Upper Perkiomen's girls soccer team provided a glimpse of the enthusiasm its head coach is looking for last weekend. However, it didn't materialize until the latter

Addisyn Fluckey gives the ball a boot during players' Friday  non-league game against Schuylkill Valley.

part of the second half with the team trailing by two goals.
            Lexi Brunner's goal late in the second half appeared to provide the Indians with a spark of energy. But they couldn't avoid a 2-1 loss to Schuylkill Valley on Friday, Aug. 30.
            "We have to get off to better starts," Casey Lewis said.
            The Tribe (1-3 overall, 0-1 PAC) will need to put together a more complete effort to contend with a more challenging schedule. The team will compete in the Liberty Division, which means two games against five of the larger schools in the Pioneer Athletic Conference.
            Last season, it qualified for the PAC playoffs by winning the Frontier Division. The unit also qualified for the District One Class 3A playoffs but did not notch a post-season win.
            Avoiding injuries will be a key to the team's ability to contend with Spring-Ford, Perkiomen Valley and Owen J. Roberts, according to Lewis. He said it will rely on a core of eight seniors and eight freshmen, two or three of whom could eventually receive regular playing time.
            Four key contributors from the team that reached the PIAA Class 3A title game remain. Three of them help to anchor its defense.

            Lewis described the back five players – including senior goalkeeper Ava Long, classmates Elyse Kreiner and Morgan Sweed, along with junior Jenna Langenback and sophomore Maelyn Bolinsky – as the strength of the team.

           Senior Addy Fluckey, Katie Proctor, a junior, and sophomore Brooke Sullivan will anchor the midfield.
            Bolinsky and Sullivan, who both display determination, started and played most games as ninth graders last season. The coach noted they are reliable at both ends of the field.
            Lewis describes Bolinsky as an intelligent, solid defender who continues to improve. The coach lauded Sullivan's versatility and her ability to cover a "tremendous amount of ground both offensively and defensively. Both Brooke and Katie Proctor are reliable offensively and defensively and show grit and determination."
            Senior Sarah Straup and Brunner, a ninth grader, have emerged as the Indians' top-scoring threats.

            Lewis said generating enough offense to remain competitive could be a concern and  conceded that replacing Sarah Fisher, the most prolific scorer in school history, could create a challenge.
            "Scoring could be tough for us," the coach said.
            Down 1-0 midway through the first half, the Indians took control of the game with its offense. They fired several shots at Schuylkill Valley goalkeeper Cailyn Smith.
            However, the visiting Panthers delivered the game-winning goal with 12:51 remaining. Adilene Riley beat Long with a one-timer from the right post after the goalkeeper got caught out of position on a cross from the left wing.
            Still the Tribe offense continued to press. Brunner converted a one-timer from the right wing to get her team within one goal.
            "That's the kind of passion we have to play with in every minute of every game," Lewis said.

            On Tuesday, the Indians opened its conference season with a 3-1 road loss against Spring-Ford.