The Bow girls’ soccer team has owned Division III in the last six years, going to six straight finals, winning four titles (including the last three) and putting together a 54-game winning streak from 2012-15. This year, the Falcons are flying up to D-II, and they’re looking forward to the new perch.

“Personally, I think we should have moved up years ago. I think we’re ready for it. We want the challenge,” said Isabella Urbina, one of three senior captains. “It will be nicer for us to feel like we earned the win instead of the rest of the school feeling like, ‘Oh, the girls won, but it would have been embarrassing if they lost.’ Now I’m exited that we can earn our victories and be proud of ourselves.”

When Jay Vogt first took over as coach of the team in 2004, the Falcons were in D-II, and that’s where they stayed for the first six years of his tenure. Now, after six years in D-III, Vogt is still in charge as Bow moves back up.

“I guess we’re on the new six-year cycle,” Vogt joked, “and I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t really changed how we’re preparing, we’re still going to play our brand of soccer (a possession, passing style not often seen in the girls’ game) and then see what happens.

“We had some good competition in Division III, and those teams could play in Division II as well, but we know that there’s going to be closer games this year and we can’t afford to take a half off in any game. We have to play the full 80 minutes.”

Bow certainly has the depth to play the full 80 minutes. The Falcons graduated two players that are now playing D-I college soccer – Caitlyn Keenan (Boston College) and Maddie Cheney (UMass-Lowell) – but they return eight starters and Vogt said he can field two entire teams from his 23-person roster.

Three of the four defenders return in Bow’s 4-3-3 scheme – central defender Maggie Vogt, right back Crista Alfano and left back Elin Warwick, all seniors. The only newcomer on that back line is sophomore central defender Emma Gagne, but she did see varsity minutes last year. And junior Bridget Ehrenberg is back at keeper with a renewed confidence and energy. Juniors Lea Crompton and Gwen Molind will get time backing up the outside backs while freshman Taylor Burnham will rotate in at central defender.

“There’s really good communication on defense,” said Alfano, a captain. “We work well together and have great chemistry.”

The midfield will have two new starters on the wing in senior Elysia Woody and sophomore Lauren Goyette with Urbina anchoring the middle of the pitch.

“(Urbina) is just non-stop, her work rate is great,” Vogt said. “She’s also improved her skills and she’s a leader for us there in the midfield.”

Sophomore twins Kayleigh and Amanda Marshall, seniors Taylor Darrell and Andrea Fortin will all see time in the midfield off Bow’s long bench.

Gianna Celenza, Bow’s third senior captain, and junior Danielle DesRuisseaux return as outside forwards, where they can utilize their speed. Sophomore Miah Munro will start at center forward, the spot that Cheney found so many goals from last year. Finishing is the one area where the Falcons are looking to improve, but they have plenty of confidence in Munro ... and everyone else.

“Miah can finish the ball like no one else,” Celenza said. “It’s amazing.”

“Having (Keenan and Cheney) on the team last year it was always like, if we pass it to them they’ll score, but now it has to be a team thing,” Urbina said. “They’re amazing players and we’ll miss them, but overall I think it can be good for us.”

Vogt has four players he will use to back up the three starting forwards – seniors Malena Lafreniere, Molly Garrett and Abbey Horner and sophomore Savanna Trombly.

Bow has played well in its preseason scrimmages, tying John Stark (one of D-II’s best teams in recent years) and beating Lebanon, the team they open the season against today at 4:15 p.m. at home. The Falcons, of course, hope to continue that success in the regular season, but they aren’t looking too far ahead, or too far behind.

“Our goal is to make it to the championship, but we really look at every game as an individual game. We don’t focus on the overall season or the future,” Alfano said. “And we’re not thinking about past championships. We’re just focusing on what’s happening now and how we can grow in the present.”

And they’re aware that some of their growth will likely come via some things they aren’t accustomed to – losses.

“I think one thing we’re all going to have to work on is the losing aspect,” Urbina said “I hope the girls react respectfully if we lose. I think it can be good for us to know what that feels like because this is a sport. There’s winning and there’s losing.”