By Kevin Cunningham
Correspondent
The Delavan-Darien High School girls soccer team won six total games last season, the final of those coming in the WIAA Tournament, advancing the Comets to the Regional Final.
This year, the team has a number of starting returnees but lost its leading goal-scorer in Suleimy Perez.
“We’re always young for some reason and this year’s no different,” said fifth-year head coach Mike Marse. “We’ve got a bit of playing experience, but we’re young. I’m not sure how that works out. Senior-wise, Beatriz Garnica is one who has been on varsity for four years and has had a lot of playing time. She’s been a starter for at least the last two years, if not all three years.”
Marse said he’s not sure yet what the team is going to look like this year.
“We’ve had a couple of strong players the last few years that we’ve relied on – it leaves us as unsure. Paulina Cruz will be a senior, we’ve got Yatszary Huerta and then our goalkeeper, Grace Kirkpatrick, she’s been our keeper the last three years,” he said.
Marse said the seniors will play important roles but younger players will also be relied on to step up.
“We’ve got a number of seniors coming back. That’s probably the core of the team, but we’ve got a couple sophomores who we’re hoping will fill some shoes and help out,” he said.
Due to losing Perez – and other players – the coach said he is trying to switch how the team plays this season.
“We’re going to concentrate on playing some defense…”
Read more of what he had to say and more Comets sports in the April 4 Delavan Enterprise.
