Team Capsules

Ballard

Coach: Eirik Olsen (2nd year).

Last season: 5-3-1, 5-4-1 (lost in first round of playoffs to O'Dea).

Returning starters: Pat Pollack, jr., midfielder; Ryan Pollack, sr., forward; Brian Ford, jr., goalkeeper.

Impact newcomers: Aymeric Falantin, sweeper.

Strengths and concerns: Over the years, Beavers have built reputation of being one of league's scrappiest teams. Do they have scoring punch? Lost opener to Seattle Prep 1-0 yesterday.

Outlook: A lot will depend on how quickly newcomers get assimilated.

Blanchet

Coach: Jesus Bautista (1st year).

Last season: 14-2-1 (Metro League champions, lost to Newport 1-0 in state quarterfinals).

Returning starters: Andrew Cutler, sr., defender; Brad Hughes, sr., defender; Patt Hopps, jr., midfielder; Mat Basel, jr., midfielder; Sam Procopio, jr., forward; Robel Haile, sr., forward; Nolan Bradbury, sr., defender; Joel Spultzer, sr., defender; Dirk Woodworth, sr., defender.

Returning subs: Chris Lee, jr., goalkeeper; Chris Sorenson, jr., goalkeeper; Alex Spikard, so., midfielder; Lyle Hews, so., forward.

Miscellany: Bautista, who has coached at Franklin and Sammamish, replaces Chuck Sekyra, who has joined the Seattle Pacific coaching staff after being named Metro coach of the year the past two seasons.

Strengths and concerns: Experienced team that finished on top of league last year. Bautista is trying to get Braves to play more up-tempo brand of soccer and get rid of the ball faster.

Outlook: Favored to repeat as champs.

Chief Sealth

Coach: Ron Johnson (1st year).

Last season: 3-6, 4-6.

Returning starters: Calvin Bressler, so., forward; Kenneth Lee, jr., forward; Daniel Saldana, jr., sweeper; Ceasar Silva, so., midfielder; Rueben Ruiz, so., defender-midfielder.

Impact newcomers: Casey Mangold, fr., midfielder; Jacob Saldana, fr., goalkeeper; Tony Zwink, fr., defender.

Strengths and concerns - Strong defensive core. Concern is scoring punch. Young team that lost three good players last year: Valentin, Roberto Mercado and Rueben Seaones.

Outlook: Could be a surprise team. Might just achieve goal of making the playoffs.

Eastside Catholic

Coach: Jaimy McLaughlin (2nd year).

Last season: 2-6-1, 4-8-1.

Returning starters: Pat Judge, sr., defender; Aaron Dario, sr., midfielder; Andy Carpenter, jr., midfielder; Tyler Henebry, jr., midfielder; Spencer Norris, jr., goalkeeper; Aaron Bean, so., defender; Jasson Gregorious, so., midfielder; Clay Walton-House, so., forward.

Returning subs: John Hendrickson, so., forward; Geoff McDonald, so., midfielder; Drew Schemchuck, so., midfielder; Scott Sepic, so., midfielder; Sam Zieuba, so., midfielder; Matt Coonan, sr., goalkeeper.

Impact newcomers: Casey Palzer, sr., defender.

Strengths and concerns: Balanced team that has impressed coach with its hard work.

Outlook: Might surprise.

Ingraham

Coach: John Fox (1st year).

Last season: 1-7-1, 1-8-1.

Returning starters: Fred Rea, sr., defender; Les Trowbridge, sr., defender; Michael Tesfai, so., forward; Lloyd Chand, jr., midfielder; Chris Garland, jr., forward; Ahmad Abdo, jr., midfielder.

Returning subs: Nilesch Chand, jr., midfielder; Mo Bakhari, sr.

Impact newcomers: Brandon Boyd, jr., forward; Mariano Martinez, sr., defender.

Strengths and concerns: Strength is defense. Lack of experience a concern. Garland might finish among scoring leaders.

Outlook: Should win some games.

Lakeside

Coach: Mark Kovats (1st year).

Last season: 8-1, 12-3 (lost in state round-of-16 to Everett).

Returning starters: Josh Gould, sr., goalkeeper; Terry Kegel, sr., midfielder; Isaac Kim, jr., defender; Mario Velez, jr., midfielder; Chris Pohl, jr., midfielder; Luke Rona, jr., midfielder; Ezra Miller, sr., defender; Kyle Rolfe, jr., defender.

Impact newcomers: Zach Tesler, fr., midfielder; Peter Schoene, so., defender; Ben Zulauf, fr., forward; Noah Jaffe, so., midfielder.

Miscellany: Kovats, who coaches the girls team at Mercer Island, replaced Chuck McChesney, who resigned after three successful seasons with the Lakeside girls (two state championships) and boys (two state round-of-16 appearances).

Strengths and concerns: A strong nucleus with varsity experience. Coach Kovats likes team's "leadership characteristics."

