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And to help avoid another such occurrence head coach Andrea Krakow has been emphasizing communication and ball possession in practice.

She's also taken the unusual step of renting time at Just For Kicks indoor soccer facility in Traverse City for the month of March.

While it's a little faster surface than grass, Krakow felt it would benefit the Elks to work out in an atmosphere which more closely resembles a real soccer field.

That's impossible in the gym.

Obviously, much work needs to be done before the Elks face their first live opposition -- outside of their teammates -- Krakow has noted visible progress.

"Improvement is definitely being shown," Krakow said. "I know that we will have the ability to score goals.

"But, I want to see them playing together as a team, especially the more experienced and skilled players.

"I want them possessing the ball, and passing and communicating with one another."

Krakow felt one of the Elks' weaknesses at times has been that they aren't always talking on the field.

When that's happening, Krakow believes that the players don't have any idea of what's going on around them.

Another thing Krakow has been stressing is for the players to keep the ball at their feet.

"I think a team maintains possession if the ball is on the ground, versus in the air where you have a 50-50 chance of getting it," Krakow said.

"Once we make the delineation between varsity and junior varsity, I will be pushing those offensive players to score those goals."

But she'll still be stressing possession and communication.

Probably all season.

Voting was completed on naming team captains, and Krakow planned to make final varsity and junior varsity cuts today (Thursday).

"When I put the people I think are my strongest players out there (Tuesday), working together, you could see the passing and possession taking place," Krakow said.

"Last week, they were a little bit sloppy. Now, they have a couple of weeks under their belts. Plus, they know varsity cuts are coming up."

Elk Rapids lost four games to two teams in the Lake Michigan Conference last year -- Harbor Springs and Charlevoix.

The Elks would like to hand those two clubs a pair of losses this spring and improve their standing in the league.

Practice will be getting more intense.