By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
According to coach BZ Kayser it is going to take hard work, health and a little bit of luck to ensure the Elkhorn Area High School girls soccer team is successful this season.
Kayser is in his second season as coach of the girls. He has coached the Elkhorn boys since 2010.
The Elkhorn girls finished the 2015 season with an overall record of 10-6-1 and went 5-3-1 in the Southern Lakes Conference.
The Elks’ 2015 season ended June 4 in a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal at Elkhorn. Stoughton beat Elkhorn 1-0.
Kayser took over as coach of the girls’ team less than three weeks before the start of the regular season. He said at the end of last season that work in the off-season would be critical to the Elks’ fortunes this year.
Four returning seniors will be pivotal to the Elks’ 2016 season – Megan Skoczylas, Mackenzie Umnus, Abby Bochat and Michaela Patryn.
Skoczylas, a forward, is the only member of the Elks to earn First Team All-Southern Lakes Conference honors for her play last season. She was the SLC Player of the Year in 2014.
Bochat earned Second Team All-SLC honors at goaltender. Umnus played midfield and Patryn played defender last season. Kayser said he is counting on his four seniors to provide the leadership Elkhorn lacked last season.
“We have two returning juniors, Rachel Larson and Alex Gonzales, who put in an incredible amount of time this off-season,” Kayser said. “For our underclassman, we will be leaning heavily on Olivia May.
May earned Second Team All-SLC honors as a midfielder last season. Larson earned Honorable Mention All-SLC recognition last season and will play defense this season.
“We have some really nice freshmen and sophomore pieces to contribute to our roster this season,” Kayser said. “I think our roster this year is deeper, faster, and more talented than last year’s squad.”
The Elks’ schedule poses it share of challenges. In the SLC, Burlington is the three-time defending champion, and Waterford takes the pitch with three NCAA Division 1 college recruits.
In the Elks’ sectional bracket is Oregon, the defending Division 2 state champion. Oregon returns most of its players from last year’s undefeated team.
“If we can stay healthy I strongly believe we can compete for a conference title.” Kayser said. “The road for us to be successful is going to depend on hard work, health and a little bit of luck, and that’s nothing to take for granted.”
