KATIE LOVELACE (center) scored 10 goals as a sophomore for the Lady Panthers last season.

Benicia High’s girls soccer team has a lot of unanswered questions this season and is still searching for its identity after five games.

The Lady Panthers (2-3), who went 16-2-2 last season and reached the Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals, are looking for a regular scorer after losing Michelle Li to a season-ending knee injury in early February. The senior led the Lady Panthers in goals and assists last season and signed a soccer scholarship with Dominican University of California, but she won’t be able to help Benicia this spring.

Li’s absence has left a hole in Benicia’s offense, which managed only two goals in four contested games heading into this weekend’s Christian Brothers Tournament in Sacramento.

“We already notice a big change,” Benicia head coach Javier Martinez said. “Michelle used to draw two or three defenders toward her and that cleared space for the other offensive players. Not having her there means we have to find other ways to score.”

Expected to fill the void are junior midfielder Katie Lovelace and senior strikers Sara Hingley and Tatiana Soglin. Lovelace had 10 goals last year, the most of any returning Lady Panther, while Hingley and Soglin each added six goals.

Hingley and junior Alyssa Lisenko have accounted for Benicia’s two goals so far this season. Senior Brandy Caffey has veteran experience, and junior midfielder Carly Castellano is expected to get into the offensive mix.

“We’ll have to play whoever is playing well and go from there,” Martinez said.

The defense should keep the Lady Panthers close. Senior Abigail Heuschel and juniors Taylor Coppa and Kaelyn Morimoto have been starting on the back line. Also starting is Makala Netcott, the team’s only freshman.

“She’s very intense and knowledgeable about the game,” Martinez said. “I see a bright future for her.”

Seniors Sara Ruiz and Kaela Thyrion are also capable defenders, with Eli Lopez, Kamilynne Fontana and Brooke Maglia-Bastita anchoring the midfield defense.

“I think defensively we’ll be OK,” Martinez said. “I have a good rotation going on there.”

Sophomore Madison Goodmiller returns as goalkeeper and will split time early in the season with fellow sophomore Maxine Wade.

“They’re fairly even and both are experienced goalies,” Martinez said.

The Lady Panthers will get an early test in the Solano County Athletic Conference with road games at American Canyon and at Vanden. Benicia’s first home game isn’t until March 26 against Fairfield. The Lady Panthers are 94-3-5 in the SCAC over the past seven seasons and haven’t lost in conference play since 2011.

“We have a lot of new parts and hopefully they come together,” Martinez said. “There will be a lot of trial and error until we get some sort of flow. But these girls have been playing with each other on the club team so there is some chemistry. They know the winning history of our program and I think they’re up to the challenge.”

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