Jesus Torres believes this may be his deepest and best girls’ soccer team ever, and that’s high praise considering the program he’s helped build.

Yes, the team lost five starters, including one its top scorers in Shyla Gilbertson and goalie Chelsey Eley, but two four-year starters return at center midfielder in Taylor Madigan and Kara Dahmen to form a strong core at the position Torres calls the “axle.” The pair finished one, two in scoring for the Warriors last season, with Madigan racking up 28 goals and 20 assists and Dahmen chipping in with 14 scores and nine helpers. Both girls were first-team all-conference selections.

But this team is far from a two-person show as numerous girls with varsity experience, including seven fellow seniors, flank the two center mids for a team that went 21-5-1 and fell 1-0 in the sectional final versus Madison Memorial.

Torres thinks this team is even better than last year’s version.

“We are going to be as strong or stronger than last year,” he said, with not only nine seniors but six juniors providing a great deal of both physical and mental maturity.

The first goal is to win conference, which the team has done nine straight times, with a run to state next on the checklist, the coach said, as Torres firmly believes his is the best team the state has to offer.

“Those seniors, they want it bad. They are already focused on state and making it to state,” the coach said, adding that Verona and Madison Memorial will probably provide the toughest competition in the team’s sectional.

To prepare for a post-season run, the staff has again assembled a difficult schedule featuring games not only with Verona and Memorial in the area but with Brookfield Central, Waukesha Catholic Memorial, St. Charles (Ill.) North and other top teams around the Midwest at the Tournament of Champions in Iowa.

“I firmly believe the more we challenge them, the better players they are going to be,” Torres said.

The girls gave up only 18 goals in 27 games last spring, and they will try to match that record with a new goalie and two new starting defenders.

Replacing Eley in goal will be senior Kassy McCarthy whose big foot helped propel the Waunakee football team to a state title.

McCarthy’s punts and goal kicks will be a major weapon teams will have to account for, Torres said.

Senior Bethany Annen, a first-team all-conference pick last spring, returns to lead the defense from the center. She will be joined in the center by junior Olivia Evans who didn’t start but saw substantial playing time last season.

Flanking them will be senior MacKenzie Amato on the right and junior Abby Maier on the left. Both have significant varsity experience.

In the midfield, flanking Madigan, the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year last season, and Dahmen will be seniors Jennie Dailey, a second-team all-league pick last season, on the right and Nikki Mouille on the left.

Up front will be sophomore Molly Laufenberg whom Torres expects to do great things this season after a year of varsity experience. She will be paired with either sophomore Jill Ross or one of freshmen Megan McCormick or Abby Pandow. Ross has the inside track on the only open spot, the coach said.

Carrying 24 talented girls will be a challenge, Torres said, but so many girls came out across all three levels, it was tough to place girls. But it should mean great depth.

“We have plenty of girls that can step in at every position,” he said.

The coach expects Sauk Prairie, boosted by a strong group of returners, to be the conference’s second-best team, with Mount Horeb close behind.

Waunakee opened the season Wednesday with a trip to Waukesha to take on Catholic Memorial. The girls next hit the road to Green Bay to take on Notre Dame April 9 and Green Bay Southwest the following day.

Jesus Torres believes this may be his deepest and best girls’ soccer team ever, and that’s high praise considering the program he’s helped build.

Yes, the team lost five starters, including one its top scorers in Shyla Gilbertson and goalie Chelsey Eley, but two four-year starters return at center midfielder in Taylor Madigan and Kara Dahmen to form a strong core at the position Torres calls the “axle.” The pair finished one, two in scoring for the Warriors last season, with Madigan racking up 28 goals and 20 assists and Dahmen chipping in with 14 scores and nine helpers. Both girls were first-team all-conference selections.

But this team is far from a two-person show as numerous girls with varsity experience, including seven fellow seniors, flank the two center mids for a team that went 21-5-1 and fell 1-0 in the sectional final versus Madison Memorial.

Torres thinks this team is even better than last year’s version.

“We are going to be as strong or stronger than last year,” he said, with not only nine seniors but six juniors providing a great deal of both physical and mental maturity.

The first goal is to win conference, which the team has done nine straight times, with a run to state next on the checklist, the coach said, as Torres firmly believes his is the best team the state has to offer.

“Those seniors, they want it bad. They are already focused on state and making it to state,” the coach said, adding that Verona and Madison Memorial will probably provide the toughest competition in the team’s sectional.

To prepare for a post-season run, the staff has again assembled a difficult schedule featuring games not only with Verona and Memorial in the area but with Brookfield Central, Waukesha Catholic Memorial, St. Charles (Ill.) North and other top teams around the Midwest at the Tournament of Champions in Iowa.

“I firmly believe the more we challenge them, the better players they are going to be,” Torres said.

The girls gave up only 18 goals in 27 games last spring, and they will try to match that record with a new goalie and two new starting defenders.

Replacing Eley in goal will be senior Kassy McCarthy whose big foot helped propel the Waunakee football team to a state title.

McCarthy’s punts and goal kicks will be a major weapon teams will have to account for, Torres said.

Senior Bethany Annen, a first-team all-conference pick last spring, returns to lead the defense from the center. She will be joined in the center by junior Olivia Evans who didn’t start but saw substantial playing time last season.

Flanking them will be senior MacKenzie Amato on the right and junior Abby Maier on the left. Both have significant varsity experience.

In the midfield, flanking Madigan, the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year last season, and Dahmen will be seniors Jennie Dailey, a second-team all-league pick last season, on the right and Nikki Mouille on the left.

Up front will be sophomore Molly Laufenberg whom Torres expects to do great things this season after a year of varsity experience. She will be paired with either sophomore Jill Ross or one of freshmen Megan McCormick or Abby Pandow. Ross has the inside track on the only open spot, the coach said.

Carrying 24 talented girls will be a challenge, Torres said, but so many girls came out across all three levels, it was tough to place girls. But it should mean great depth.

“We have plenty of girls that can step in at every position,” he said.

The coach expects Sauk Prairie, boosted by a strong group of returners, to be the conference’s second-best team, with Mount Horeb close behind.

Waunakee opened the season Wednesday with a trip to Waukesha to take on Catholic Memorial. The girls next hit the road to Green Bay to take on Notre Dame April 9 and Green Bay Southwest the following day.