By Andy Walter

SMYRNA — Desiree Zapata has watched tape of the game a number of times.

Even though she was only a freshman, the Smyrna High soccer standout can’t help but feel like she could have done more.

The Eagles lost to favored Padua just 2-1 in last year’s DIAA Division I state finals.

“I keep playing the game over and over in my head,” said Zapata. “It felt like in that game I could have interacted more.”

Watching the state title game isn’t a bad way to stay motivated. Zapata also wants to be better prepared the next time she and her Smyrna teammates are in a big game.

And there’s plenty of reason to think the Eagles will be a contender in Division I again this spring.

Smyrna (2-0) lost just three seniors from a squad that went 14-4 and reached a state championship game for the first time in its history last season.

The Eagles will get some idea where they stand on Tuesday when they play a 3:30 p.m. contest at Middletown (1-0). The Cavaliers topped Smyrna, 1-0, in double overtime a year ago.

“Expectations definitely are high now,” said Smyrna coach Mike Osborne. “But we’ve been trying to talk about how we manage those and who we play for and all those things.

“It definitely feels like it gives these returning players a lot of confidence going forward,” he said about being in the title game.

While the Eagles might have been considered an unlikely state finalist before the season started, losing by only one goal in the final 10 minutes was still heartbreaking.

Smyrna’s players know they were really close to accomplishing something big.

“We were definitely the underdogs going in,” said senior defender Alyssa McLamb, a secnd-team All-Henlopen North pick last year. “But it wasn’t just like, ‘Oh, second place is OK.’ I definitely wanted to win.

“I definitely want to make it back to the championship and, hopefully, be the first Smyrna girls’ soccer team to take the trophy home.”

With so many returning players, Smyrna hopes it hasn’t forgotten what got it so far last spring. They know there’s anything easy about it.

Osborne has set up a demanding schedule that includes non-conference games with both Padua and Middletown as well as last year’s two Division II state finalists, Caravel and St. Mark’s.

Senior Cheyenne Donaghue, another returning second-team All-Henlopen North selection, said there’s a lot to be said for the players all being on the same page.

“I think last year what made us good was our team chemistry,” she said. “In the pre-season I was thinking about that. Having the chemistry on the field and off the field is a big part of the success that we had last year.

“Playing these bigger teams helps us be more focused. As individuals we get stronger on the field and as a team we work better.”

Zapata had a big impact in her first high school season. She was named one of the Top XI players in the state after breaking the school record by netting 33 goals.

In Smyrna’s first two games this year, Zapata has already tallied six goals.

“She’s been wonderful, working hard every day,” said Osborne. “She works as hard as anybody.”

Zapata knows she’s going to be the focus of more teams’ defenses this season.

“I knew that this year I’m definitely going to be marked up more and double-teamed or triple-teamed,” she said. “A lot of it is definitely mental because it forces a lot of mistakes. I just try to keep a level head. I learned that from last year, too.”

Likewise, last year’s success will make the Eagles more of a marked team this season. They know they have to be prepared to get everybody’s best effort.

“We all push together as a team and we all work really hard,” said Zapata.

Follow Andy Walter on Twitter at @DSNSports.