managed to tie the defending division 1 champion Davis Blue Devils, a team that had won every game since 2015.