photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence freshman Rylee Williams runs toward the ball in a 3-2 win over Free State on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Lawrence.

For the final stretch of Lawrence’s 3-2 girls soccer win over Free State, four freshmen finished the game on the field as the Lions scored twice to win.

The Lions have relied heavily on their freshmen class this season, and the group has continued to develop into critical roles.

“We had a freshman in goal, we had a freshman outside back, we had a freshman in the midfielder, we had a freshman in the outside forward all at the end of the game, and they all played lights out,” Lawrence coach Joe Comparato said. “And a freshman got us the (game-tying) goal.”

Rylee Williams, Lillian Poteete, Mary Jane Sachs and Hadley Ornes were the four freshmen who closed the game against Free State, and of those four, Williams, Poteete and Sachs played soccer together before high school. Having teammates they’ve spent time with and played alongside has helped the freshmen get acclimated to their new team.

“It helps us not to get frustrated with each other — we trust each other with the ball,” Williams said.

It also helps when the team feels like a family, which the Lions have been able to do. Williams said she was nervous when she started the season, but the team has been so welcoming. Those nerves and fears quickly disappeared as she spent time around the team.

“It’s so fun, I really enjoy them,” Williams said. “I really didn’t expect high school soccer to be this much fun, but the girls really connect. (This season) has been above my expectations. I’m having a great time.”

Williams isn’t just having fun while riding the bench. She started for the team in every game and has had numerous game-changing plays, including the game-tying goal against Free State on Thursday.

The freshmen bring talent, but the Lions’ seniors have been instrumental in helping the young group flourish on the team. The welcoming environment has helped the freshmen get comfortable and gain confidence in themselves, and a lot of it stems from the time the team has spent together and the bonding process that has come with it.

“The older girls are like older sisters to the freshmen,” Poteete said. “They’ve helped us so much get over our nerves for these big games. We have such a good team dynamic this year.”

Poteete started the year splitting time at goalkeeper but held the position for the entirety of the Free State game. She’s faced a lot of pressure situations and has had to overcome mistakes and miscues to keep her confidence up and play at a high level.

As a goalie, Poteete’s position comes with a leadership responsibility. She sees the whole field, has to direct the defense at times, and has to be able to put plays behind her and keep playing at a high level. It can be a big ask for a freshman, but Poteete has worked hard to be that leader and is still trying to improve.

“It’s hard… this team has played together for a while, so it’s hard to step in (and lead),” Poteete said. “But I think the freshmen have done really well (in stepping in), and the upperclassmen have helped welcome us all in.”

Playing in the Sunflower League means that the Lions have often had to fight upward against some of the top teams in the region, but a win like Thursday’s can be used as momentum as the team continues to grow and develop. For the freshmen class, the early returns are positive and exciting, but the possibilities for growth as they still figure things out are even better.

“We’ve got a good stretch of games coming up, and this is really what we needed to put ourselves in a situation where we want to be in,” Comparato said. “We’re going to fight from the bottom of the table, and we’re going to get there. We’re going to make it to the tournament, and we’re going to try to make a run.”

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence freshman Mary Jane Sachs keeps the ball inbounds in the girls soccer City Showdown at Lawrence on Thursday, April 10, 2025. The Lions won 3-2.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence freshman Lillian Poteete runs to stop the ball in a 3-2 win over Free State on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Lawrence.