For the each of the past two seasons the Tigers have produced a program-best nine wins while at the same time ratcheting up the quality of their competition. Third year coach Rob Carpentier expects more success in 2011.
"Across the board this will be the fastest and most skilled team we have ever had," he said. "We could be better than last year if we are able to overcome our lack of experience. We are going to have to rely on our captains to lead us through the early part of the season...and I'm always concerned about injuries."
Injury has already reared its ugly head as senior goalkeeper Taylor Meyer, the 2010 Missota Conference Keeper of the Year, has been lost for the season after suffering a torn ligament in her knee during summer basketball. Kaylie Sorenson, another probable contributor, suffered a similar injury this summer.
Carpentier must also deal with finding replacements for Devyn Alberts, the Missota Conference Player of the Year in 2010, all-Missota Conference performer Laine Trowbridge, Shelby Calhoun and Elena Koch. Alberts and Trowbridge are both playing collegiate soccer this fall.
Key returnees include seniors Kelli Harstad, Ashley Kimmel, Alyssa Parco, Gabby White and Rachel Beck; junior Leah Zak and sophomores Kayla Kucala, Hannah Miller and Kelly Kornmann.
Kimmel, Jacoby and the injured Meyer have been named team captains for the upcoming season.
Other players expected to battle for varsity playing time this fall include juniors Caillie Kittleson, Megan Provost, Naomi Wood, Tina Oppedisano, Alex Frost, Emily Pulido and Sydney Eckert; sophomores Kelli Elmer, Izzie Ferm, Melissa Muelken, Kenya Macias and Maddie Strid and freshmen Emily Johnson, Sarah Zak and Ashley Becker.
Eckert, Becker and Muelken figure to fight it out for Meyer's vacated spot in goal although Carpentier said he may go with a "keeper by committee", especially early in the season.
"There are really so many talented younger girls at the other positions that it's difficult to say now who will step up," he said. "Sometimes a player just comes out of the woodwork. That will all be determined as we go."
Carpentier picked Northfield, a team with nine returning starters, as the favorite in the Missota Conference race with the Raiders, the two Lakeville schools and Rochester Century the most likely teams to make a run at the Section 1 crown.
Farmington moves to Section 1 this fall after playing in rugged Section 2 in previous seasons but Carpentier said the new assignment won't be an easy one.
"Five of the eight teams in the section could reasonably make the state tournament," he said.
"I think we'll be competitive in both the conference and section. How competitive remains to be seen. It's just too early and we are so young."
Tracie Randall will handle the junior varsity coaching chores while Eric Shelton and Linda Crawford will work with the B-squad and ninth grade team.
Jon Graff and Jason Kohlbeck will work with the Boeckman Middle School program and Sarah Drazkowski and Kjerstin Theraldsen will coach the Dodge Middle School teams.
The Tigers open the 2011 campaign with a non-conference contest with Faribault, Tuesday, Aug. 25, at Tiger Stadium.
