The Mid-Prairie soccer programs travel to Benton Community Tuesday to meet the Bobcats in a set of scrimmages. This is the first live action of the season with an opponent for the Golden Hawk girls. They tied a school record with 11 victories and were River Valley Conference champions with a 6-1 record last season in league play. They scored 69 goals as a team, giving up 30. They bring back their top six scorers, led by two in double figures with Esther Hughes’ team best 21 goals as a junior, and Sophia Baker’s 12 as a sophomore. The Hawks will turn to Ainsley Lueck in goal, she spent 100 minutes on the line last year stopping all five shots she saw. She will try to replace Emily Swartzentruber, who as a senior, had nearly 1,200 minutes, 82 saves and a 73% save percentage.

The Benton girls were 7-10 last year and 5-7 in the WAMAC Conference. They scored 50 goals and gave up 45 a season ago. They will have to replace team leader Shakayla Lamer and her 24 goals and 11 assists. They return their second leading scorer and assister Grace Embretson after 11 goals and six assists as a junior. Goalkeeper Sami Yardley returns for her senior season after 1,200 minutes 112 saves and a 71% save percentage a year ago.

The Mid-Prairie boys have their second preseason scrimmage tonight at Benton. The Hawks opened up the preseason with a scrimmage last Thursday at Solon. The Golden Hawks were 11-5 last year and bounced from the 1A tournament in the substate final after starting the year 7-0 and reaching the top five of the coaches poll. They scored 61 goals and gave up just 22. Individually, the Golden Hawks have their two leading scorers back with Owen Trimpe and Jack Pennington combining for 29 goals. The duo also had 13 total assists and will have to step up to replace last year’s graduated leader Ethan Trimpe with nine. Justice Jones returns in goal after a junior season with 410 minutes on the line with 34 saves and an 81% save percentage.

Benton was 11-7 last year, 5-2 in the WAMAC. They scored 63 goals and gave up 36. They return leading scorer Giancarlo Carbajal-Urena with 16 goals. Carbajal-Urena and Caleb Gessner are both back after tying for the team lead with seven assists.

The girls scrimmage starts at 5p.m. And the boys at 6:30 tonight at Benton High School.