BOCA RATON – Olympic Heights girls soccer has shot out to a 7-1 record to open regular season play, and  the Lions have Avi Solorzano, in part, to thank for that.

One of just a few returning offensive starters from last year’s 17-5-1 campaign, Heights is looking to the junior star on and off the field for both leadership and goals scored.

For those on the outside looking in, it might seem on paper that the Lions are fueled primarily by other members.

The easy number to overlook is games played – Solorzano has made just three appearances this season as she returns from foot surgery.

And yet, she has a whopping seven points already, tallying three goals as a scorer and turning provider with a four-assist performance against Glades Central.

“As much as she feels that she’s putting weights on her own shoulders to score, she’s just as important dishing the ball off like she did with Glades. And then tonight, her job wasn’t necessarily to score, but to create opportunities,” Olympic Heights head coach Jim Cappello said.

In a season where Olympic Height is far younger than they were last year, the team is looking for contributions from new players, but as they grow into those new shoes, Solorzano is a proven threat with a finisher’s touch.

“We’ve been waiting for her to come back,” Cappello said. “Last year, she was in the top five of scoring and we graduated those four, so her coming back is a big deal for us.”

She’s putting up such gaudy numbers without even playing full-time up front as the Lions work her back to full fitness, at which point opposing defenses will certainly have their hands full.

“It felt good,” Solorzano said about winning Athlete of the Week. “I had a lot of support. It felt good to know everyone was rooting for me. It feels good to be back.”

See other Athletes of the Week: The Palm Beach Post's Athlete of the Week: Catch up with each poll's winner!

All said, the Lions are ready for their star forward to build on last year’s 22-point season, a goal – pun intended – that should be well within reach given the junior’s red–hot start.

“Once we get her back at full strength without missing a beat, we’re going to expect a lot from her.

To that end, Solorzano has proven she can deliver.

Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: AOTW: Avi Solorzano returns to spark Olympic Heights' attack