It has been six years since the girls soccer team has been to the NHIAA championship game, and in the 37 years the girls’ soccer team has been around, they have never won.

The girls varsity soccer team has been making a statement in Division 1 soccer with their current 11-3 record, a significant improvement from last year’s 11-2-3 record.

“After last year, we expected to be in the top tier,” Coach Derek Dane said. “We expect to finish stronger than last year and move forward.”

They have a very strong defense that will continue to improve since three of those players are underclassmen.  In fact, working up through the midfield to the forwards, 12 of the 19 players will be returning next season.

Junior varsity starter, Andi Nelson, hopes the team “can continue developing as a unit rather than play as individuals.”

“We have a very young team this year, which will be good for us to grow as a team for next season,” Nelson said. “We will be just as strong as we are this year, if not stronger.”

Senior captain and goalie, Jackie Luckhardt, has seven clean sheets, or scoreless games, on the year so far with 2 games left in the season.

“We’ve had some highs and lows, but we keep learning and getting better every game,” Luckhardt said. “I hope we keep fighting every single game and don’t take any team lightly. The true test is playoffs and ultimately winning the championship.”

Dane agrees.

“Our goal,” he said,  “is to get to the state championship game and bring home the first championship for girls’ soccer.”