Editor’s note: This is one in a series of articles featuring the Lawrence soccer teams that participate in the Premier league of Heartland Soccer Assn.

The KSA Gunners U10 girls soccer team is only starting to get its feet wet. The team was formed just last year because of parent demand for more competitive team play than was offered in the Kaw Valley Soccer Association. The eleven member team plays in the Division 4 of the Heartland Soccer association, which plays at Heritage Park in Olathe every weekend.

Gunners assistant coach Neil Jacobson said the team has had to move their way up in the league because they are a new team.

“There are four levels of competition in the league,” Jacobson said. “We are fairly middle of the road, because this is our first year in this competitive league. We’re likely to move up next season.”

Jacobson stepped up to the coaching position after the team’s head coach, Jenny Anderson, took a leave to play in a soccer tournament in Korea.

Anderson took up the coaching responsibilities for the Gunners after graduating from the University of Kansas soccer program last year. Jacobson said the Gunners are excited about Anderson’s return to the United States and the team in June and are planning their post-season party to welcome her home.

When Anderson returns she will be surprised at the Gunners’ growth as a team. Jacobson said the team has developed dramatically this season, losing games by a far less margin to teams the Gunners faced last season.

“We really wanted them to understand what they were being taught and that it would take them to the next level,” Jacobson said.

The team faced competition from Kansas City and Overland Park in its league play. Jacobson said the team’s biggest goal was to survive through the season in the competitive league and to develop the individual skills of each player so that the team will play better as a whole.

The Gunners get a chance to develop individual skills by playing each position on the field throughout the season whether it is goalie, forward, midfield or defense.

“That is part of the learning experience,” Jacobson said. “They get to figure out what they like and don’t like. Next year when they move up they will have a little more say based on what they liked this year.”

Jacobson said his best experience with the team this season was watching their improvements. The Gunners boast a promising record to back up Jacobson’s opinion, with one loss, one tie and four wins on the spring season.

“That is really the development we are working towards,” Jacobson said.

The Gunners played their two last games of the season on Saturday and they are eagerly waiting to share their success with Anderson when she returns next month.

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