Capsules
Sky Division
Bellevue Wolverines
Coach - Sue Boettcher, third year.
1997 record - 5-6-2 league, fourth in Sky Division.
Returning starters - F Nicole Bradford, sr.; D Ashley Brown, sr.; GK Kourtney Harris, sr.; F Shannon Kern, sr.; MF Melissa Martinazzi, so.; D Elise Haydon, jr.; D Corrine Shubin, jr.; MF Kyless Zimmer, jr.; D Janie Wilkerson, sr.
Impact newcomers - MF Katherine Forest, jr.; F Jenny Martinazzi, sr.; F Katey Schmitz, so.; MF Erin Johnson, so.; GK Maia Earle, fr.; MF Katie Zimmer, fr.; D Jaclynn Stansbury, fr.
Outlook - Wolverines finished four points out of playoffs last season and expect to challenge for the postseason again. Kern, a first-team all-league pick, and Bradford, a second-team pick, will lead fast, attacking offense. Brown anchors a defense that must reduce its goals-against average.
Issaquah Indians
Coach - Vale Crain, second year.
1997 record - 1-10-2 league, fifth in Sky Division.
Returning starters - GK Kristen Mitchell, jr.; D Annaliese Tuebner, sr.; D Elizabeth Donaldson, sr.; D Danielle Leiske, sr.; MF Jessica Sabado, jr.; MF Laura Mitchell, sr.; MF/F Jill Nicks, so.
Impact newcomers - D Kelli Waclawski, sr.; MF Kyra Ulmer, sr.; D Lindsey Loronzo, sr.
Outlook - Indians could be turnaround story of season. Six starters return, including second-team all-league pick Sabado. They are joined by three transfers from Skyline, including first-team all-league midfielder Ulmer. Should be tough down the middle. Will get much better as season goes along.
Mercer Island Islanders
Coach - Mark Kovats, fifth year.
1997 record - 10-3-0 league, Sky Division champions, KingCo tournament champions, eliminated by Lakeside in quarterfinals of Class 3A state tournament.
Returning starters - D Katie-Jay Scott, sr.; F Amanda Leonard, sr.; F Cara Hanelin, sr.; MF Carolyn Marhall, sr.; MF Emily Odegard, sr.; D Cheryl Crow, jr.; D Darienne Dey, jr.; MF Kelly Lisbakken, jr.
Impact newcomers - GK Lexie Richards, sr.; F Renee Samms, fr.; MF Julie Congalton, fr.
Outlook - Defending division, league champions picked to win again. They lost only one first-team all-leaguer (Jenn Baker) to graduation and return eight starters. Odegard is one of the league's premier players, and there is plenty of talent surrounding her. Crow earned second-team all-league honors, and four returning Islanders were honorable mention picks. A repeat is possible.
Newport Knights
Coach - Mike Smith, 20th year.
1997 record - 9-2-2 league, second in Sky Division, eliminated by Sammamish in KingCo tournament.
Returning starters - F Tiffani Walker, jr.; GK Katie Grothkopp, sr.; MF Ashley Jacobsen, sr.; MF Kim Paukstis, sr.; D Michelle Wang, sr.; D Meghan Bowen, jr.; MF Katie Christoferson, jr.; D Paige Huttula, sr.
Impact newcomers - D Lara Hargreaves, so.; MF Lindsy Humphrey, fr.
Outlook - Thirteen letter winners, including eight starters, return from team that finished one point short of division title. Walker's eight goals earned her first-team all-league honors and four Knights earned second-team honors. Always well-coached, strong senior leadership. Knights will contend for title.
Skyline Spartans
Coach - Matt Olson, first year.
1997 record - 7-5-1 league, third in Sky Division, eliminated by Liberty in KingCo tournament.
Returning starters - D Bri Belur, sr.; MF Lisa Buckley, sr.; MF Maresa Callari, sr.; MF Lea Skolnik, sr.; F Michelle Collado, jr.; GK Sarah Alvarez, jr.; D Marina Watt, so.; F Holly Martinez, so.; MF Kayla Villnow, so.; MF Jenna Gutzler, so.; D Jenn Mott, so.
Impact newcomers - MF Molly Soltero, fr.; D Jenny Mills, fr.; F Kristin Adamo, fr.; F Jacquelynn Reasy, fr.; GK Erin Robertson, fr.; D Jennifer Honarkhah, fr.
Outlook - First group of seniors at Skyline hopes to put Spartans back in playoffs again. Belur was a first-team all-league choice last season. She anchors the middle of the field, which should be team strength. Key is finding scorers to replace three players who transferred to Issaquah.
Valley Division
Cedarcrest Red Wolves
Coach - Kerry Gould and Jennifer Danielson, first year.
1997 record - 1-10-2 league, fourth in Valley Division.
Returning starters - Sarah Gustat, so.; Liz Chapman, jr.; Elizabeth Ekstrom, jr.; Cassie Pepper, jr.; Sarah Young, jr.; Tiffany Biesiedzinski, sr.; Holly Ellis, sr.; Melissa Geiger, sr.; Jessica Rosen, sr.; Renee Remidios, so.
Impact newcomers - Maria William, so.; Libbye Haddon, so.; Heather Sherfey, jr.; Erica Burch, fr.
