The Lady Dutch Soccer team has been vigorously training this season in hopes to make it to the State Tournament. The varsity team is coached by Mark Howard and consists of five seniors. According to Howard, these seniors provide great leadership for the team, especially Josie Lickteig and Grace Held.
“Grace Held is an obvious [starter/leader] because of her scoring abilities,” said Howard. In fact, Held scored her 100th goal of her high school career during the match against Oskaloosa on April 30th.
This year’s team has many strengths, but there are also some obstacles that they will have to overcome. One major obstacle for the team this season was playing Lewis Central on May 11. That team has won the championship for three years in a row and are the Lady Dutch’s biggest competition, according to senior leader Josie Lickteig. However, the Lady Dutch were able to overcome this challenge, finishing the game with a 3-2 victory.
“One strength of our team is that most of us have been playing together since we were very young,” said Lickteig. “We know each other very well, which translates on the field when we play together. One of our weaknesses is that we sometimes fight with each other, but we all respect each other and work out our differences.”
This season, the Lady Dutch soccer team wants to have 13 clean sheets, meaning no goals scored on them, and 4 mercy-rules, meaning the game ends before the time is up because the team is so far ahead. They also hope to win the Little Hawkeye Conference and make it to the State Tournament.
“I am excited to see our team grow together and work towards our common goal of reaching the state tournament,” said Lickteig. “We have been so close but have never won the state title.”
Some of Howard’s goals for his team this season is to help the team improve, win conference, and qualify for the state tournament. All in all, he hopes to see the team improve with each and every game. He is looking forward to a great season ahead.
“I like all of it,” said Howard. “Training, being with the players, competing and trying to get the team to improve and compete.”
