SILVERDALE — Expectations are high this year for the Eagles. It should be another successful fall on the pitch with a number of starters returning from a year ago.

The Eagles lost 3-2 to King’s, the eventual 1A state champions, with a group of mostly sophomores and juniors that was experiencing its first deep playoff run. Eight starters have returned from that team.

“We’re looking good so far,” head coach Troy Oelschlager said. “We’re a year older and a little more experienced. It should be a good run. We’ll see what happens.”

However, the Eagles will have to fill a few key roles.

They will need to find a replacement for Hailey Sargent, the 1A Olympic League MVP, who graduated last year. She and then-junior Kate Streck were a big part of Klahowya’s ability to maintain possession as they won many of the 50-50 balls at midfield. Sargent also scored 11 goals last year, making her an all-around threat.

Klahowya also has to replace keeper Emma Hough (graduation) and forward Tyler Townsend, a junior who will likely miss the whole season with an injury.

But plenty of talent remains for another run at a state championship.

Junior forward Alyssa Peters headlines the list of returners. She led the West Sound in points a year ago with 16 goals and 14 assists. Peters, along with seniors Rylee Fenske-Radford and Kylie Woodrum, should lead a potent attack.

The defense also features a number of returning players, including junior Hope Martin and senior Gabrielle Marcoux.

Klahowya typically runs roughshod over its 1A league competition, but they have a quality non-league schedule that includes every 2A Olympic League team, 4A South Kitsap and Cascade, last year’s 1A runner-up. This should help prepare the Eagles for another tough postseason.

“After getting that far last year and having this many players return, good things can happen,” Oelschlager said.

— Mark Krulish is a reporter for Kitsap News Group. He can be reached at mkrulish@soundpublishing.com.