La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

All wasn’t lost when the new-look La Conner High School girls’ soccer team dropped two tough non-league tests to open the 2023 campaign.

First-year coach Maddie Huscher was encouraged by her club’s effort in an 8-1 setback to North Mason and 7-0 shutout defeat at Northwest House of Seattle last week.

“It was tough competition playing a team not in our division,” Huscher told the Weekly News after the road trip to Northwest, “but it was a great learning experience. We played on a turf field, something we aren’t used to.”

Huscher said the team’s returning players kept the lineup focused with on-field communication throughout both matches.

In addition, at Northwest, Huscher said right-center defender Kim Williams shut down several potential scores and cited teammate Angie Pena for outstanding play.

Offensively, Lydia Grossglass displayed some deft passing while advancing the ball to the opposing half.

“The girls did great, learned a lot and had fun,” said Huscher.

The Lady Braves resume their non-conference slate at 4 p.m. Thursday opposite Forest Ridge at the La Conner Elementary School Playfield.

In related sports news, the defending state 2B champion Lady Braves volleyball team opened the season with setbacks to 1A programs Meridian and Lynden Christian before competing in the Yakima Sun Dome Festival on Friday. La Conner captured pool play with a 6-3 mark before falling 24-26, 15-25 in bracket competition featuring top seeds.

The La Conner net team, facing heavy graduation losses from last fall’s state title lineup, returns home today (Wednesday) for a 3:30 non-conference date with Neah Bay.