The Buhler girls soccer team took third last year at the Class 4-1A Tournament and graduated no seniors, so expectations were high this spring for the Crusaders. Overall Buhler returned six all-state players and 11 all-league players.

The seven-player senior class of Maggie Epp, Payton DeMeyer, Aliyah Frederick, Daycee DeWindt, D’Naeya Gray, Emily Schmidt and Kaylea Adcock won just four games as freshman, eight games as sophomore and then 15 games last year.

“The girls have been focused since the day we lost to Bishop Miege last year,” Buhler coach Randall Rank said. “I would bet that we would be one of the favorites to contend for a state title this year. We’ve been building up for three years to get to where we are.”

Last season’s team outscored their opponents 85-20 and recorded a school-record nine shutouts on their way to a 15-3 record.

Junior Alex Hutton led the Crusaders in goals with 27 and also had 15 assists. Sophomore Aubrey Tanksley led Buhler in assists with 16 and added 18 goals. Frederick recorded 20 goals and five assists.