Rebuilding Roughriders? -- Defending Champion Roosevelt Starts With 6-0 Victory

It was so like the Roosevelt Roughriders to outdo themselves. And so like them to be unimpressed about it.

Yesterday at Magnuson Park, the Roosevelt High School girls soccer team calmly shot six balls into Holy Names' net. Sophomore striker Laura Ragee, not even a starter last season, calmly scored three goals. In one game, Ragee quadrupled her high-school career total.

The Teddies not only won, they did it without sweating. Before, during or after.

The postgame chatter was relatively emotionless. You couldn't tell whether it was a win, loss or a tie, let alone a 6-0 rout.

"This happened a lot last year," sophomore Wynne McIntosh said.

So much for the suspense of season openers.

You can't fool the Roughriders. Yesterday's 6-0 victory over a much-improved Holy Names team is nothing to get excited about.

Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Johnson held the Roughriders to one goal in the first half. But Roosevelt's persistence got the best of the rookie goalie, as Johnson spent much of the second half diving for dirt.

Not much fazes the Roughriders, not even losing half their team. Seven seniors graduated from last year's team. Among them: Amy Montgomery, the McMullin sisters (Meegan and Amy), Megan Kelly, Anna Dukes and Lisa Proctor.

Meegan McMullin was one of the state's top scorers with 32 goals. Proctor accounted for 13 goals. All except Proctor are playing soccer at Division I colleges. Montgomery is at the

University of San Francisco; Amy McMullin is at Regis; Meegan McMullin is at Duke; Kelly is at Boston University; and Dukes is at Cornell.

Only Proctor isn't playing college soccer, and that's because she has a full scholarship to play tennis at the University of Washington.

Such a loss is enough to put most programs out of commission. But the Roughriders keep rolling.

"We're looking forward to Blanchet," said Wynne, sidelined with a pair of stress fractures in her shins. "It's very hard to watch. I've been to every practice."

Wynne and senior Traci Gault are both members of the state's Olympic Development Program, as well as returning all-Metro selections.

The Teddies are everyone's favorite. Last season, as a Class AAA team, Roosevelt advanced to the semifinals of the state playoffs before losing to Federal Way. Roosevelt was undefeated going into that game, with an 18-0-2 record, 10-0 in league play.

McIntosh said dropping out of the state's highest classification is "annoying," a missed opportunity to avenge the team's loss to Federal Way. The team, the players point out, are quite capable of playing with the big teams.

But if Roosevelt's new Class AA status is annoying to the Roughriders, it's painful to the rest of the league.

"They are a strong team," said Holy Names Coach Jane Thomas. "They're together. They've got everything. They scored a lot of goals. And we have a good goalie."

Any weaknesses?

"One of their girls cried, `ow!' once, but that's about it," Thomas joked.

Holy Names returns several key starters, and has an improved defense. The Cougars will see their day. Just not against Roosevelt.

Even without McIntosh, the Teddies dominated. Ragee emerged as a threat at forward.

"I just took a little off the ball, went for accuracy instead of power," Ragee said.

Other formerly dormant players turned into gamers. Anne Killian, Jessica Paul, Tasha Westinghouse, Stephanie Hirning, Stephanie Sheets.

"It's going to take more concentration and hard work to get through this season," Gault, the team captain, said. "We have to work together. We only get one chance at each team."

In the old Metro AAA League, each team played the others three times. The pivotal games come only once this year. Seattle Prep is clearly the most experienced team from the old Metro AA League. Eastside Catholic, Garfield, Lakeside and Blanchet are all capable of upsets.

"Instead of having just two or three strong teams in the league, it's a six- or seven-team league now," said Mike Bartley, Eastside Catholic's coach.

METRO LEAGUE GIRLS SOCCER CAPSULES

Lake Division

ROOSEVELT

-- HEAD COACH - Joel Watters (sixth season, 75-9-6 record). -- TOP RETURNEES - F Wynne McIntosh, So. (all-Metro); MF Traci Gault, Sr. (all-Metro); F Anne Killian, Sr.; GK Heather Seeley, Sr.; F Katie Weber, Sr.; F Laura Ragee, So.; MF Tasha Westinghouse, Jr.; D Megan Sheets, Jr.; D Stephanie Sheets, Sr.; D Jessica Paul, Jr. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - GK Tarsi Burnside, Jr.; D Genny Clark, Fr. -- OUTLOOK - The Teddies return two all-league players in McIntosh and Gault, both involved in the state's Olympic Development Program. McIntosh was one of the team's top scorers with 13 goals. However, McIntosh will miss a third of the season because of a stress fracture. Last year, Roosevelt was undefeated in league play, and finished third in the Class AAA state playoffs with an 18-1-2 record. Should be the strongest team in the unified Class AA Metro League. A young, but experienced team. Enough of the starters return. A balanced team, with depth, speed and power. Most of the league will not be able to keep up with Roosevelt.

