It may have always been part of Sami Reber’s plan to come back and coach at her alma mater, but having such a substantial amount of skill and experience returning to the varsity lineup certainly didn’t dissuade her from taking the reigns at Edina.

Reber, a four-year varsity regular at Edina before spending her college seasons as one of Harvard’s leaders in assists, takes over for longtime coach Laura Slominski behind the bench for the Hornets.

In Reber’s first game as head coach, she and the ultra-talented Hornets earned a win over the defending Class 2A State Tournament runner-up in Maple Grove.

“It’s always been my dream to come back,” Reber said after the 6-3 win on Friday. “But to come back with such an experienced, talented group always helps.”

Reber is referring to a team that returns 15 letter-winners from last season’s squad that took fourth at the state tournament, among them six players that have committed to Division I programs.

One of the those Division I commits is junior forward Emily Oden, committed to Minnesota, who scored two goals and in the win over the Crimson (0-1).

Oden’s second goal came on a shorthanded breakaway with the Hornets nursing a 2-1 lead, and shifted the momentum firmly to the Edina side.

“One thing we kept telling the girls was shoot, shoot, shoot,” Reber said. “That’s a huge game-changer.”

Oden, a varsity regular since her freshman season, has transitioned into her role as an upperclassman, and says that part of her new-found responsibilities is to keep her team together.

“Just to mainly focus on the team attitude,” Oden explained, adding that last year’s success will not meddle with the 2016-2017 season. “New team, new year,” Oden added succinctly.

Part of the new team is sophomore forward Olivia Swaim, who contributed two assists in her first varsity contest.

“I think it’s really fun to be able to play with all these girls that have high talent, and being able to keep up with them is great,” Swaim said with a smile.

As for having a new coach, Oden says that the Hornets (1-0) are buzzing right along. “It’s been really great,” Oden said. “We all respect her a lot because we know that she’s been here in our situation,” Oden continued.

“She’s played at a high level, and she’s got the energy that we need.”