2017 Virgin Valley Girls Soccer Capsule

League: Class 3A Sunrise

Head coach: Bob Snell, 18th season

2016 record: 12-7-3 (8-1-1 Sunrise, second)

Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (seven)

Top athletes: MF Kallie Graves (Sr.), F Ally Wright (So.), MF Kari Wakefield (Sr.), D Karla Correa (Jr.)

Outlook: The Bulldogs return seven starters from a team that advanced to the Southern Region semifinals last year, but must replace the school’s all-time leading goal scorer in Abbie Barnum.

A pair of midfielders and the team’s goalkeeper also graduated.

“We will need to move some players into new positions to plug the holes left by graduation,” Snell said.

Graves (7 goals, 18 assists) and Wright (10 goals, 5 assists) return and likely will lead the offense.

“We have good experience returning that includes seven seniors,” Snell said. “It may take a little time for players to adjust to new positions. How they respond will be the key to our season. A solid junior varsity team last year provides depth.”

Snell also is encouraged by what he said should be a strong junior varsity team this season and strong incoming classes for the next two years.