2009-10 Lady Dolphin soccer team Front row (from left): Hannah Sepulveda, Laura Harpole, Brynne Heatley, Cori Snyder, Carly Loehr, Maggie Rodgers, Bianca Takacs, Kristen Barona, Megan Eastburn, Korrie Abernathy and Allison Carter. Back (from left): Coach Ryan Davenport, Reilly Sullivan, Morgan Floyd, Camila Sharp, Kayla Vlachos, Casey Platt, Hannah Rodgers, Sara Papantonio and Allison Proctor. Photo courtesy of athletesfeatsphotography.com Ryan Davenport knows the perception exists. In fact, he welcomes it.

A Gulf Breeze High graduate and a former Dolphin soccer player, Davenport is the new coach of the Lady Dolphin soccer team. He takes over a team that lost, arguably, its best group of seniors in school history. But he warns - don’t think the cupboard is bare.

“I hope that people sell us short or think we’re ‘down,’ cause they’ll be in for a surprise,” Davenport said. “We have so much depth on this team.”

The Lady Dolphins, who opened the season Wednesday at Brosnaham Park against PHS, have only five returning starters. Gulf Breeze also has three others that played a lot last season.

The Lady Dolphins are led by its senior captains Maggie Rodgers and Bianca Takacs. Rodgers, who played primarily forward last season, will be in the midfield this season, while Takacs will be a defensive midfielder.

“We have two great captains,” Davenport said.

Senior Kristen Barona, who was the team’s leading scorer two years ago, leads a group of forwards. Juniors Kayla Vlachos and Camila Sharp will also play up top, along with sophomore Hannah Rodgers, one of only three freshman varsity players last year.

Senior Brynne Heatley, who played in the back last year, will move up to the midfield. Junior Morgan Floyd, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, will also play some midfield, along with fellow junior Cori Snyder.

Senior Megan Eastburn will play some midfield, along with sophomore Laura Harpole and two of the team’s three freshman - Korrie Abernathy and Sara Papantonio. Allison Proctor, the team's only other freshman, will play in the back, along with returning senior starters Carly Loehr and Takacs.

Junior Casey Platt, who missed most of last year’s season with an injury, returns to the defense and will be joined by junior newcomer Reilly Sullivan and returning sophomore Sammy Welsh.

Junior Alison Milam will be back at goalkeeper once volleyball season ends. Sophomore Allison Carter returns after an injury forced her to miss most of last season. Hannah Sepulveda, a junior, will also play some goal.

Davenport likes the team’s chemistry, as well as their work ethic. “It’s like I tell them in practice, someone out there is working harder than you,” he said.

GBHS’ schedule is, as in past seasons, a tough one. They have non-district games with Mosley and Pace, as well as Catholic and Niceville.

“We’ve got some strong games in the Timberwolf Classic,” Davenport said of the only tournament the Lady Dolphins play during the regular season.

All three of GBHS’ opponents played in, at least, a regional semifinal last year. Fort Lauderdale’s Cardinal Gibbons, was last year’s 4A state runners up. They lost to Ponte Vedra, who beat GBHS 2-0 in the state semifinals last year.

Gulf Breeze also plays Jacksonville’s Episcopal and Bartram Trail, who advanced to the 3A and 5A regional semifinals, respectively.

Ponte Vedra, who was in District 5 last season, is in District 4 this year - and in Region 1. That means GBHS will have to go through the defending state champions to get to their fourth straight state tournament.

“I think we’ll be in that position again. I expect us to go to state,” Davenport said. “Our goal is to get to the state final four and win that championship.”

But before Ponte Vedra, Gulf Breeze will have to get out of district play, which includes a new opponent Choctaw, and their longtime nemesis, Washington. The Lady Dolphins play at Washington on Nov. 24.