Bulking offense

Royal soccer works to maintain strong defense, build O-game

ROYAL CITY — The Royal High School girls soccer team isn’t a bunch of beginners. “We actually have a decent group of seniors,” said Head Coach Jens Jensen. “There's eight, I believe, we may have added a ninth, but we’ve got a decent group of seniors.” Most of his girls haven’t played club soccer, meaning in youth leagues outside of school, he added. The roster is indeed skewed toward upperclassmen; of 19 players, only three are freshmen and one a sophomore. That experience looks likely to pay off, said senior defender Haley Piercy. “I think our forwards are really strong,” she said. “And then we also have experienced defenders.”...