The LHS girls’ soccer team has a new coach on the sidelines this year…again. For the third time in three years, the varsity squad swapped head  coaches. This year, Steve Burkhalter has the job.

Three coaches in three years can be good or bad.

The pessimistic Patriot might wonder who can bring victory to Lincoln High if Robin Miller and Katie Behrens cannot.

On the other hand, an optimist might say that the team has finally found its coach, that Steve Burkhalter holds the experience and the right attitude to win games.

"We go out to every game with the idea that we’re going to win the game," Burkhalter said.

Last year, the girls’ soccer team failed to make it to the state tournament.

The team plans to move forward this year which means not only making it to the state tournament in Aberdeen but winning.

Senior Zahra Harrison has her eyes on the state championship trophy.

"Having a state championship senior year would be great," Harrison said, "I think it will happen."

The team certainly has the players to do the job.

Losing only five seniors since last year, the team is loaded. Fans have seen what Zahra and Kenisha Harrison can do together. The duo have played together for years, including two years with Steve Burkhalter as their club coach before high school. Senior Lindsey Brockhouse compliments the Harrison twins at center midfielder. Also contributing to the Patriot squad are juniors Emily Hanneman and Sam Medema along with rising freshman Darby Hugining and Christina Sorenson.

Many feel that Burkhalter’s experience and the relationships he has with the players are enough to make a strong push at a state championship this year.

Coaches in previous years have lost their jobs trying to stabilize the girls’ soccer program at LHS, but Burkhalter is poised and hungry to win. For him, being the third coach in three years will not affect his camaraderie with the team.

"I don’t feel any pressure. I’m just trying to help the players perform at their best," he said.

Regardless of this season’s outcome, with Burkhalter behind the clipboard the Lady Patriots are looking to settle down and improve from last season.