Lakeside Not Clear Favorite
When the Metro League girls soccer season opened today, Lakeside - for the first time in four years - wasn't the clearcut favorite.
The league's upper division consists of the league's five private schools, including Lakeside, which has won three of the past four state championships.
The lower division consists of the four public schools fielding teams at this time. Cleveland and Rainier Beach are not fielding teams because of insufficient turnout. Ingraham may be able to put together a team to begin play before the month ends.
Teams play opponents within their division twice and the other division once.
Ballard Beavers
Coach - Gary Hunter (3rd year).
Last year - 5-1-8 (played in A Division).
Returning starters - Jessica Bowden, midfielder (MF), sr.; Kirsten Wilson, MF, sr.; Carly Pye, defender (D), sr.; Emma Edwards, goalkeeper (GK), sr.; Lily Hereford, forward (F), jr.; Cindy Burnett, MF, jr.; Ellie Lord, MF, jr.; Haley Devries, D, sr.
Key returning sub - Lindsey Jones, F, sr.
Impact newcomers - Alley Kunkel, D, so.; Shannon Pflugrath, MF, so.; Geneva Griswold, D, fr.
Outlook - Beavers back in B division after season in A division with private schools. . . . Appear to have what it takes to win public-school division.
Blanchet Braves
Coach - Ryan Pack (2nd year).
Last year - 9-6, lost to Lakeside in league championship game; lost to Highline, eventual state runner-up, 1-0 in quarterfinals.
Returning starters - Katie O'Brien, F, sr.; Melissa Dempsey-Hall, F, Jr.; Anne Berbarian, MF, sr.; Rachel Faires, D, sr.; Libby Bassett, GK, sr.; Paula Steinhouser, F, so.; Noelani Kaneko, MF, so.; Kim Tessier, MF, jr.; Bri Bassich, D, so.
Key returning subs - Britt Hesse, MF, jr.; Colleen Ebert, F, sr.; Andrea Simmons, F, jr.; Lauren Lauritzen, D, jr.; Leah Foltz, D, jr.
Impact newcomer - Jess Rogers, D, fr.
Outlook - Definite contenders with scoring punch and excellent goalkeeper. So far, lost to 4A Cascade 2-1, tied 4A Edmonds-Woodway 1-1, beat 4A Mountlake Terrace 1-0.
Cleveland Eagles
Not fielding team.
Eastside Catholic Crusaders
Coach - Jaimy McLaughlin (3rd year)
Last year - 10-2-2. Won B division.
Returning starters - Alison Paine, MF, sr.; Mackenzie Dahl, MF, sr.; Megan Kinnear, MF, sr.; Katie Curran, F, jr.; Stephanie Lanzer, D, jr.; Ashley Milligan, D, jr.; Jamie Palermo, MF, jr.; Katile Lowry, GK, so.
Key returning subs - Christina Sepic, F, sr.; Leah Herr, D, jr.; Nikki Herr, D, jr.; Monica Rozgay, MF, so.; Whitney Smith, F, so.; Sheryl Staudacher, F, so.; Kelsey Sullivan, D, so.
Impact newcomers - Meredith Dean, D, fr.; Alexis Herr, D, fr.; Tonya McLaughlin, M, fr.
Outlook - Team won its division and has been promoted. Might get hot and finish as high as third.
Nathan Hale Raiders
Coach - Demry Demerest (1st year).
Last year - 3-8 tied for second in B division.
Returning starters - Kelly Nigh, GK, sr.; Holly Brooks, MF, sr.; Lacey Evans, MF, sr.; Shannon Seidel, MF, jr.; Sequoyia Gordon, D, jr.; Alison Ewen, MF, jr.; Gina Taksugi, F, sr.; Sandra Peterson, F, sr.; Cori Hill, D, sr.; Katie McDonald, MF, sr.
Key returning subs - Karen Abercrombie, MF, sr.; LeeAnn Evans, MF, so.; Elsa Ferguson, F, so.
Impact newcomers - Kelly Davis, F, fr.; Marie Suver, D, so.
Outlook - Good senior class. All-Metro goalkeeper in Nigh. Experienced team. Good defense, but can this team score enough goals?
Holy Names Cougars
Coach - Julie Raney (5 years).
Last year - 6-5 in league, 7-6 overall.
Returning starters - Jen Bosa, MF, sr.; Heidi Safadago, striker (S), sr.
Key returning subs - Alex Mueller, MF, so.; Julie Bosa, D, so.
Impact newcomers - Eva Strickland, fr.; Katie Schaffnit, jr.; Loretta Campbell, fr.
Outlook - This could be year Cougars make an impact.
Ingraham Rams
Scrambling to assemble team. Forfeited first two matches.
