The Windsor High School girls varsity soccer team enters the new season with high energy and strong leadership as it prepares to compete for conference and district titles.

Head coach Mike Hutchison said the team has a winning mindset and believes leadership and teamwork will be key to its success. The Owls have started the season 2-1, after beating Notre Dame 2-1 on Thursday.

Hutchison said senior captains Lillie Coleman and Gracie Beckemeier, both Missouri Baptist commits, will lead the team alongside junior Peyton Wolff and the rest of the senior class. He emphasized that upperclassmen leadership will play an important role throughout the season.

“The leaders of the team are captain seniors Lillie Coleman and Gracie Beckemeier along with junior Peyton Wolff and pretty much all of the seniors,” Hutchison said. “It’s going to be a group effort to help lead us to victory.”

The Owls enter the season with high expectations. Hutchison said the program’s goal each year is to compete for both a conference and district championship, and this season is no different. The team plans to rely on a combination of strong defense and an effective offense to win games.

Coleman also discussed the team’s leadership and goals. She confirmed that she, Beckemeier and Wolff will serve as captains and said the team is focused on giving maximum effort in every game, working hard in practice and making a deep postseason run.

Senior Lyla Bieser said the senior class will help guide the younger players throughout the season.

“All the seniors are leaders,” Bieser said. “We will struggle at first, but as we keep going, the season will be better.”

Bieser added that despite the team’s youth, it plans to stay strong defensively and limit opponents’ scoring opportunities.

Several younger players are also expected to make an impact this season. Freshmen and sophomores Peyton Stemmler, Cameron LaPlant and Stella Seaton could step into key roles and contribute in important moments.

With experienced leadership, emerging young talent and a team-first mindset, the Windsor Owls are focused on competing at a high level and chasing championships this season.

“We know it won’t be easy, but if we stay together and put in the work, we have what it takes to compete with anyone,” Coleman said.