With almost their entire team back, the Warren Central Lady Vikes will take aim at wrestling the Division 3-6A title away from the Clinton Lady Arrows.

So far in the first two weeks, the Lady Vikes have shown plenty of firepower with a 5-1 record. The lone loss came to a strong Northeast Jones club. Second-year coach Trey Banks likes the early form his team has displayed.

“I think we’ve built off last year’s successes and failures,” Banks said. “We’re more experienced this year. We have seven seniors and we will continue our drive toward a district championship. We know it won’t be easy. Clinton brought a lot back and Vicksburg will be ready for us.”

To counter, the Lady Vikes will rely on three senior captains, Lindsey Barfield, Toree Danzcyk, and Taylor Hanes. WC finished 10-10-1 and made the first round of the Class 6A playoffs last season.

“All three bring different leadership aspects,” Banks said. “I know they are more motivated this season, because they showed it by having a successful summer.”

Barfield, Hanes and fellow senior Lindsey Burris are off to strong starts, combining for 16 goals and eight assists.

Barfield, who leads the team with seven goals and four assists, said the Lady Vikes will be an improved team.

“We work together better,” Barfield said. “We have more confidence this year.”

The Lady Vikes return all-county goalkeeper Katie Humphries, who was big down the stretch last season, pitching a shutout in the first meeting with Vicksburg. She also made two key stops in the rematch, won by WC in an overtime shootout. She has 22 saves in the first five matches this season.

The Lady Vikes also will count on seniors Shannon Richter and Noel Butler to play key roles as defenders. Kelcey McMaster is a promising young player.

The Warren Central boys, meanwhile, had to replace two all-stars and five other starters from last year’s 14-6 team. The all-stars included The Vicksburg Post 2011 Player of the Year, Eric Chappel, who’s now at Brigham Young. Chappel scored a Warren County-best 28 goals with 11 assists. Also gone is All-star goalie Jimal Brinnon, who had 79 saves.

Yet two weeks into the season, the Vikings have showed promise, surging to a 4-0-2 start. WC coach Greg Head is optimistic.

“We only had four returning starters back, but I feel we have a lot of potential,” Head said. “We picked up a transfer and we have two new foreigners. One is from Sweden and the other from Italy. It’s the first time we’ve had an Italian.”

Swedish native Oscar Kjellberg has made an immediate impact, taking over from Chappel as the Vikings’ midfielder. The Italian, Albeto Capeleto, will start as a defender.

“Oscar’s really quick and with Chandler Bounds back, we feel we can be pretty good on the attack,” Head said.

Bounds had 10 goals and eight assists last season and scored four in Tuesday’s win at Franklin County.

Charles Cole transferred from Vicksburg and Romario Dixon is a transfer from Georgia. Both will be counted on in the Vikings’ rotation.