By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor

GREEN BAY – If one game is any indication, the Notre Dame Academy girls’ soccer team appears to be ready for another successful season.

Playing for only 70 minutes, the Tritons turned back Denmark April 1 in nonconference action at Notre Dame Academy, 10-0.

Maggie Thilman and Mia Lemkuil each tallied a hat trick, while Audrey Burnell and Abby LaMere each scored a pair.

With a plethora of spring games already canceled in other sports, Notre Dame Head Coach Nick Browne said the finicky weather hasn’t stopped his girls.

“We’ve been practicing outside in the freezing cold weather and freezing rain,” he laughed. “The girls have fought through it. The turf (at Notre Dame) is great. It was put in 13 years ago, and it’s been a Godsend.”

In the game against Denmark, Browne said you never want to beat an opponent 10-0, but there’s an advantage to scoring so many goals.

“It’s nice to get everyone into the game and get those nerves out,” he said.

The Tritons were in Division 2 last season but will be in Division 3 this year.

“We’re normally a Division 3 school,” Brown said.

Notre Dame advanced to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association state title game last season before losing to Whitefish Bay, 7-0.

In the ever-tough Fox River Classic Conference (FRCC), Browne said it will be a tough year.

“The FRCC is loaded with lots of good teams,” he said. “You have Bay Port, De Pere, Green Bay Southwest is solid and Pulaski is good. In 2018 when we won state (in Division 3), Bay Port won in Division 1 that year against Sheboygan North, another FRCC team.”

Browne said he hopes his team is slotted somewhere near the top.

“We hope to be on top and will do everything to be there, but our ultimate goal is always state,” he said.

According to Browne, the Tritons’ midfield is “rock solid.”

“On the back end, we have some youth, but based on this game, you saw we have some finishers who can put the ball into the net,” he said.

The Tritons, who are preseason ranked No. 4 by the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association, open FRCC play with a road game at Pulaski Tuesday, April 19.