SEATTLE PREP

-- HEAD COACH - Andrew Hendricks (second season, 12-2-2 record). -- TOP RETURNEES - Angela Anderson, Sr. (all-Metro); Camille Clinton (all-Metro); Karen St. John (all-Metro); Laura Robinson (all-Metro); Tina Gustafson; Eileen West, So.; Cara Rosellini, Sr.; Flan Collins; Christie Halpin; Lena Johnson; Cara Rosellini; Sarah Purra; Amy Davis; Katherine Holland; Kim Oliver; Susie Cassels. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - Sarah Cahan, Sr.; Kate Andrews, Sr. -- OUTLOOK - Prep and Roosevelt will battle for the league's top spot. The Panthers return four all-league selections, and pick up a fifth. Andrews is a former all-Metro player who spent the past year studying in London. Probably has the best depth in the league, with 17 returning letter winners. Only weak link is at goalkeeper. Prep is clearly the best of the returning Class AA teams.

BALLARD

-- HEAD COACH - Ron Ottele (sixth season). -- TOP RETURNEES - D Katie Bader, Sr. (two-time all-Metro); MF Allison Cromier, Jr.; GK/F Marilee Mulholland, So.; D Erin Jensen, Jr.; D Erin Greenway, So.; F Dawn Hamid, Sr.; F Stephanie King, Sr. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - MF Kristy Hall, Sr.; MF Heather Garrett, Jr.; F Shannon Schmidt, Fr.; MF Melinda McCullough, So.; MF Carrie Jenkins, So.; Karashawn Schmidt, Jr. -- OUTLOOK - The Beavers have traditionally been the best of the public Metro AA schools. The new unified league will push the Beavers down a few notches. The Beavers lost their front line, including star forward Kristy Lewis. The rest of the team is solid. Cromier is a state select soccer player. Ballard will find it tough to improve on last year's record of 9-4-1. Will be challenged to finish in the top half of the league.

HOLY NAMES

-- HEAD COACH - Jane Thomas (eighth season). -- TOP RETURNEES - D Rachel Arnesen, So.; D Tricia Gross, So.; F Megan Hall, Sr.; D Amanda Tratar, So.; MF Donna Troyer, Jr.; F Keenan VanGaver, So.; MF Barb Weber, Sr. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - GK Sarah Johnson, So. -- OUTLOOK - The Cougars should be a contender once again, but will be pushed to finish in the league's upper half. Seven starters returning from last year's team which finished fifth overall with a 7-6-2 record. The Cougars, who fell one game from making the playoffs last season, received a transfusion of 16 freshmen. Depth is good. Goalkeeper is inexperienced.

WEST SEATTLE

-- HEAD COACH - Larry Lacktrup (third season, 5-23 record). -- TOP RETURNEES - MF Amelia Hammerberg, Sr.; D April Coronado, Jr.; MF/D Carolyn Doyle, Jr.; D Britt Trisler, Jr.; D Nicole Parrish, Jr.; F Amy Childers, So.; F Tracie Running, So. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - none. -- OUTLOOK - The Indians graduated eight seniors and are having problems filling their holes. West Seattle started the season with an automatic loss, when it couldn't produce enough eligible players for its first game against Ballard. Team is young and relatively inexperienced. Without numbers, the Indians will probably finish in the league's cellar again.

