By Kyle LoJacono
The jerseys still say Freedom, the mascot is still the Patriots and the colors are still red, white and blue.
Other than that, very little remains from the 2011-12 Freedom girls soccer team that went 12-5-2 and made the playoffs for the third straight season, making it last year as the Class 4A-District 8 runner-up.
The Patriots (1-4-2) graduated 10 seniors, including nine starters.
“The seniors built a big legacy for us,” said sophomore goalkeeper Jackie Vaughan. “Won districts two years in a row and runner-up last year when we were upset by Steinbrenner. Since we have such a younger team we have to rebuild, but still keep that perspective and focus. … We know we have to keep that going. We have a great coaching staff, and the girls are all good soccer players. It’s going to be a bright future for us.”
The squad was in a similar situation entering the 2010-11 season when it returned two starters. Freedom rebounded to win its second straight district title that year.
“Now the seniors are gone, and we have to build again,” said junior defender Carly Curry. “I still think we’re going to be good. The freshmen are good and everybody just wants to play.”
The team’s success in recent years has helped build confidence.
“We’ve had a lot of success,” said senior forward/midfielder Brandi Chmielewski. “I feel like we have a really good team every year. The girls always bond, and we’ve stuck together. … Everyone is kind of doubting us, but we’re going to be good this year. We just need to know that we can go out there and play with anyone.”
That confidence was something third-year Freedom coach Jenna Ball has been looking for.
“It’s set an expectation that it’s not OK for us to just do well in the season,” Jenna said. “In the season we’re building toward playoffs, and we expect to be in the district finals and be district champs every year. Our district has gotten more competitive, which makes us have to raise our own bar.”
Jenna said last year’s seniors were big parts of the team, but not having them appears to be making the returning players strive for more.
“I think last year we relied a little too much on those seniors,” Jenna said. “We kind of got complacent at times because we had a lot of stars on the team. This year it’s been a lot more about team building and keeping the team together. We don’t have any one player that we depend on. Coming from last year I think the girls were scared when they saw all the girls leave on senior night, but this year they’ve come out ready and with smiles.”
One of the few returning players that started last year is junior defender Dana Jones, who thinks the backline can be a strength as the forwards and midfielders get used to high school soccer.
“The defense, it’s going to be like a wall this year,” Jones said. “It’s pretty strong.”
Vaughan is stepping into the net that was occupied by Emily Ball the previous three years. Emily, who signed with the University of South Carolina, racked up 186 saves and 10 shutouts last year and was named The Laker/Lutz News Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
“It’s kind of excitement and pressure,” said Vaughan, who started one game last year. “Emily is a big role model of mine. She played for the same club that I do. I heard about her through my younger years. When I finally got to play with her it was a big thing. It gives pressure because people saw how great she was, and I’m just a little version of her. … Her technique is everything that I want mine to be, so I took all the little things that she did to keep getting better.”
Vaughan and the other inexperienced Patriots know there’s much to prove, but they have plenty of motivation based on how close they were to winning their third straight district title last year.
Freedom was tied with Steinbrenner 1-1 late in double overtime of the district finals on the Patriots’ field. The Warriors got a goal with less than two minutes before penalty kicks, scored by Remi Brantley.
“Everyone kind of remembers the losing part,” Chmielewski said. “It was a tough game, and I just try to remember how hard we played. We really gave a good effort out on the field. This year it pushes me to work harder so we don’t lose like that again.”
Freedom has yet to beat Steinbrenner, compiling a 0-2-3 record.
“Steinbrenner is definitely our rival,” Curry said. “They lost a lot too, so it’ll be fun to see what happens this year. … Wharton is still a rival because they’re on the block, but Steinbrenner, man, we want to beat them.”
The Warriors host the 4A-8 tournament Jan. 15 to 18, with the final Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.
The Patriots host 4A-8 rival Wiregrass Ranch Nov. 27 at 8 p.m.
—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker
