GIRLS SOCCER: After successful offseason, experienced Bemidji team aiming high

BEMIDJI - After a strong offseason, the Bemidji High School girls soccer team is looking to carry its success over into the regular season.
Many players on the varsity level spent the summer playing on local U17 and U14 teams and won a few tournaments.
The Lumberjacks are hoping those experiences will lead to a fast start and a run at the Section 8AA title.
“We are entering the season prepared,” head coach Logan Larsen said. “It’s not like we have to work on endurance, they already have that. They can play multiple formations and we won’t be predictable.”
The Lumberjacks had a winning season last year, going 9-7-1, but they dropped seven of their final 10 games, including a 6-1 loss to St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8AA tournament.
With the experience this group of girls has playing together, they are hoping to make it past the first round of sections.
“We have a team that has been playing with other for a long time,” said senior captain Anna Eriksson. “They are very dedicated and work well together so I’m excited for the season.”
Some of the Lumberjacks have been playing together since they were 10 years old, and this is the season they say they’ve been looking forward to.
The Lumberjacks are setting their sights at a possible run for their first section title since 2011 - the school’s only title in soccer for either boys or girls.
“It would be awesome to get there,” said junior captain Lydia Bitter. “To be able to see how much we’ve grown together to make a run at state would be awesome.”
Fellow captain, senior Rachel Bitter believes the team’s chemistry will play a role in how far they’ll go.
“We’re all close off the field,” Rachel said. “You can tell it carries onto the field. We know where each other is going and we communicate really well. We all understand everyone and what we’re going to do.”
Larsen said his team might be unpredictable in terms of scheme, but the players know exactly where everyone will be at all times.
Despite how much veteran leadership the team has, they’ll still be getting help from some younger players who haven’t been with this group for long.
But the veterans have been quick to get the younger players up to speed with them on and off the field.
“We’ve been doing some team bonding stuff and we’re getting to know the younger girls pretty well,” said junior captain Rachel Holm. “That helps us on the field and they are getting along with us so it’s helping.”
One sophomore in particular has stood out to Larsen.
Isabelle Morin won’t be a captain this year, but it’s not stopping her from leading the team on the field, he said.
“Morin really stands out,” he said. “She might not be a captain, but she’ll be leading the team in terms of effort and drive. She’s being competitive in practice and forcing everyone to adapt. We have a number of leaders.”
Larsen likes what he sees in the numbers of the underclassmen as well and is hoping this year is the first of many solid seasons for Bemidji girls soccer.
“We only have three seniors,” Larsen said. “The younger players have very big numbers so in couple years we’ll have a pretty insane amount of sophomores and juniors.”