By Matt Browning
The Kapaun Mount Carmel girls soccer team finished third at the 5A Tournament last season and returning first team all-state defender Annabelle Schafer has plans for the Crusaders to be even better in 2026.
“I think the team’s biggest goal this year is to place better than we did last season, and I think we have the ability to do so,” Schafer said. “We are returning a lot of the team from last year and I think the talent we lost is easily gained back by some of the younger girls who are ready to step up.”
Schafer said Kapaun’s team chemistry is one of the reasons why it was so successful last season and also one of the reasons why she is excited to get the season going.
“We all click with each other and I would say last year that really benefited the team,” Schafer said. “We all like to have fun but we also know when to push each other, because we all have the same end goal which is to win.”
While Schafer was one of the best players in Class 5A last season, she still wants to be more confident.
“At the end of the day I just can’t be as hard on my myself and realize mistakes are part of the game,” Schafer said. “I think once I am able to do that, I will have max confidence with the ball on or off my feet.”
