Two defensive miscues cost the Klahowya Secondary School girls soccer team its season in 2009.

They hope a new defensive scheme will save the 2010 season from a similar fate.

The Lady Eagles will feature the new look on defense when they open the campaign against Port Townsend High School Sept. 8, a year after squandering a victory in the first round of the Class 2A state tournament thanks to a pair of second-half breakdowns on the back line.

Four-year player Ruthie Hawley still remembers the feeling following that 2-1 loss to Lakewood High School at Silverdale Stadium, her team’s home pitch.

“Why did we let this happen?” she said following practice last week. “That was our game.”

And so begins Klahowya’s girls soccer team’s quest for a second state championship in school history, bringing a flat back-four scheme on defense into 2010.

It’s the first time the girls squad has run the scheme under longtime coach Troy Oelschlager, whose most recent try with the flat back style came as coach of the boys club about seven years ago. The team allowed two goals the entire season.

In the flat back formation, two central defenders play side-by-side along with two outside defenders, creating a straight line of defense. In past seasons, Klahowya has used a diamond formation in the back line, stacking two central defenders – the sweeper and stopper – between the outside defenders.

Oelschlager made the switch based on personnel and believes it will allow his outside defenders to get more involved in the offense attack.

He said the scheme is similar to a zone, that there is no man-to-man coverage.

“When you’ve got the right players, it can be really beneficial,” said Oelschlager, whose starting defense will include a freshman, two sophomores and a junior. “And it’s just prettier soccer.”

There was nothing pretty about the way Klahowya’s season ended in 2009.

After a 11-win regular season, the Lady Eagles were eliminated in the first round of the state tournament as a No. 1 seed.

Despite the setback, the returning players enter 2010 confident and determined.

Hawley, the team’s second-leading scorer a year ago, hopes to see the Lady Eagles advance beyond the first round of state for the first time since she joined the squad four years ago.

Among the supporting cast will be senior Jordan Dixon, who led the team in scoring in 2009, as well as goalkeeper Cassandra Dick, defender Rachel Lindgren, midfielders Brittany Robinson and Katlyn Sargent, and four-year varsity player Rocki Winkler.

“This year is all about victory,” Hawley said. “That means winning on the field, giving it all out here, even it means getting goose poop on your shorts. We are about victory this season. We’re coming out hard.

By the numbers

0: Oelschlager has never defeated Olympic High School, going winless in 14 seasons.

4: Klahowya lost four players to graduation, three of whom were starters in 2009.

1999: The first and only year Klahowya won a state title.

Schedule

Sept. 8 Port Townsend 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 9 *Kingston 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 13 at Steilacoom TBD

Sept. 16 at Bremerton 6:45 p.m.

Sept. 21 North Mason 6:45 p.m.

Sept. 23 Sequim TBD

Sept. 28 at Kingston 6:45 p.m.

Sept. 3 North Kitsap TBD

Oct. 5 at Port Town. 6:45 p.m.

Oct. 7 Port Angeles TBD

Oct. 12 at Olympic 6:45 p.m.

Oct. 19 Bremerton 6:45 p.m.

Oct. 21 at North Mason 6:45 p.m.

Oct. 26 at Sequim 6:45 p.m.

Nov. 1 Peninsula TBD

*At Gordon Field, 1200 NW Fairgrounds Road, Bremerton.

All other home games played at Silverdale Stadium.