Mountain Division

BLANCHET

-- HEAD COACH - Chuck Sekyra (first season). -- TOP RETURNEES - GK Amy Steinert, Sr. (all-Metro); D Keri Robinson, Sr.; F Carrie Wenzel, Jr.; D Sara Jorve, Jr.; MF Shannon Dolstad, Jr.; MF Colleen Goodspeed, Jr.; MF Amy Hester, Jr.; D Erin Williams, Jr.; D Meagan Guenther, Jr. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - Annie Spalding, Fr.; Ali Zweifan, Jr.; Rachael Terch, Jr.; Tricia Fernandez, Jr.; Keri Huff, Fr. -- OUTLOOK - A young team with a tough defense, anchored by Steinert, one of the best goalkeepers in the state. Three starting defenders, Robinson, Jorve and Williams, return. Sekyra is also the boys soccer coach at Lakeside. Blanchet is one of a handful of teams that have a shot at upending Roosevelt and Seattle Prep. However, the Braves will stay busy with Eastside Catholic, Lakeside and Garfield.

EASTSIDE CATHOLIC

-- HEAD COACH - Mike Bartley (sixth season). -- TOP RETURNEES - MF Megan Buckholtz, Sr.; F Sarah Westendorf, Jr.; MF Courtney Pollard, Jr.; F Tracie Heschel, Sr.; MF Erin Cox, Jr.; MF Melissa Coates, Sr.; F Jenny Whitaker, So.; MF Shannon Heiger, Sr. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - D Elisa Hawthorne, Fr.; D Lindsey Scott, Fr.; D Rebecca Scherman, Sr.; D Karen Fitch, Sr.; GK Monica Partel, Jr.; D Anne McDermott, Sr.; D Tina Ledlow, Sr. -- OUTLOOK - The Crusaders, defending Metro AA champions, started the 1990 playoffs with a penalty-kick upset over Seattle Prep in the league semis. They went on to beat Rainier Beach for the title, and lost in the first round of the state playoffs. The Crusaders (11-3-2 last season) aren't as strong coming back as Prep, but should make a run at the league's top teams. Most of the defense is gone, but the offense that scored 53 goals last season returns. Westendorf was team's top scorer.

FRANKLIN

-- HEAD COACH - Jesus Batista (first season). -- TOP RETURNEES - GK Phoebe Anderson, So.; D Rachel Waller, Jr.; MF Miranda Provenza, Sr.; Rachel Knudsen, So.; F Sarah Dieks, So.; D Marisol Garcia, Jr.; MF Ohara Tudor, Jr.; MF Amanda Righi, Jr.; F Siobhan Haggerty, Jr. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - None. -- OUTLOOK - The Quakers struggled last year. They will find it a little easier this season, but a winning record is still a few seasons away. The new coach is still teaching his team the game. Batista is a former professional soccer player from Mexico. "The team is much, much better," he said. "There's still a lot of work to do, but I feel very confident with the work they have been doing." The forwards, led by Haggerty, are most improved.

HALE

-- HEAD COACH - Dr. Pio DeCano (first season). -- TOP RETURNEES - F Jaya Narayanan, Sr.; F/MF Kari Smith, Sr.; D Wendy Warnaca, Sr.; D Shava Lawson, Sr.; D Sarah Hirshman, Sr.; F Marcey Axon, So.; MF Jessamy Whitsitt-Hunt, So. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - F Lisa Schafer, Fr.; GK Katie Sedgwick, Fr.; MF Cassandra Martin, Fr.; MF Rachel Martin, Fr. -- OUTLOOK - Hale is another cellar-dweller making a move up. A team with as many freshmen as seniors. Chemistry and confidence is good, but skills are still not up to par with the league's stronger teams. Had an encouraging scrimmage against a under-16 select team. Late-season improvement will give the Raiders a respectable record.

CHIEF SEALTH

-- HEAD COACH - Sheree Porter (fifth season). -- TOP RETURNEES - MF/D Megan Riley, Sr.; MF Angela Anden, Sr.; F Trang Vu, Sr.; GK Sarah Wells, Sr.; D Pauline Langkamp, Sr.; MF Tam Tran, So.; F Jennifer Aldridge, Sr. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - D Sharon Strieb, Fr.; D Felica Merritt, Fr.; Karen Walters, Fr.; MF Stacy Howard, Fr.; F/MF Krista Olsen, Fr.; Jessica Bilow, Fr.; Cindy Quesnell, Fr. -- OUTLOOK - The Seahawks must forfeit their first four games, because the team lacks enough eligible players who have attended the league's minimum number of practices. Porter finally put together a full team last week. A good freshmen turnout. More experience on this year's team (last year, seven had never played soccer before). Defense is seasoned (Sealth ended last season with a scoreless tie, Sealth's only non-loss). But the team still lacks enough offense to consistently score.

