Due to a decline in participation, Brittney Leonard, a senior and co-captain of the Southmoreland Ladies Soccer team, was skeptical of how well the team would perform this season.

Since voluntary practices in mid-July, the Lady Scotties have seen the bare minimum of participation than what they have seen compared to the last few years. The team has gone from three-time section champs (2009-2011) to a team that has 11 players, just enough girls to fill each starting position.

Leonard said the situation makes her “very frustrated” interest in the team has declined. “And the fact that we don’t have any substitutes affects how we play and how much effort we can put on the field, giving it our all, but unable to get a break.”

Emily Burkhart, a senior and co-captain of the Lady Scotties, agreed. “It makes me upset because the senior girls, and myself, want to have a great exiting season, but with low numbers I don’t think we can.”

Despite the decline of players, the Lady Scotties’ positive attitudes and hard work has kicked the season into high-gear. Throughout the first few weeks of the season, the team, surprisingly, won three of their first four games. Having a winning season wasn’t even on the top of the list for the Lady Scotties, but now that they’ve gotten into a groove, their outlook on the season is beginning to change.

“I feel like we are coming together as a team more, and now that more people have come out to play, we’re starting to be more positive,” Burkhart said. “We still have things to work on, but I believe we have a chance to keep the tradition and have a winning season.”

“Now that we’re winning, I feel like there’s less pressure to have a good senior year, Leonard said. “Everything is just beginning to fall into place.”