New head coach Charlie Gonzalez gives his team some coaching pointers during practice last week.

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Coming off a successful season a year ago that included a second-place finish within the Greater Sacramento League and an impressive 12-2-3 overall record, the Cordova Lady Lancers will be returning to the pitch this winter with a talent-laden roster comprised of many experienced players. Yet, that is where the continuity ends. 

The Lady Lancers will be faced with many new challenges this season, from being moved into the uber-competitive Metro League, to adjusting to new head coach Charlie Gonzalez. But as the team took to the field this past week to begin practicing for the upcoming season, their new coach is encouraged by the early returns from this year’s roster.

The Lady Lancers took to the practice field in early November to begin preparations for their upcoming season. Photos by Rick Sloan

"It's going pretty good. I'm liking what I'm seeing," Gonzalez said. "We have a lot of returners from last year, a lot of seniors, I think we have a really solid team."

Key returning players include sophomore forward Makayla Pena, who tied for the team-lead in goals a season ago with five. Her game speed and versatility are intriguing to Gonzalez, who said he is still trying to figure out the best spot for her on the field as she can play virtually anywhere. Fellow sophomore forward Paytyn Garner, a likely team captain, will be relied upon as one of the teams' top defenders and vocal leaders. Additionally, junior midfielder Karen Gonzalez will be asked to handle free kicks and corner kicks, as well as control the middle of the field for Cordova. 

The Lady Lancers look ready to compete in the new Metro League.

Gonzalez is hoping that the returning talent on the roster will help offset some of the adversity the team may deal with when it comes to Metro League play. Additionally, Gonzalez took steps to help the team prepare for the tough slate ahead.

"It looks really competitive with some really good teams," Gonzalez said regarding his outlook on the Metro League. "Given that it's so competitive, we tried to set up some preseason games against some really competitive teams to prepare us for that."

The Lady Lancers will take to the pitch on Friday, Nov. 22 with a preseason tournament where they will face Christian Brothers, Pleasant Valley, and Galt over two days. Location details were not available at press time.