It happens to be that time of the year again when many NDA soccer girls will lace up their cleats and hit the pitch.

After taking second in the state tournament last year, the girls are ready to go and excited as ever for the season to start. The team has been practicing long and hard this winter, and the players are well prepared for what is ahead of them.

Tryouts for the NDA girls soccer team will be held on Monday, March 21. They will last a total of three days. Then the team will have their first game on April 5 at home on Ted Fritsche Field against Appleton North.

The team is led by senior captains Anne Fife, Monica Majeski, Shannon Kaufmann and junior captain Katelyn Morgan.

“Being a captain is great,” Fife said. “All the girls are great and we all get along so well. I am so proud to be a leader of a team that is as close as we are. I love everyone. Everyone on the team makes me a better player, and I am going to miss everyone so much next year.”

Kaufmann said, “It is an honor and a privilege to be given this role on the team. It is a great opportunity for me to make a positive impact on our team and to be a role model to the younger girls.”

In addition to the strong leadership from the captains, the coaches play a major role in the team’s success each year. The coaches for this season will include varsity head coach Bob Rickards, assistant varsity coach Nick Browne, assistant varsity coach Alex Zeller and junior varsity coach Emily Kaufmann.

Anne Fife said, “On a scale of 1-10 my excitement level is at 50. I am super excited for the season. It is my last season, and I want to go all out.”

All of the girls feel the same exact way as Fife and just keep counting down the days until tryouts begin.