Bryant High School’s girls soccer team kicked off its season with a 1-1 tie against Rogers.

Head coach Olivia Organ acknowledged the challenges of playing the first game of the season. 

“Being the first game of the year is always a challenge going out and playing anybody who’s not yourself is tough, but at halftime we put in some adjustments, and the girls did a great job adapting,” Organ said.

The team has been preparing for their upcoming match against Rogers through training and working on their mindset. 

“Honestly, we’ve been preparing for this for a while now from the first day of school to summer practices, we’ve been putting in the work. It’s been a consistent effort and I think it’s really going to show in this game,” senior Julie Johnson, the team captain, said.

In preparation for the match and season, one of the team’s key focuses has been working on their team chemistry.

“This year, we’ve really focused on getting ourselves physically prepared, but also mentally ready. We’ve worked on strengthening our bond as a team and improving communication, which is crucial,” Johnson said. “With our strength, training and conditioning, we’re not just physically strong, we’re well put together as a unit.”

One of the biggest changes from last season is the team’s roster. After 12 seniors left, Bryant recruited a fresh group of players. They emphasized the importance of player development looking for leadership from returning players while giving younger athletes the opportunity to gain experience.

“Our ultimate goal, like every year, is you want to go out, you want to win state, you want to do the best that you can possibly do,” Organ said.