The last two years of Priest River girls' soccer have been, to use head coach Danielle Carey's wording, rough. 

The Spartans are a combined 0-25 in that time span, coming off a 0-14 2025 campaign in Carey's first season at the helm. However, the 2026 Spartans believe that run stops with them, and they've set a lofty goal for themselves. 

"Their goal, which as me as their coach I support them, is to get to state," Carey said. "Where their heads are at right now, it's a goal they can reach." 

Carey said she spent a lot of last year building up the team's fundamentals and has observed a total commitment from the girls that dates back to the end of last season. She said a few of the girls on last year's team nicknamed themselves the "Comeback team." 

"The whole team agreed. It was like, 'Okay, let's do it then,'" Carey said. "100% commitment. We did summer training, and I think all but maybe one of my girls showed up." 

Each one of the girls will need to step up and play a role in the team's comeback season, Carey said. One of the key players next season will be sophomores Rachel Roberts, Summer Womack and Jasmine Zylstra, who Carey said can play anywhere on the pitch and make a significant impact. 

The Spartans' leader said she'll be leaning on her two captains, seniors Macie Olmo and Lilly Kennedy, to guide the team on and off the field. 

"They were, not just play wise, they were really good with the leadership [of the] team," Carey said. "That's huge to me." 

At practice, the Spartans have been working on passing and conditioning to get them ready for their season opener in late August. Carey said she believes soccer is a passing game, and that aspect of the game opens scoring opportunities and tires out the other opponent. 

It's in their passing that Carey said she's seen a ginormous amount of growth in the team. 

"This year, all summer we practiced accurate passes," Carey said. "We did a lot of passing drills, and already they're 90% better than they were last year." 

If the Spartans want to make state and achieve their lofty goal, they'll need to place first or second in the 4A Intermountain League District Tournament. Carey said that getting past Coeur d'Alene Charter will be their most difficult task, but the girls' unwavering commitment over the summer has her believing. 

"That's the most important thing for me because I know they're here because they want to be here and they want to succeed," Carey said. 

FUN FACT: In addition to leading the girls' soccer team, Carey also teaches at Priest River Elementary School and serves as the President for the leading local youth sports club, Priest River Youth Sports. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH:  Jasmine Zylstra, so.; Macie Olmo, sr.; Lilly Kennedy, sr.

MOST ANTICIPATED GAMES: Bonners Ferry, 8/31 and 9/26. Carey said the Badgers were the team they played the closest last season, and she's excited to see how this team competes. 

SCHEDULE:  

- 8/24 vs Orofino, 1 p.m.

- 8/27 vs Timberlake, 4 p.m. 

- 8/28 @ Coeur d'Alene Charter, 4 p.m. 

- 8/31 @ Bonners Ferry, 6 p.m. 

- 9/2 vs St. Maries, 2 p.m. 

- 9/4 @ Kellogg, 4 p.m. 

- 9/8 @ St. Maries, TBA 

- 9/11 @ Grangeville, 12 p.m. 

- 9/14 @ Orofino, 4 p.m. 

- 9/18 vs Grangeville, 2 p.m. 

- 9/26 vs Bonners Ferry, 2 p.m. 

- 9/29 @ Timberlake, 4 p.m. 

- 9/30 @ Coeur d'Alene Charter, 6 p.m. 

- 10/10 vs Orofino, 4 p.m. 

*Schedule as of 8/20, subject to change