The Renton girls soccer team hopes a returning co-coach and a few talented players can push the team forward.

“It’s not a big squad but we can do good things with a small squad,” said Renton co-coach Andrea Anderson. “If we can beat the teams that we should beat and hold our own against the teams where we’re overmatched, then we can have a successful season.”

Anderson is in her first season at Renton, co-coaching the team with Duane Nakamura. Nakamura coached both boys and girls soccer at Renton previously but took last year off. They form a good pair, as Nakamura leans his attention toward defense, while Anderson is more offensively minded.

“I’m trying to balance out the team from being really defensively oriented to pushing some players up the field,” Anderson said. “I want to get the team up instead of hunkering down at the goal and hoping for the best.”

Renton’s biggest loss to graduation was Tahleah Tolbert, who anchored the Indians’ last season. The new leaders will be seniors Anna Vu and Wanda Saechin, along with junior Kristen Haag. All three made the Seamount all-league honorable mention last season.

Other key players include Alissa Reynolds in goal, Briona Harrington and Zhane Turner. Reynolds and Harrington are seniors, while Turner is a sophomore.

Harrington will lead the offense from forward or midfield, while Haag will play a vital role in Renton’s defense.

The Indians have good balance age-wise with six seniors, five juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen. But overall they don’t have many players, which means injuries could be especially damaging.

“That’s a concern,” Anderson said. “But we have been working hard on conditioning and strengthening. Hopefully, we can manage it so there won’t be too many injuries.”

Anderson thinks the team can finish fourth or fifth in the Seamount, putting them in the race for one of the league’s final playoff spots. The Renton girls soccer team has never been to the state tournament.