The return of students to ADM high school on Monday following spring break also marks the first girls soccer practice for an ADM/Van Meter squad looking to make another deep postseason run.

Last season’s Tigers won a Raccoon River Conference title and made it to a regional final, where they suffered a season-ending loss to Dallas-Center Grimes. ADM was ranked 7th in the final 2014 Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union poll with a 15-3 record.

The Tigers will certainly have their challenges in trying to repeat as conference champs. ADM lost nine seniors to graduation, including starting keeper Abby Daly, who posted a dazzling .753 goals against average, and two of its top four point-scorers in Caroline Maher (team-high 41 points on 17 goals and 7 assists) and Maddie Bertman.

But the Tigers also have a strong returning nucleus that positions them to compete at a high level this season.Back is senior Emily Hofmann and sophomores Sydney Bertman and Allie Cook, who were second, third and fifth on the team in points last season, respectively.