Sound Division

GARFIELD

-- HEAD COACH - Cindy Gordon (third season, 13-10-4 record). -- TOP RETURNEES - MF Vanessa Hunter, Jr.; MF Betsy Woods, Jr.; F Tove Martin, Sr.; GK/D Karen Goodfellow, Sr.; F Elspeth Johnson, Sr.; MF Megan Marks, Sr.; D Shelby Reinholdtsen, Sr.; D Joyce Wu, Sr.; D Sharyl Hudson, Jr.; D Amy Miller, Jr.; MF Chelsea Dodd, So.; MF Rachel Tufts, So.; D Jessica Riley, So. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - GK Naima Jackson, So.; MF/D Sara Johnston, Fr.; F/MF Margo Tufts, Fr. -- OUTLOOK - The Bulldogs finished in the middle of the league last season, but should do much better in the new 15-team alignment. Returns a solid core of eight players, three of whom (Martin, Hunter, Woods) played select soccer. Soft spot is the defense. Should challenge the frontrunners. Will probably finish somewhere in the second tier with Lakeside, Eastside Catholic and Blanchet.

LAKESIDE

-- HEAD COACH - Anne Stephens (19th season). -- TOP RETURNEES - MF Rachel Thompson, Sr.; F Jill Kirkpatrick, Sr.; F Evelyn Spence, So.; D Sara Wetstone, So.; MF Betsy Schanno, So.; MF Autumn Bradley, Jr.; F Julie Kirkpatrick, So.; GK Erica Kraft, Jr.; D Deanna Hobson, Jr.; MF Margaret Campbell, Jr. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - F Stephanie Albro, Fr.; -- OUTLOOK - The young but ambitious Lions return one of the league top scorers, Spence. The development of the girls soccer team parallels that of the girls basketball team. The team's young talent makes the Lions potential champions in the years to come. Wetstone, Kraft and both Kirkpatricks start for Coach Sandy Schneider's basketball team. Athletic talent abounds. The Lions should redeem themselves from last year's upset loss to Rainier Beach, which ended their streak of state-tournament appearances.

INGRAHAM

-- HEAD COACH - Gale Phillips (eighth season). -- TOP RETURNEES - MF/F Sondra Ake, Jr.; D Cindy Tan, Sr.; D Lindsay Nicol, Sr.; GK Kim McArdle, So.; MF Shelly Walden, Jr. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - MF Rebecca Hurd, Jr.; D Danielle Kisker, Sr.; D Chong Ho, Sr. -- OUTLOOK - Last year the Rams were so young and inexperienced, that a year later they are still young and inexperienced. The Rams have made a few improvements. The goalkeeper returns. The defense is drilled. Seven freshmen fortify the roster. Don't look for the Rams to make any big moves upward this season.

RAINIER BEACH

-- HEAD COACH - Phil Brockman (sixth season). -- TOP RETURNEES - MF Sarah Bruch, So.; D Theresa Craw, Sr.; D Karen Keller, Sr.; D Mika Leatherman, Sr.; F Katie Maloney, Sr.; GK Heather Speight, Sr. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - F Marina Almquist, Fr.; MF Wendy Leatherman, Fr.; F Rachel Shimabukuro, Fr. -- OUTLOOK - The Vikings were last season's surprise in the league playoffs when they upset their division's top seed, Seattle Prep. The Vikings took advantage of an errant pass by a Prep defender to pull out a 2-1 victory. Look for the Vikings to be contenders again. All but one starter returns. "We have more depth and the kids are more aggressive," Brockman said. Leatherman and Maloney won a state championship with their select team. Should finish in the league's top half.

CLEVELAND

-- HEAD COACH - Dot Balliett (first season). -- TOP RETURNEES - GK Billi Jo Serles, Jr.; Kari Chen, Jr.; Shanna Christie, Jr.; Lisa Tom, Jr.; Cheryl Balliett, So. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - Jessica Bresemann, Fr.; Monica Ross, Fr.; Samantha Stone, Fr.; Sarah Corn, Fr. -- OUTLOOK - The Eagles have already forfeited their first four games because of a lack of eligible players. The team's size will double when all the paperwork clears. The program needs stability. Balliett is the fourth coach in as many years. Serles is the only player whose position has been determined. The talent is there, but the Eagles have too much to do in too little time. Expect another long season.