Outlook: No. 1 challenger to Blanchet.

Nathan Hale

Coach: Drew Guest (1st year).

Last season: 2-6-1, 4-8-1.

Returning starters: Taeng Saengsililath, sr., defender; Nick Heijoits, jr., defender; Aris Hinkle-Coniff, so., defender; Jesse Huckins, so., midfielder; Josh Spring, so., forward; Jarred Acconcher, jr., defender.

Impact newcomers: Brian Lindall, jr., forward; Lucias Miedel, sr., goalkeeper.

Strengths and concerns: Program is rebuilding. Defense might keep them in games.

Outlook: May win some games.

O'Dea

Coach: Pat Raney (27th year).

Last season: 5-3-1, 8-9-1.

Returning starters: Todd Epler, sr., defender; Nick Gonzalez, jr., Striker (14 goals, 4 assists, 1st team All-Metro); Kevin Proctor, sr., midfielder (1 goal, 2 assists, 2nd team All-Metro); John Nagle, sr., striker (1 goal, 4 assists); Alex Oyer, jr., midfielder; Tom Fanning, sr., defender.

Returning subs: Conor Moriarty, sr., midfielder; Gre Kokorowski, jr., defender; Bryan Ellis, so., goalkeeper.

Impact newcomers: Brian Benn, jr.; Pat Mullin, fr.; Chris Rossman, fr. .

Strengths and concerns: Quickness and a keen application of fundamentals will keep this squad afloat, but the prevalent youth will take time to mesh.

Outlook: Coming off rare losing season, Irish will be in the hunt.

Rainier Beach

Coach: Stan White (4th year).

Last season: Unable to field team.

Key players: Dan O'Brien, sr., goalkeeper; Sing Teav, jr., stopper; Marc Vaeena, sr., sweeper; Souriya Promvongsa, so., striker.

Miscellany: Multicultural team with nine primary languages. Goalie O'Brien was a forward on Beach basketball team.

Strengths and concerns: Strength is defense. Coach White notes, "If we're going to win, it's going to be through our midfielder." One problem is team getting used to playing together.

Outlook: Could win some games.

Seattle Prep

Coach: Dick Sandstrom (24th year).

Last season's record: 8-1, 11-2-2.

Returning starters: Craig Johanson, jr., midfielder; Shea Robinson, jr., forward; Keliikai Castillo, jr., defender; Gunnar Peterson, jr., forward; David Ito, jr., defender.

Strengths and concerns: A lot of energy and youth. The Panthers could start as many as five freshmen. Only one senior on team. Leadership must emerge.

Miscellany: Last year was first in three years that Panthers weren't in final four at state.

Outlook: As always, should contend but may be a year away.

West Seattle

Coach: Dan Peterson (7th year).

Last season: 3-6, 5-7.

Returning starters: Steve Boshaw, so., forward; Bob Vadakin, jr., forward; Jeff Wilson, sr., midfielder; Nick Johnston, jr., defender; Jason Lynn, sr., defender; Anrron Koontz-Dalton, sr., defender; Anthony Contraras, jr., goalkeeper.

Returning subs: Jim Goodman, jr., midfielder; Paul Titus, jr., midfielder.

Impact newcomers: Meron Kidane, jr., midfielder.

Strengths and concerns: Experienced team. Leader needs to emerge. Was dominated by Blanchet 4-0 last night.

Outlook: Pulled upset of year last season by ousting Seattle Prep in Metro tournament. Considered a contender. ------------------------------- Metro League players to watch

Steve Boshaw, Soph., forward, W. Seattle Upset Prep with OT goal last year .

Andrew Cutler, Sr., defender, Blanchet Returning All-Metro selection .

Brian Ford, Jr., goalkeeper, Ballard Solid anchor for Beaver defense .

Chris Garland, Jr., forward, Ingraham Knows where the net is .

Nick Gonzalez, Jr., striker, O'Dea 14 goals and All-Metro last year .

Robel Haile, Sr., striker, Blanchet All-Metro and fun to watch .

Craig Johanson, Jr., midfielder, Seattle Prep All-Metro, good vision .

Nick Johnston, Jr., defender, West Seattle Tough, fast, good passer .

Pat Pollack, Jr., midfielder, Ballard Solid, enthusiastic, tenacious .

Souriya Promvongsa, Soph., striker-midfield, Rainier Beach Dangerous player.

Fred Rea, Sr., defender, Ingraham Solid player on inexperienced team .

Shea Robinson, Jr., striker, Seattle Prep Point guard knows this sport, too .

Luke Rona, Jr., midfielder, Lakeside All-Metro. Hat trick last week..

Joel Saulter, Sr., defender, Blanchet Returning All-Metro selection .

Dirk Woodworth, Sr., defender, Blanchet Returning All-Metro selection .

Mario Velez, Jr., forward, Lakeside Scoring threat for Lions .