ROYAL CITY — The Royal Girls soccer team is a hungry unit looking to get back to postseason play after missing district action by one game last year.

The Knights are loaded with experience and will look to give the competition a run for its money.

“We have a good spine to the team,” coach Jens Jensen said. “Our center defenders Liz Torres and Sam Dun have experience and are tough competitors. The center mid’s Alicia Callahan, Dani Lima, Zayda Romero and newcomer Chenoa Louie are all tenacious and building their chemistry with one another. The forwards we will likely start with are seniors Noelia Juarez and Yajaira Michel. Each of them brings something a little different to the table, but they are both committed and willing to make runs.”

Jensen said top priorities for the team are fitness as they plan to squeeze the field when the other team has the ball, and breaking out with speed. 

“We want to frustrate and pressure teams until they lose their composure,” he said. “We want to force them into mistakes and make them cough up the ball.”

The stiffest completion in the East Conference Jensen says is expected to come from Connell, Kiona-Benton, and Warden.

Fans will get a chance to find out what the team is made of when the Knights take to the pitch for their season opener tomorrow at Goldendale. The team then travels to College Place Sept. 12. Royal’s first home match is Sept. 14 with conference rival Wahluke.