These girls are all about winning.

Even if it means only three victories in a 16-game season, the team will have achieved one of its goals — more wins.

The South Whidbey girls soccer team has new coaches, new co-captains and a new goalie. It also has a new attitude.

Last season was mired in conflict and drama among the players and coaches, players said. This season, the four seniors and new head coach Ben Rusch are working toward cohesion and cooperation with their teammates.

“We want to keep our team together and not have fighting with the team,” said senior midfielder Makenzie Peterson.

Fellow senior Brianna Haimes, a defender, said the season already feels better than last year’s.

The Falcons finished 2-12 in Cascade Conference games in 2010, which was a drop from the 4-10 season in 2009. The girls have yet to play a game together and the team’s captains are certain improvement has already occurred.

“I think the season is going to be better than last year,” she said.

One way the players are familiarizing themselves with each other is through two-a-day practices since the season began Aug. 22. That’s a new system for the Falcons implemented by Rusch, who coached the junior varsity boys soccer team in spring.

“We need to know how each other plays,” Haimes said.

The two-a-days have a dual effect: conditioning and team bonding. Being in shape to stop the quick attacks from Archbishop Murphy or King’s will be crucial for South Whidbey this season.

“Conditioning is a big part of high school soccer,” Peterson said.

Rusch has also had a positive impact on the team’s chemistry, as noticed by the co-captains.

“Ben’s done a really good job of keeping things fun at practice so we’re not arguing,” Peterson said.

With the team conditioned and focused on the game, instead of sideline bickering, the Falcons are prepared to build an offense that lagged last year. South Whidbey scored 11 goals last season during 15 games, and was shutout nine times to finish tied for last place with Coupeville and Sultan.

“For the team that we have this year, what Ben is wanting to do will work well for us, because we have a lot of small girls who are quick,” Peterson said.

On defense, the Falcons will need to improve as well, if they expect to win. South Whidbey’s opponents scored 55 goals, including 10 by Archbishop Murphy — the favorites to win the conference. The two rematches with the Wildcats are high on the seniors’ list of games they look forward to.

“Hopefully we can give them a run for their money,” Peterson said.

What was a hindrance to the 2010 Falcon soccer girls — passing — may be a boon to this season’s squad. Inexperience led to too much, and not enough, dribbling and passing.

Now, with more than 10 returning varsity players, those issues are expected to be resolved.

Rusch was part of the solution. During the summer, he coordinated with the seniors to organize pick-up soccer games on South Whidbey to keep his players conditioned.

“He is doing a much better job of talking to the girls,” Haimes said. “He still plays and (understands) how we feel out there.”

Attrition struck the soccer team worse than other Falcon fall sports. Injuries and changing priorities were a couple of reasons a few girls didn’t return to the soccer team this season.

The seniors convinced Lindsey Grimm to return for her junior season. Last year, she was one of two goalkeepers for South Whidbey. The other, Angelina Berger, chose to focus on track and field.

To replace both former keepers, junior Ellie Greene joined the team. She’s already made a positive impression on her co-captains.

“She’s doing great so far,” Haimes said.

Rusch brought in Jane Gerlach, wife of boys soccer coach Joel Gerlach, to coach the junior varsity team. They’re both hands-on coaches, running on the field with them through drills and scrimmages.

Together, they will forge ahead to improve the team’s wins and its attitude.