Outlook - Most Red Wolves have played together for three years, so experience will be a bonus as they enter second season in tough KingCo Conference. Still, they must find ways to score more goals (only 10 last season) and not give up as many (league-high 40) if they are going to increase victory total.
Interlake Saints
Coach - Jim Holzman, first year.
1997 record - 1-12 league, fifth in Valley Division.
Returning starters - Heather Gregory, sr.; Hillary Haynes, sr.; Katie Vice, sr.; Mandy Rasmussen, sr.; Libby Ludlow, jr.; Larissa Grundell, so.
Impact newcomers - Michelle Barrera, jr.; Katie Curtis, fr.
Outlook - Nine starters return from last season, so Saints are optimistic they will increase win total. Ludlow, a second-team all-league selection, is an excellent player, and Gregory earned honorable mention honors. But Saints must improve scoring (league-low five goals) to become more competitive.
Liberty Patriots
Coach - Darren Trembley, first year.
1997 record - 8-5 league, tied for second in Valley Division, eliminated by Sammamish in KingCo tournament.
Returning starters - F/MF Nichole Sauvageau, sr.; D Kristin Becker, jr.; MF Shelley Corwin, jr.; MF Stephanie Heiden, so.; F/MF Kristina Beck, sr.; GK Deva Escudero, sr.; MF Katie Ernst, jr.; D Sarah Fletcher, sr.; MF/D Libby Nelson, sr.; D Lacy Tanneberg, jr.; MF/F Sabrina Oldham, so.; MF Christal Grazier, so.
Impact newcomers - D Chelsea Beck, fr.; D Gena Crock, fr.; GK/F Jamie Corwin, fr.; MF Dionne Dewitt, jr.; MF/D Stephanie Ernst, fr.
Outlook - Pats favored to win division, thanks to return of 12 letter-winners, including first-team all-league goalkeeper Escudero, first-team defender Becker and first-team forward Sauvageau. Speed, possession will be offensive trademarks. If young defense matures, Pats could meet expectations.
Mount Si Wildcats
Coach - Bruce Caldwell, 10th year.
1997 record - 10-2-1 league, Valley Division champions, eliminated by Sammamish in winner-to-state, loser-out game in KingCo tournament.
Returning starter - MF Heather Holmes, sr.; F Stephanie Holt, sr.; MF Jordan McDaniels, sr.; D Laura Fletcher, jr.; MF Jessii Raisio, jr.; D Heather Breitenbach, jr.; F Amanda Hendricks, so.
Impact newcomers - MF Shana Douglas, sr.; GK Kelli Duval, sr.; D Anna True, sr.; F Tricia Schlaht, sr.; D Landis Hatch, so.; D Jolene Witsil, so.; D Moriah Hover, so.; F/MF Lindsey Ratcliffe, jr.; GK Amber Schneider, jr.; MF Alison Chromy, sr.
Outlook - Seven starters return from division champs. But they must replace three now starting in college - goalkeeper Lindsey Jorgensen (WSU), midfielder Beth Childs (WSU) and sweeper Danielle Blue (EWU). Holt is league's leading returning scorer (seven goals, 10 assists), so offense should be good. If defense, which allowed league-low nine goals, is solid, expect them to contend again.
Sammamish Totems
Coach - Lauren Studebaker, first year.
1997 record - 8-5 league, tied for second in Valley Division, second in KingCo tournament, elminated by eventual state-champion Mount Vernon in first round of Class 3A state tournament.
Returning starters - D Theryn Henkel, sr.; F Theresa Hoy, sr.; D Kerry Matthys, sr.; MF Carin Nash, sr.; MF Nichole Almond, jr.; MF Lindsay Anderson, jr.; D Claire Parsons, jr.; F Brynya Woods, jr.
Impact newcomers - MF Brittany Anderson, sr.; D Meredith Dinsdale, jr.; MF Katrina Olson, jr.; D Marina Falls, so.; GK Lauren Hilty, so.; MF Nicole McTaggart, so.; MF Ashley Minnie, so.; F Yolanda Wilburn, fr.
Outlook - Loss of eight seniors from state-tournament team leaves big hole, but Totems are capable of filling it. Woods earned first-team all-league honors as a sophomore while Matthys and Parsons were honorable-mention selections. If team can adjust to third coach in three years, could contend for playoff spot.
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KingCo 3A girls soccer / Ten to watch.
Player, school Pos. Yr.
Kristen Becker, Liberty D Jr. Comment: First-team all-league in '97.
Bri Belur, Skyline D Sr. Comment: Leader of Spartans' stingy defense.
Deva Escudero, Liberty GK Sr. Comment: Will make young defense look good early.
Shannon Kern, Bellevue F Sr. Comment: First-team player Bellevue's biggest threat.
Kelly Lisbakken, M. Island MF Jr. Comment: Teams with Odegard in first-class midfield.
Emily Odegard, Mercer Island MF Sr. Comment: Midfielder makes everything go for MI.
Nichole Sauvageau, Liberty F Sr. Comment: Seven goals in '97 for Pats' playoff team.
Kyra Ulmer, Issaquah MF Sr. Comment: Skyline transfer makes Indians much better.
Tiffani Walker, Newport F Jr. Comment: Eight goals tops among league returners.
Brynya Woods, Sammamish F Jr. Comment: Tied Walker with 8 goals, first-team honors.