MLHS girls soccer eyes state birth

MOSES LAKE - After beating rival Davis High School for the district championship and advancing to the state tournament for the second straight season, this year's Moses Lake Chiefs girls soccer team has their sights set on post-season success, before the first whistle even sounds.

One thing that's overtly clear is that this team has not let success go to their heads. With ten returning varsity players and three team captains that have all experienced varying levels of success during their time at Moses Lake, the coaching and leadership on the squad keeps them humble and working hard. With the first day of school on the horizon these girls are scrimmaging at game speed under the basin sun, in their second practice of the day.

As practice came to a close not one player seemed to complain, in fact the team was all smiles and laughs as they put their hands in to the middle of the team circle and yelled in unison "Go Chiefs!"

"My goals for this season are to give it my all every game and to play for my team," Team captain McKenna Walker said.

It is that type of team first mentality that has garnered many of the girls' personal success in addition to the team's

achievements.

Co-captain Caylah Lunning was awarded player of the year as a sophomore and was named first team all conference last year.

"We really are like a big family. The coaches lead from the front, like we do as captains, so their kind of like role models to everyone on the team." Lunning said.

This Friday night, the first Friday of the new school year keep in mind, these teenage girls won't be at a party or the movies, rather they will be at a team sleepover to encourage team bonding. While soccer and boys will likely be the topic of conversation, these girls genuinely enjoy each others company and support each other on and off the field. At practice team captains and freshman alike talked about the upcoming sleepover with excitement rather than a burdensome commitment.

"With freshman you have to help build their confidence. We were there once too, so we use our experience to help them through situations." co-captain Megan Roughan said.

While these girls like to have fun, they also like to win soccer matches. Last season they finished second place in the league

standings by a half game to Davis High, before defeating Davis in the Regional final to advance to State. This season, Moses Lake girls soccer is not shy about their goals of winning their league, defending their district championship and advancing to state. This season the league will get two state births rather than one, and there is no question the Chiefs see themselves occupying one of those spots.

"We need to advance to state and get at least one win, if not win the whole thing," Roughan said.

The team's first match will be Saturday September 7th at Post Falls, followed by their first home game September 10 at Lions Field and their first league game just two days later at Sunnyside. This year's team motto steals a line from the popular TV show Friday Night Lights, "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose!"

Simply put, the emotion and confidence in this saying is exemplified by the 2013 Chiefs soccer team.