The Turlock High girls’ soccer team begins their season next week after COVID forced them to play a spring season last school year. With the team having just had an impressive season, they are looking to build on that momentum and be successful this year.

The Bulldogs were 8-2 last season with all games in the league due to pandemic restrictions. The Bulldogs will start the preseason on November 15 with an away game against Buhach Colony. League play begins seven games later on January 5 with another away game against Gregori.

One player to watch is senior Gracen Daubenberger who was the team’s top scorer last season. Other players to watch out for are fellow seniors Macy Max and Kaylee Redman, who head coach Nicole Lonegran calls a “playmaker.”

Daubenberger accounted for almost 30% of the team’s goals last season with 10 and Redman was responsible for almost 20% of the team’s assists with five.

The team facing pandemic restrictions, social distancing and quarantine measures last year, the team are thrilled to have a season that looks more “normal.”

“I’m looking forward to a great season this year and I’m happy we’re having a more normal season after a shortened quarantine season last year. We are fortunate to have a lot of returning varsity players, with some solid new additions, ”said Lonegran. “I am fortunate enough to coach an amazing group of talented, hardworking and competitive young women and I expect us to be a team to wrestle with this year.”

One game to mark on your calendar is the home game against rival Pitman High on January 7. The Bulldogs lost a close game to Pride last season 2-1, and Pitman took first place in the league.

The Journal will preview Pitman’s football teams as well as Turlock’s men’s team in its Saturday edition.