“I think we’re going to be better on the first day of this season than we were at the end of last season,” said Arlington girls soccer coach Nathan Davis, with a week of practices in the books.

Part of Davis’ confidence in his team stems from how many key returning players he has back. While seniors Billie Detmer and Morgan Galusha graduated last season, a lot of last year’s roster has returned for another year.

After returning from a junior season in which she was named first-team all-league at midfield, Davis expects co-captain Kristen Allen will only get better this year. She’ll be joined at midfield by another couple of veteran players, Jessica VanLoo and Olivia Woodard.

Joining Allen in team leadership are two players experienced at defense for Arlington, Amanda Wregglesworth and Erin Taylor. While Wregglesworth will remain on defense, Davis said he is still pondering what to do with Taylor’s talents.

“She’ll be on the field somewhere, we just don’t know where yet,” he said. “She might move up into a wing.”

Also returning on offense is forward Kristina Longosky where she’ll be joined by MacKenzie Adell, who is getting the varsity nod after spending last season swinging between varsity and JV.

After getting some experience at goalkeeper last year, including at districts, Chelsea Bolton will return to defend the net for Arlington.

“She’s a pretty good athlete,” Davis said, adding that Bolton will be backed up by freshman Cassandra Lake.

Arlington’s season begins at home Sept. 9 against Everett, who should be back and badder than ever with about a dozen seniors back from a team that went to state last year.

“Everett is going to be the cream of the crop,” Davis said, adding that despite the team’s bump up to 4A this year, Arlington will still face the same teams during the season. “Our goal is to make top five because, if we do, we make a playoff.”