The De Soto High School girls’ soccer team has kicked off the start of the season, by making changes and trying to repeat it’s success of last year in hopes of going to the tournament.

Last year, DHS lost to Tonganoxie High School in Sub-State in order to go to State, but this season DHS beat them 3-0.

The first game was before spring break, which was the first of all spring sports to start games. The team lost 4-0 against Spring Hill High School, giving the start of the season a rough start.

“We have made a lot of changes and learned a lot. We came out last week [March 28] and won 9-1. Those changes were definitely necessary and definitely beneficial,” assistant coach Melissa Stone said.

The junior varsity team had a rough start. Basehor-Linwood High School and Baldwin  High School didn’t have enough players to have both JV and varsity teams, so the  JV games had to be modified. The Basehor game had to be played in 20 minutes, while Baldwin had to be played in 40 minutes, as opposed to an 80-minute full game.

With the late winter weather, the Bishop-Miege game had to be rescheduled because the field could not have been cleared and dry enough to play on.

“Hopefully down the road we will start playing more normal games, but so far it’s been an awesome season,” Stone said.

There was optional winter conditioning for girls because only a select number of girls play for a club or year-round team. Most of the team only plays during the season at DHS.

“The girls have gotten together to do team bonding and are getting along well, so I can’t ask for a better group of girls,” Stone said.

With almost every strong team, there are strong leaders. This year, the team’s six seniors have led the team.

“You can tell that the lower classmen really look up to them,” Stone said. “They have been nothing but motivating and very helpful and solid leaders.”