A 3-1 loss to Appleton Xavier in a sectional final kept the Waupaca girls’ soccer team from making its first trip to state last year.
Several returning players have coach Mark Polebitski thinking that the Comets have an opportunity to take that next step this season.
The Comets are scheduled to open the season at 6:30 tonight (Thursday, April 3) with a nonconference game at New London.
“We have to be ready to play,” Polebitski said. “What we’re looking to do early in the season is develop our first touch and get in really fit shape.”
The team spent the first week of practice indoors and didn’t hold an outside practice until March 31.
“Working inside is a lot different than working out in fresh air,” Polebitski said. “You can get a lot better shape if you’re outside. The gym gets pretty stuffy after awhile. It’s going to be nice to get out this week. Hopefully, we can really get our legs under us for that first game.
“We spent one week inside basically doing ball touches and conditioning, but it was a good first week,” he said. “We have over 40 girls out. The good thing about our numbers this year is we do have a core of returning seniors and juniors that were on the team last year. We’re bringing people back with experience at all positions, which is good. We do have a lot of girls that are new, but that’s OK. Our job is to teach those girls techniques and soccer skills so in the future they can play the game.”
Returning players include goalkeeper Josee Waitrovich, who recently signed a national letter of intent to play soccer at Middle Tennessee State.
“She looks in great form,” Polebitski said. “She’s definitely in her finest shape ever and she’s ready to play.”
Also back are defenders Courtney Jungers, Anna Abrams and Nikki Weise; midfielders Sierra Patzke, Alyssa Nicewander and Maleva Butkiewicz; and forward Lizzi Hanke. Amber Van Handel, a marking back last year, could switch to a wing position in the midfield.
“We realize we have a very good team coming back this year,” Polebitski said. “We are very optimistic about this season. The seniors have been playing soccer their whole life. They play in the summer, they play in the winter, they go to camps. We are the team that we are today because of their dedication to the sport. Hopefully, some of the younger players can learn that if you make that commitment year-round, you can really make a difference by the time you’re a senior.
“We definitely have talented players all the way around, from the forward to the middle to the back,” he added. “We have some girls on varsity that have athletic ability, but not necessarily the knowledge of the game. It’s going to give those players the opportunity to watch the experienced players. Hopefully, that’s going to catch on with them. We have a lot of teaching to do and we understand that if we want to keep the program strong for next year, we have to develop a whole group of kids because our seniors are basically going to carry us through this year. We’re going to be looking at a whole new team next year.”
The Comets compete in the Eastern Valley Conference with Berlin, Clintonville, Fox Valley Lutheran, Freedom, Little Chute, Ripon, Winneconne and Xavier.
Polebitski said the coaches recently conducted a preseason poll.
“Xavier took the top spot and it was very close between Winneconne and Waupaca for No. 2,” he said. “FVL is right behind. The up-and-coming one that everybody’s going to have to watch out for this year is Freedom. They started coming on strong last year. It’s our first conference game and I know we’re going to be missing some band players and Josee, our goalie, is not going to be there. We’re going to have our first conference game without our starting keeper. That game is definitely going to be an important one for us.”
The Comets will close out the regular season with FVL and Xavier.
“No one has beaten Appleton Xavier in a conference match and there’s only been a handful of goals scored on them,” Polebitski said. “We came close last year, a 2-1 game. Hopefully, we can keep it close this year. I think we match up well. They still have the nod on us, but anything can happen. That’s why we play the game.”
Waupaca Girls’ Soccer 2014 Schedule
Varsity
Thursday, April 3 – at New London, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, April 7 – vs. Stevens Point, 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 10 – at Hortonville, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, April 14 – vs. Freedom, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 15 – at Shawano, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 17 – vs. Wausau East, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 19 – vs. Appleton West, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 22 – at Winneconne, 4:45 p.m.
Friday, April 25 – at Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 29 – vs. Little Chute, 5 p.m.
Friday, May 2 – at Ripon, 5:30 p.m.
Monday, May 5 –vs. Clintonville, 7 p.m.
Monday, May 12 – at Berlin, 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, May 15 – vs. Fox Valley Lutheran, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 17 – Waupaca Invitational (Marshfield, Mosinee, Northland Pines, North Fond du Lac, Kingsford, Mich., Marinette, DeForest), 9 a.m.
Tuesday, May 20 – vs. New Holstein, 5 p.m.
Friday, May 23 – at Menasha, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 27 – at Appleton Xavier, 7 p.m.
Junior Varsity
Thursday, April 3 – at New London, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, April 7 – vs. Stevens Point, 5 p.m.
Thursday, April 10 – at Hortonville, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, April 14 – vs. Freedom, 5 p.m.
Thursday, April 17 – vs. Wausau East, 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 19 – vs. Appleton West, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, April 22 – at Winneconne, 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, April 24 – vs. Amherst, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 29 – vs. Wrightstown, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, May 2 – at Ripon, 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 3 – Waupaca JV Invitational (Winneconne, Amherst, Appleton East, Seymour, Kimberly, Marquette, Mich.), 9 a.m.
Tuesday, May 6 –at Wrightstown, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 8 – at Amherst, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, May 12 – at Berlin, 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, May 15 – vs. Fox Valley Lutheran, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, May 20 – vs. New Holstein, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, May 27 – at Appleton Xavier, 5 p.m.