As the new high school sports season arrives, the Esko girls soccer team will be looking to improve on a team that finished under .500 in the win-loss column last year.

Under the leadership of first-year head coach Caitlin Lilly, the Eskomos hope to regain their position as one of the top teams in Section 7.

"We have five seniors this year and we expect our seniors to command the center of the field," Lilly said.

After their 6-9-0 record last year, the Eskomos lost two stellar players, as Kristy DeMuth and Tori Vosberg both graduated. DeMuth was a two-sports fall athlete as she also acted as a placekicker for the football team as well as playing forward for the girls soccer team. Vosberg was a stalwart on defense.

"We expect our seniors to be physical and aggressive for the entire 90 minutes of each game, and to bring competitiveness to each practice," said Lilly. "Our goalkeeper Orie Randall, Emily Rengo, Ali Thorton, and the majority of our defensive line are back from last year including Rachel Antonutti, Aila Gabel and Sarah Stueber."

The Eskomos got a boost earlier when they found out that senior Elsa Mowers will be returning to play after a short hiatus.

"Elsa Mowers is a senior who pursued an advanced education curriculum last season and is now back with us," Lilly said. "We are excited to get to use her power and hunger for the ball."

Lilly also looks to a pair of sophomores, Avery Kuklinski and Ava Korby, to help ignite the offense this season.

"Kuklinski and Korby have great play-making vision," Lilly said. "We are excited to see how they can help set up our offense."

The Esko girls were looking at a challenging start to the season after this issue of the Pine Knot News was printed, as they were scheduled to host Hermantown at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27. Access to the soccer field is open from the north only, as bridge construction continues over the Midway River.