Girls soccer preview 2020
With just 6 wins in 2019, FHS looks for growth as new coach takes over
“I’m there and I can give them the tools and I can give them the information,” she said. “But this is their experience and we’re going to be hard to beat this year.
“I had expectations when I was a player and I have those same expectations for my team,” she added. “If I didn’t have those expectations, if I expected anything less, it wouldn’t be fair to these girls.”
The coach also has sent the message that nothing will be guaranteed in the program.
“I told the girls when we came back that the varsity positions are not set in stone. I’m carrying 21 (varsity) girls and I’m leaving one spot open,” Lyons said. “I have depth and I have a JV program that is on the rise.”
“And that’s what’s exciting about this team,” he added.
The Lady Admirals are blessed with depth, according to their coach, particularly in the midfield.
“I’ve got five or six girls across the midfield that could start and I don’t think that we would miss a beat,” Lyons said. “I have a really good junior class and I have some seniors that will be in the spotlight, too.”
Key players for FHS include: Chloe Chase (junior, midfielder); Maddie Martin (junior, forward); Anabelle Ekern (sophomore, midfielder); Caroline Ekern (junior, goalkeeper); Maddie Blum (junior, defender); Rebecca Dos Santos (senior, defender); Lauren Leslie (freshman, midfielder); Brady Livingston (freshman, forward); Shayne King (senior, defender); Savannah Noble (junior, defender) and Lexi Foley (a junior forward who will also run for the school’s cross country team this fall).
The Lady Admirals will open their 2020 campaign against Lenoir City at home in a District 4-AAA match Tuesday, Aug. 18. Opening kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. in Farragut Soccer Stadium.
The Lady Admirals have shown up eager to put the troubles of the recent past behind them.
“Our seniors, those girls are really something special,” said Lyons, who replaces Drew Payne as head coach. “These girls have come in here and they’ve worked hard and not one person has complained.
“That’s because of the leadership that we get from our seniors,” she added. “That’s the special thing about this team and about these seniors. They don’t let anybody fall too far behind.”
However, the seniors also know in these uncertain times that nothing, not even a chance to play a full 2020 season, is guaranteed.
“These seniors know that the season could be taken away from them at any time, so we’re going to take every opportunity, any chance we can get,” Lyons said. “We’re going to enjoy every time that we get on the pitch, every opportunity to condition and every opportunity that we can to get a touch on the ball.”
Losing twice as much as winning last season (6-12-3), FHS was one of Knox County’s younger teams. But Lyons said she’s already sent the message those days are over and she’s told her team this will be their time to enjoy competing.