Lakeside Lions
Coach - Matt Kovats (1st year).
Last year - 16-1-3. Metro and state champions. Beat Highline 2-0 in championship.
Returning starters - Alison Alkire, D, sr.; Kathleen Ferguson, D, sr. (All-Metro two years); Eve Russell, F, jr.; Allison Myers, GK, so.
Key returning subs - Cassie Abel, F, jr.; Dawn Lippert, M, so.; Sarah Skinner, D, jr.
Impact newcomer - Liz Morbeck, MF, fr.
Outlook - Lions, for once, aren't heavily favored to win league. Five All-Metro players graduated. Coach Chuck McChesney stepped down to concentrate on business career. Strong defense, but can Lions score enough goals? Lost opener to Highline 1-0 in rematch of '98 state title game.
Seattle Prep Panthers
Coach - Andy Hendricks (10th year).
Last year - 9-8, second in regular season, lost to Blanchet on penalty kicks in Metro semifinal.
Returning starters - Marissa Brooks, F, sr.; Meaghan O'Leary, D-MF, sr.; Laura Fanning, MF, jr.; Kai Corby, D, jr.; Sam Kneeland, F, jr.; Lexi de Turenne, MF, jr.; Mary Kate Whitford, D, sr.; Claire Zabriskie, GK, so.; Megan Brotherton, D, sr.; Carrie Potts, MF, jr. (coming off knee injury).
Key returning subs - Jessica Rogers, D-MF, jr. (out for year with knee injury).
Impact newcomers - Shannon Lovejoy, MF, so.; Caitlin Lyons, MF, so.; Alexis Brooks, MF-F, so.; Ray Rogers, D, so.
Outlook - Sixty-nine girls turned out. Opened season with 2-0 loss to Liberty, a state semifinalist, then tied tough 4A Roosevelt 1-1. Brooks one of league's most dangerous players.
Rainier Beach Vikings
Not fielding team.
Chief Sealth Seahawks
Coach - Ron Johnson (2nd year).
Last year - Winless.
Returning starters - Sarah Postal, F, sr.; Christina Diaz, MF, sr.; Kimberly Chan, MF, jr.; Tami Muratalla, D, sr.; Catherine Mendoza, D, sr.; Anina Rikni, D, sr.; Emily Robey, D, jr.; Wendy Elizalde, D, jr.; Marisol Mendoza, F, sr.; Terah Wicker, MF, jr.
Impact newcomers - Lynn Parker, GK, sr.; Stacey Feagan, MF, fr.; Crystal Noriega, F, fr.; Linden Wright, MF, jr.
Outlook - Only one senior graduated. Experience and strong newcomers should help make team more competitive.
West Seattle Indians
Coach - Paul Weisz (3rd year).
Last year - 3-8, tied for second in division.
Returning starters - Linda Vu, F, Jr.; Carissa Orton, MF, sr.; Cindy Hamar, MF, jr.; Tammie Oreiro, MF, sr.; D'Laina Boynton, D, sr.; Keri Brakebill, GK, sr.; Chelsea Fuda, D, jr.; Dana Poythress, MF, so.; Brandi Sceli, D, sr.
Key returning subs - Mari Moroles, D, so.; Joleen Post, MF, jr.
Impact newcomers - Suzanne Ritch, F, fr.; Dannielle Mackie, F, fr.; Margaret Chang, D, fr.
Outlook - Strong freshman group will help. Metro League predictions
A Division - 1, Seattle Prep; 2, Blanchet; 3, Lakeside; 4, Holy Names; 5, Eastside Catholic.
B Division - 1, Ballard; 2, Nathan Hale; 3, West Seattle; 4, Chief Sealth.
(Seattle Times predictions based on input from league's coaches)
A dozen Metro League soccer players to watch .
Marissa Brooks F Sr. Seattle Prep Outstanding outside shot . Kai Corby D Jr. Seattle Prep All-Metro defender .
Claire Zabriskie GK So. Seattle Prep Good young goalkeeper .
Kathleen Ferguson D Sr. Lakeside Early MVP candidate .
Eve Russell F Jr. Lakeside Finally healthy; breakthrough year?.
Alison Alkire D Sr. Lakeside Heady and experienced .
Katie O'Brien F Sr. Blanchet Flat-out dangerous .
Melissa Dempsey-Hall MF Sr. Blanchet Versatile performer in middle .
Libby Bassett GK Sr. Blanchet Almost nothing gets past her .
Noelani Kaneko MF So. Blanchet Threat in the middle .
Kelly Nigh GK Sr. Nathan Hale Good goalie tested often .
Jen Bosa MF Sr. Holy Names A reason Cougars may contend .