The 2016 Nansemond River High School girls’ soccer team is primed to follow a 2015 Lady Warriors squad that had unprecedented success.

Last year, the Lady Warriors went 13-7-1 and made their inaugural appearance in the regional championship game and their first appearance in the state tournament.

The team saw some players graduate since then, but Desiree Patterson is the only player in that group who started every game last season.

Kurt Straub, who returns for his second year as the Lady Warriors’ head coach, said, “My expectations are high. We’re a very, very talented group right now. I’ve added four new freshmen who pretty much led the whole (junior varsity) team last year.”

He noted that last year, he kept his starting players out on the field a little longer but has elevated confidence in his array of backups this year.

As for the possibility of returning to states, Straub said, “That’s the plan.”

However, Nansemond River is in a new classification this year, Group 5A, putting it in a new conference and new region with bigger schools.

“It mixes things up a little bit,” Straub said. Among the notable teams at the 5A level are Hickory High School and Maury High School.

Last year, Nansemond River faced a stiff conference challenge whenever it played King’s Fork High School.

This year, Menchville, Gloucester and Kecoughtan represent strong competition, as well as possibly Warwick, which Straub said he knows nothing about.

“That’s like playing King’s Fork four times,” he said.

Straub is considering starting four seniors, four juniors, two sophomores and one freshman.

He has 24 girls on the team this year, a large number that leaves him prepared should injuries pile up.

“I keep a bigger team just for that case; that way I don’t have to take from the JV team — they’re already there,” Straub said.

Some of his expected standouts are prominent names from last season.

Junior Starr Robinson will be key in her defensive center midfielder role.

“I expect her to be a team leader like she was last year,” Straub said. “Her and Kamarie (Jewette), side-by-side, they pretty much control what goes on, on the field.”

Now a junior, last year Jewette became the first girls’ soccer player at Nansemond River to receive an all-state honor.

Straub expects senior sweeper Kendall Webster to lead the defense, along with senior left fullback Jen Herrera.

His outside midfielders are expected to be sophomore Kaylah Simmons and junior Victoria Czuprynski.

Key to the Lady Warriors’ offensive attack will be potent junior forward Daijah Norris and sophomore forward Indiah Hunter, who was one of the team’s leading scorers last year as a freshman, along with Norris.

Also expected to be a key contributor on offense is senior forward Alina Rivera.

Straub is deciding between senior Kaitlyn Higgins and junior Savannah Miller for his starting goalkeeper.

The group of four freshmen helping give the team depth this season includes Haley Russell, an outside midfielder; Sage Sullivan, a defender; Saleena Lynch, a utility-type player who transferred from Lakeland High School; and Sarah Rhiel, another skilled utility player.

The Lady Warriors open the season on Tuesday 7 p.m. at home against Oscar Smith High School.