photo by: Nick Krug

Lawrence High senior Carson Drake charges out of a holding area as she and a handful of campers are set free during a game of jailbreak during the Lawrence High Youth Soccer Camp on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at Lawrence High School. Members of the LHS girls soccer team and head coach Matt McCune provided instruction at the camp for youths ages 6 to 9 years old.

A strong season has brought a world of change for Lawrence High’s girls soccer program.

The same summer workouts that saw three or four girls show up last year have attracted nearly the entire varsity lineup.

After ending the spring with a 7-10 record, their most wins in a season since 2009, the Lions are in the midst of a culture change and have raised their expectations for the upcoming year.

“There’s a lot of enthusiasm,” junior Mikayla Downs said. “People show up. In the past, people just haven’t shown up. It’s nice that people are starting to care more.”

The Lions hold captains’ practices twice a week during the summer on Tuesday and Fridays with scrimmages on Wednesdays.

They were planning on holding team camp throughout the week, but canceled Tuesday and Wednesday’s sessions because of excessive heat. Instead, the Lions, who had about 15 players show up Tuesday, have focused on doing some extra work during their youth camp in the morning.

“You have to use common sense,” second-year coach Matt McCune said. “We’re not going to get anything really accomplished and they got lots of touches on the ball today, which is the most important thing. There’s nothing else we can do.”

It’s the first offseason under McCune, and the Lions are happy with their early progress. More of them have signed up for club teams, which they hope will give them an extra edge when the season arrives, and practices have more intensity.

“We do a lot more game-related drills instead of just passing,” junior Bess Davison said. “I mean that stuff is important too, but also running skeleton drills and doing stuff that will help us during the game.”

The Lions return most of their varsity lineup from last season, including their top scoring threats Skylar Drum (15 goals, six assists) and Anna Chieu (11 goals, seven assists). They lost four seniors but are confident they can pick up where they left off.

McCune said two or three freshmen have shown up for the summer workouts, which gives them an edge, including a potential chance to crack the varsity lineup.

“In the past years, it’s kind of like all of the teams have come together in the season not knowing each other because we never did stuff outside of the actual season,” Downs said. “Now that we’re doing stuff before season and after season, it brings us together more and we work better together.

“I think we really want to work toward winning a regional game. Getting up there, sort of making people notice us more.”

At the end of July, McCune is hoping to take some of the team to northern Minnesota for a soccer camp. He said he’s also trying to set up exhibition games with other schools.

“There’s eagerness to work, which I love that,” McCune said. “As a coach, if you have someone who is willing to work, you can do a lot with somebody like that. When you have a handful or like what we’re having out here with 15 girls or whatever, that’s great.”

Beyond the field, there’s a changed attitude around the program, which the Lions are hoping is a good sign for their upcoming year.

“I heard from several players that they wish they had played because it’s a completely different atmosphere,” assistant coach Katrina Farrow said. “I think kids don’t get enough credit. If you raise the standards, they’ll meet you there. It’s been really exciting. We’ve been really impressed with the talent that we’ve had and then the talent that’s developed out of the girls so far.”