Catie Sobotor, Upper Perkiomen's new lacrosse coach, is enjoying her new autonomy on the field. In her previous role as Methacton's JV coach, she needed

permission from the varsity coach to determine what drills to execute in practice or what skills need improvement.

            "Now I don't have to ask," Sobotor said.

            In their second week of practice, the Indians appear to be coming together, according to the new coach. The transition is going pretty well, according to Tori Shive, a senior defender.

            "We're still getting used to the different coaching style," Shive said. "We know what we need to work on."

            Upper Perkiomen will rely on a strong core of seniors to improve on last year's fourth place finish in the Pioneer Athletic Conference's Frontier Division. The team finished with 8-12 overall record and lost to Villa Maria in the opening round of the District One Class AA playoffs.

            The returning players include attackers Kathryn Bieler, Morgan Fiorito, Mikayla Folk and Grace Lehman; midfielder Courtney Bauer, and defenders Erin Boyle, Taylor Wismer and Shive.

            Sobotor named Makenna Phipps, a sophomore, as the top goalkeeper. She also identified a group of five or six incoming ninth graders who could make an immediate contribution.

            The new head coach, who missed last season while on maternity leave after spending nine previous years coaching at Methacton, was ready to return to action this spring. Sobotor said she viewed opportunity to succeed Susan Flack – who resigned following a five-year stint – as a great opportunity.

            "I was ready to take the big leap," Sobotor said. "I knew Upper Perkiomen was in the [small school] division, and that they had a really good coach."

            Sobotor has expressed a simple philosophy: on offense, pick up the ball and go; and be aggressive on draws and on defense. According to the new coach, her players are making the necessary adjustments.

            "The team is starting to come together," said Sobotor, whose team opens its schedule Friday on the road against Emmaus. "The girls are starting to pick up on some things. We'll see who steps up to fill the scoring role. I see that they can be a very good team. It might take a little bit of time, but the talent is there. We have to learn to work together."

            Shive described the team's main strengths as individual speed and aggression. However, she said some of its weaknesses were exposed in an early-season scrimmage against Garnet Valley, the defending District One Class 3A champions.

            "Garnet Valley's passing was seamless," said Shive, a returning starter.

            Sobotor described the early competition as rough. However, she said the Indians have made strides since then. According to Shive, the team has talked about adjusting its defensive approach and stressed the need to improve its transition from defense to offense.

            "Hopefully, we can use our speed to get into a rhythm and merge our individual styles," she said.