Cathedral School girls soccer coach Dennis Hogue doesn’t want to jinx his team.

After finishing first in its district last season, the Lady Wave returns most of its starting players for a season Hogue said is hopefully filled with good fortune.

“I’m just worried about putting my best team out there,” Hogue said. “We have a good squad. I’m not saying we are going to win district this year, but we have just as good of a chance as anybody.”

Cathedral dropped its first game of the MAIS AAA playoffs last year after claiming the district title, but the loss of just three seniors should help this year’s cause, Hogue said.

“We lost Emily Hicks — a really strong infielder. She was such a great leader and we are really missing that,” he said. “We’re going to miss of course Anna Schwager at sweeper. She just comes right through.

“We do have Faith Anne Brown and Taylor Maples to anchor the defense. We just have to find one solid, smart girl in the middle.”

Additionally, Hogue said Cathedral’s offense should be equally as effective, if not more than its defense.

The Lady Wave returns its two leading scorers from last season in Izzy Dupre and Gracie Foster, as well as Olivia Moore and dual-athlete Hailey Ellis, when available.

“There’s four people who can score at any given time,” Hogue said. “If the ball’s at their feet, they are a threat.

“Defense we have to work on just a little bit, but after that it’s game on.”

If Hogue is worried about one thing, he said it is making sure everyone is on the same page. As of practice Wednesday, Hogue had yet to have his entire team together for a practice.

“Somebody has always been on vacation or something,” he said. “I think the first time they will al be together will be Monday.”

Luckily, Hogue said he thinks the Lady Wave will be ready for its first game of the season at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday when Cathedral hosts St. Aloysius.

“They know what we are doing. We will be all right,” he said. “I’m excited about the season. I’m ready to start playing some soccer.”