You see the slogan on many U.S. Marine Corps recruiting posters: Adapt, Improvise, Overcome.

Of course, nobody's equating the Marines' mission with West Carter's girls soccer team's 2017 goals, but the three-word phrase still applies to the Lady Comets they have to adjust after losing 10 seniors, including leading scorer Samantha Duvall and her 23 goals and 13 assists.

What's more, second-year coach William Logan has fewer players with whom to work he says 17 or 18 are expected this year, compared with last year's 28 at the beginning of the season. (Injuries ultimately reduced that number to 24.)

We're rebuilding at defense, midfield, forward and the keeper, third-year coach William Logan says. We've been doing a lot of conditioning, getting up to speed and maintaining.

The Lady Comets are steadily improving. Last year's team was 11-12, up from 2015's 8-13-2.

West Carter had never been to a summer team camp, but Logan took the Lady Comets for a 212-mile round trip ride to Asbury University in Wilmore for some workouts with coach Brooke Lincoln.

We worked mostly on transitioning to make everyone involved, Logan said. We're working more on crossing (passes) and finishing with the younger ones and more on ball skills.

Though Duvall is gone, the Lady Comets are not bereft of scoring. Junior forward Addison Burchett scored 19 times last year and dished five assists.

She handles the ball well, Logan says. She has a good strike. She works on ball skills, dribble and make turns and make space behind the defense.

Logan says seniors Katie Wolfe and Taylor Hicks should join Burchett on the front line. Katie Wolfe started as a sophomore, so she's coming into her third year, Logan says.

There's also a sisterly connection; sophomore Hadley Burchett is a midfielder. Sophomore Taylar Middleton and Megan Perry are the potential midfield starters.

I want (Middleton) to make space and pull the defense over a little more, Logan said.

Freshman Riley Madden and sophomore Hallie Steagall are the goalkeepers. Steagall allowed 23 goals and compiled a 1.6 goals-against average last season.

The keepers have learned to be more active, Logan says.

So, how does Logan define a successful season? Winning the 62nd District for the first time would be nice.

For me, it's the girls learning more about the game a little bit more, he says. We do like to get wins also.

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Lady Comets 'getting up to speed' on pitch - Journal-Times