Coming off a 14-10-1 overall record, fourth-place district finish and rare first-round playoff exit, the Brownwood Lady Lions are looking for a return to their customary level of success in the revamped District 5-4A.

Gone from the league are state power Salado and China Spring, another playoff squad from a year ago, as the Lady Lions will contend with Stephenville, Gatesville, Lampasas and Little River Academy in league play in 2025.

“It’s the same district from last year minus Salado and China Spring,” said Lady Lions head coach Alexis Walker. “To be the best you have to play the best and Salado and Stephenville are the best, always competing to go to the state tournament every single year. To play them multiple times in district gave our girls adversity and we could see how they would handle it in a game like that. Still having the Stephenville game is one I always look forward to because I respect their coach so much and he always does a good job with those girls over there.”

The Lady Lions lost six members of last year’s team to graduation but welcome back eight seniors for this year’s campaign.

“We have a good group of leaders and seven of our seniors are starters,” Walker said. “Jacklyn Lewis, our leading scorer from last year is back, but she had two surgeries this summer so she’s having to recondition herself. But just having her on the field, her energy is contagious. Everywhere she goes she always has a smile on her face and is in the best mood and really lifts up our team.

“Also coming back are Braycee Lee, Noemi Ceniceros in goal, Sidney Atkins leads our back line, in the midfield is Alma Bernal and she’s started since her freshman year. She is the glue to our team and I like her to know that and that her job is communicate with everyone on the field and she does a great job with that. Outside is Adrianna Allen playing left wing, and then Kylea Karnes will help in the midfield and is a great overall athlete. This group plays well as a team and I’m excited to see how they look when the regular season starts.”

The Lady Lions kick off the season where the last two have ended in the playoffs – at Mineral Wells – in a 2 p.m. Monday road contest against the host Lady Rams.

“I scheduled that for a reason,” Walker said. “We’re starting the season there to redeem ourselves and get ourselves on the right path. I think it’s going to be a good season for us.”

After the opener, the Lady Lions will battle La Vega, Godley, Marble Falls, Fort Worth Diamond Hill-Jarvis, Alvarado and Fredericksburg, along with competing in the Gatesville and Burnet tournaments, ahead of district competition.

Perhaps the biggest key to success for the Lady Lions this season will be to avoid the rash of injuries that handicapped the squad a year ago.

“Last year we were very injury prone,” Walker said. “We had two ACL tears during the season and over the summer we had two more as Cate Smith will be out to start the season. We have all the talent in the world and I remind them of that, but there were very few games last year where we had all starting 11 on the field together because we had so many injured. That’s a not an excuse, it’s actually something that motivates the team to realize the next person better be ready to step up, and they always are just like that were last year. But if we can stay injury free, and I believe God will bless us this year, I think it will be a really good year for us. I’m excited to see the girls get to work.”

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BROWNWOOD LADY LIONS VARSITY SOCCER SCHEDULE

D30	at Mineral Wells	2 p.m.
J3-4	at Gatesville tournament	TBA
J7	at La Vega	5:30 p.m.
J9-11	at Burnet tournament	TBA
J17	Marble Falls	5:30 p.m.
J22	Godley	5:30 p.m.
J24	at Fort Worth Diamond Hill-Jarvis	6:30 p.m.
J28	Alvarado	4:30 p.m.
J31	at Fredericksburg	5:30 p.m.
F4	at Lampasas*	5 p.m.
F7	at Waco Robinson	5:30 p.m.
F11	at Little River Academy*	5 p.m.
F14	at Gatesville*	5 p.m.
F18	Stephenville*	5:30 p.m.
F21	Lampasas*	5 p.m.
F25	BYE
F28	Little River Academy*	5 p.m.
M3	Gatesville*	5 p.m.
M7	at Stephenville*	5:30 p.m.

* District 5-4A Games