With the start of Spring sports comes the beginning of the season for one of the most successful sports programs at Lambert. The history of the soccer team includes a state championship and a state runner-up. In the 2017 season, the Longhorns try to make it back to the mountain top that they have climbed before.

The Lambert boys’ soccer team always have a goal to win the region title. Last season, they found themselves staring up at Centennial and Chattahoochee after losing the last two games of their regular season. They then went on the road in the state playoffs and lost 1-0 to Norcross, ending their season far from reaching their ultimate goal.

Coming into the 2017 season the Longhorns have a lot of work to do. They lost eight seniors in the offseason, but with young talent like Trey Hines getting another year under his belt alongside nine returning seniors, there is plenty of potential.

Senior Avery Dekshenieks is set to replace Nick Coward in goal. Coward was an anchor of the team last season, proven when he reeled off six straight shutouts to begin the season.  This will be Dekshenieks’ first season starting for the Lambert varsity soccer team.

“Our team goals are to win the region championship and to win a state playoff game,” said Dekshenieks. “Personally, I want to further my skills so I can play in college.”

The region realignment has put Lambert in a great position to reclaim another championship.

On the other side, the Lambert girls team is two years removed from reaching the state championship. Last season ended with an abrupt and slightly unexpected loss in the first round of the state playoffs. This season, they are loaded with talent in their search to finish the business they started back in 2015.

The Lambert girls are led by Division I signees Maddie Eddleman and Jordyn Ebert. Ebert has been the goaltender for four season, and she signed with Mercer. Eddleman led the team in scoring last year, and she signed with Vermont.

“Last year we had really high expectations based on the talent we had last year, and it was very disappointing to go out in the first round,” said Ebert. “I think after the results of last year we know how important getting the first seed going into the playoffs is, so that will give us some extra motivation going into region play.”

The biggest X-Factor for the Longhorns is junior M.E. Craven. Craven is committed to play soccer at Auburn University, and her talent is going to go a long way in claiming another region title. The Lady Longhorns also have Division I talent in sophomore Ellie Prybylski, who is committed to play and further her education at the University of Kansas.

“We graduated key players and we’re super young this season,” said Ebert, “so that will be exciting to see how it comes together.”