After reaching the regional semifinals last season, the Lady Cavs soccer team is ready to build on the momentum from last season.

The Lakeland High School girls’ soccer team reached the Class 3 Region A semifinals last season. It fell a game short of the region title game and of clinching a state tournament berth. The Lady Cavs remember the feeling they had on the field in their last game of the season, and Coach Adam Smith hopes that drives his team to success this year.

“We talk about this every day,” Smith said. “If we have a day where we aren’t as sharp as we like, I remind the girls of the feeling we had last year that ended our season. We just want our returners to get our younger players on board with what we want to accomplish this season.”

A core returning for Lakeland this season includes Darcy Kilgore, Nacaccia Becerra, Mikayla Grant and Callie White. Kilgore and Grant were first team All-Region selections last year. Becerra was a second team All-Region selection last season. Smith feels good about his core leading the way, and while Lakeland has other areas, they are figuring out on the field he knows the turning core is always going to find ways to have success.

“We are finding ways to get better every day,” Smith said. “We have been figuring out some other parts on the field we want to work on, and we feel good about the progress we have been making every day. ”

Lakeland feels good about their schedule this season. Of course, the Lady Cavs take on the tough Southeastern District, but the non-conference schedule will be a bit more favorable. The district will offer tough competition, which the Lady Cavs believe will prepare them for the region.

Lakeland will kick the season off against Park View High School at home Tuesday. The two teams met in the quarterfinals of the regional tournament, which Lakeland won, so they are familiar with their opening day opponent.

“We want to make sure we are putting the ball in the goal,” Smith said. “We have been working on trying to improve that in our scrimmages. We want to work some different combinations that will give us the best results.”