Park had a successful season last year, going 10-5 overall. The Wolfpack posted a 5-4 record in the Suburban East Conference, finishing fifth. Park started slowly last season, and were just 5-4 after the first nine games, then won five games straight to end the regular season and first round of section play.

Park dropped Woodbury 7-5 in the Section 3 quarterfinals, then ran into a Rosemount buzzsaw and lost 18-2 in the semifinals. Rosemount went on the finish third at state.

Five starters are back, including leading scorer Shelby Hansen, to lead the Park offense this season, A sophomore last season, Hansen had 30 goals and 6 assists for a team-high 36 points.

Other starters back are the fifth, sixth and seventh scorers from last year in Megan Maloney, Madi Brinkman and Josie Leonard. On defense, Olivia Opichka returns.

The three starting midfielders all graduated, so that line must be rebuilt.

“We’re not sure exactly who is going to play what roles,” said head coach Scott Leonard, now in his 16th season on Park’s sidelines “We have about seven girls in mind that we think could play attack or mid.

“Defensively we probably have one of our most athletic groups that we’ve had in years,” Leonard continued. “They may be as skilled as some of the defenders that we’ve had but they can run and they’re strong so we’re really looking forward to that. We were just talking about some different things we might try with having a defense that athletic.”

Park should field as athletic a team as the Wolfpack have had in the last several seasons, Leonard said. The defense, Leonard believes, could be one of the real strengths of the team, especially as the players gain varsity experience.

Top goalie Ashley Penniman must be replaced. Aubree Laska played in seven games last season as an eighth grader and allowed just 12 goals for a 3.19 average.

It will be a young Park team with Maloney and Kyleigh Mullen as the team’s only two seniors. Others with some varsity experience who should play bigger roles this season include Megan Husaby, Kyra Stofer, Morgan and Finley Leick.

Stillwater and Cretin-Derham Hall, the top two teams in the Suburban East Conference last spring, should again be strong, Leonard said.

Park hosts East Ridge to open the season on Monday, April 18, starting at 7 p.m.