LAPEL — With a full schedule and eager players, the Lapel Bulldogs are ready to open the inaugural season for girls soccer.

Coaching a team at the grass roots level and building that program has long been a dream of coach Chad Soden. A former coach at Mt. Vernon, Soden is just as excited for soccer as his new team is.

With most players with limited or no long-term experience in the sport, the season will be an ongoing learning experience.

Soden, however, won’t use that as an excuse.

“We want to be competitive. We don’t want to be an easy game for anyone,” Soden said.

They aren’t completely inexperienced; several players have a background in other sports.

“This is very rewarding. It’s exciting to see how much they’ve progressed. I never expected to be this far along,” Soden said.

By the end of the season, Soden wants the fundamentals to be second nature for his players.

“To see these kids learn and grow is why I got into coaching,” Soden said.