Free State High boys and girls soccer teams have been inclined to increase their win total each season under coach Jason Pendleton.

“We’ve had improvement each season from each team,” said Pendleton, who opens his third season as FSHS girls coach today with a 4 p.m. home contest  weather permitting  against Shawnee Heights at the FSHS field. “We hope we can continue to increase our win total. I think we’re a hungry team.”

The Firebird girls are coming off a 9-8 season, the best in city girls soccer history. Free State, now in its fifth year and 15-53 all time, won six games combined in its first three seasons.

The Firebirds return eight starters, including seniors Morgan Matthews, Kelsey Mellard, Katy Vormehr, Stephanie Miller and Natalie Wilkins. Matthews, Vormehr, Miller and Wilkins have been a part of the FSHS program since their freshman year.

Mellard is in her third season with the Firebirds after transferring from Perry-Lecompton.

“I think we have a chance to be pretty good,” Pendleton said. “The big question mark is how well we’ll do defensively without Lauren Wilkinson and Katie Rhodes. They were cornerstones for us.”

Vormehr, a forward, and Mellard, a defender, have signed with Moorhead State in Minnesota. Matthews, a midfielder, has signed with Fort Lewis in Colorado.

Vormehr scored 14 goals last season to lead Free State. She was a second-team all-state pick and second-team all-Sunflower League pick.

“We have a lot of offensive power,” said Pendleton, whose squad scored a school-record 51 goals last season. “I think we should be able to score.”

FSHS hopes to finish in the upper division of the Sunflower League.

“There are four teams in our league capable of winning state  Shawnee Mission East, Olathe East, Shawnee Mission South and Olathe South,” Pendleton said. “Those four are absolutely outstanding. After those four, we feel we’ll be right there and compete. We’ve worked harder than we’ve ever had in the offseason and have improved dramatically in terms of conditioning, strength and speed. The kids have bought into the work ethic.”

LHS hopes to build success

Keith Nelson is optimistic entering his second season coaching LHS girls soccer.

“I don’t have to teach them basics,” Nelson said. “We can get to big-time tactics this year, especially zone defending.”

The Lions tied a school record for wins in a season last year when they finished 6-9. All six victories were by shutouts  five 1-0 decisions and a 2-0 triumph.

Heading into Thursday’s opener at Shawnee Mission West, Nelson has 14 girls on his varsity roster. Bliss Lemmon, Samantha Lopez, Carrie Skahan, Andrea Stoneback and Betsy Rowden are the five seniors on varsity.

“We’re experienced, but we’re still young,” Nelson said. “All the girls have varsity experience.”

Lopez, a forward, has signed with Oklahoma Wesleyan. Lopez, junior forward Kara Roelofs and junior center/midfielder Aly Barland should supply most of the offensive punch, Nelson said.

Lemon is Lawrence’s key defender, he added.

“Sam Lopez, Bliss Lemmon, Kara Roelofs are all stepping up,” Nelson said.

Sophomore Shannon Fisher will be the LHS goalie.

Nelson said his varsity roster could expand next month.

“I think they’ll need experience at the junior varsity level before they’re ready,” he said. “I fully expect some of them to earn a varsity spot.”