The DeKalb Middle School Lady Saints Soccer team has been working hard, preparing for their second season. While the young team is still facing inexperience and growing pains, Coach Justin Nokes said his girls are looking strong and playing hard.

"This will be our second season," Coach Nokes told the Review. "We’re missing some key players from last year that’s graduated and went on to high school, but I love the way our new team is looking. Our eighth graders this year have really stepped up and become leaders. We’ve been working hard every day, trying to get better."

Coach Nokes said that experience is something that still plagues such a young program, but the young girls are stepping up to the challenge. "We have eight or nine eighth graders this year, so we’ll be missing a lot of pieces next year, but we’re getting these younger girls ready and in shape. We’re giving a lot of these young players some experience, because they’re our future too."

He continued, "The returning players from last year are really showing that they know what’s going on; that they know what we’re dealing with, and what middle school soccer is all about. I’m really looking forward to having some experience this year."

While DMS is still fairly new to the soccer scene, Coach Nokes said the popularity of the sport is growing and the conference is adding new teams this season. "Smith County and Cornerstone Middle School are adding girls’ soccer teams this year, so our conference has grown from eight teams to ten. This year we’ll have more teams to play, and more levels of competition that we’ll get to see."

The Lady Saints first regular season game was last night, but after press time.