TEAM CAPSULES

Auburn Trojans

Coach - John Yorke, eighth year.

Last season - 11-5-2 overall; 9-3-2 (20 points), first in SPSL North; lost to Jefferson in SPSL title game; lost to Snohomish in first-round state playoff game.

Key returners - F Bo Peterson, jr.; MF Anthony Fioretti, jr.; MF Jorgan Peadon, jr.; MF Mike Gallegos, jr.; D Bill Egbert, sr.; MF Evan Hendrickson, so.; MF Bill Pennock, jr.; GK Gene Um, sr.

Key newcomers - D Tom Kight, jr.; F Robert Brooks, sr.; D Brandon Wentzel, so.; D Mike Ells, so.; GK/MF Jeff Bradley, so.; GK Jared Harman, so.

Outlook - Trojans return seven starters and top reserve, and that bodes well for a top-three finish in North. Auburn lost leading scorer Kelly Doll (9 goals); but Peterson, Gallegos and Anthony Fioretti are capable of picking up slack. "Gallegos, Fioretti and Peadon, they are kind of our engine," Yorke said. "Gallegos is the kind of guy that if he's on, we're on. We have a nice nucleus of kids back, but we don't have much depth."

Auburn Riverside Ravens

Coach - Dave Winter, fifth year.

Last season - 8-3-3 (19 points), tied for 2nd in SPSL North; lost in first round of SPSL playoffs to Curtis.

Key returners - D Jeff Jewett, jr.; D Jeremy Hedrick, sr.; MF Jason Eley, sr.; MF Kevin Murray, so.; MF Josh Hedrick, so.; F Jacob Benedict, jr.; D Todd Murray, sr.

Key newcomers - MF Brad Barber, jr.; MF Dan Brewer, sr.; MF Chris Ellison, sr.; F Mike Ellison, jr.; GK Chris Eylander, so.; D Byron Haley, sr.; D Caleb Inman, so.; F Matt Neubauer, so.; F Josh Walker, jr.; MF Mike Zylstra, jr.

Outlook - Loss of All-SPSL North players Joe Watson and Jeremy Proud leaves questions for Ravens. Watson, who plays at Seattle University, led the Ravens in scoring his final two seasons. Proud starts at Fresno State. Eylander is capable of having the kind of career Proud had, Winter said.

Enumclaw Hornets

Coach - Brian Patrick, first year.

Last season - 4-6-4 (12 points), sixth in SPSL North.

Key returners - MF Josh Harris, sr.; D Kyle Carlson, sr.; MF/F Robert Dyer, jr.; MF Tony Bruhn, jr.; MF Tony Binetti, so.; MF Casey Hanson, jr.; GK Kurtis Smith, sr.

Key newcomers - F Thomas Harding, fr.; So. F Don Judt, so.

Outlook - Hornets have chance to move up in standings if new starting goalkeeper, Smith, can back up a good defense with consistency. Enumclaw should have one of top defenses in division, but to make playoffs must find firepower on offense.

Kent-Meridan Royals

Coach - Gunter Bohrmann, 19th year.

Last season - 2-12 (4 points), seventh in SPSL North.

Key returners - MF Ismail Ismail, so.; D Andrew Schmelzer, so.; MF Mike Edmondson, sr.; D David Sundby, jr.; F Adam Mendoza, sr.; GK Miguel Segura, jr.

Key newcomers - MF Cesar Escobar, sr.; F Javier Rogue, sr.; MF Drew Locke, fr.; D Kyle Phillips, fr.; MF Matt Wells, fr.; F Fernando Becerra, jr.; MF Dylan Goodwin, jr.; D Vicker Zul, sr.; GK/D Tony Schriever, jr.

Outlook - Things appear bleak for Royals, who have two seniors among the experienced returners from a team that struggled mightily last season. Hard work and hustle will be key to turning it around against North teams, Bohrmann said.

Kentwood Conquerors

Coach - Jim Dunn, third year (last coached at KW in 1988, '89).

Last season - 1-13-0 (2 points), eighth in SPSL North.

Key returners - MF Justin Hughes, sr.; D/MF Jason Newbrey, jr.; D Matt Taller, so.; F Yohei Murakami, so.; F Anthony Melchior, so.; GK Devin Hanger, jr.

Key newcomers - MF/D Justin Forney, fr.; MF Sean Newbrey, fr.

Outlook - When Dunn last coached Kentwood (1988-89 seasons), he guided them to a third-place finish in '88 Class 3A state tournament. After spending 14 years as head coach at Pacific Lutheran, Dunn enters his 24th season of high-school and college coaching. He's confident he can help this team rise from North cellar. Look for Conquerors to move to middle of pack or higher this season.

Kentlake Falcons

Coach - Justin Pozega, first year.

Last season - 7-3-4 (18 points), tied for fourth in SPSL North.

Key returners - MF Justin Miller, sr.; MF Aaron Barber, sr.; D Brad Bergstrom, sr.; F Eddi Dedakovic, sr.; D Troy Wood, sr.; GK Erik Chamberlin, so.

Key newcomers - MF Jacob Naval, fr.; MF Trevor Severeid, fr.; D Brian Medina, fr.

Outlook - Falcons might not fly high from start of season because Miller, Barber and Wood have been serving early suspensions for violating team rules. Miller, Kentlake's leading goal scorer with 13 a year ago, is scheduled to return today against Kentridge after a two-game suspension, but Wood and Barber will miss six games apiece. Wood and Barber will be back April 4 against Auburn. "I expect to make the playoffs," said Pozega, a 1990 Kentridge graduate and former Green River CC player. "In the long run, the suspensions could really help us because it means more playing time for the younger kids."

Kentridge Chargers

Coach - Glenn Walrond, third year.

Last season - 7-2-5 (19 points), tied for 2nd in SPSL North; lost to Decatur in SPSL playoffs.

Key returners - F Josh Lineback, sr.; MF Sean Sandin, jr.; MF Devon Smith, jr.; D Ken Hunziker, jr.; D Mark Cox, so.; F B.J. Takeuchi, sr.; D Mark Deming, sr.; MF Matt Groce, jr.; D Andrew Liliequist, jr.; GK Jeb Shephard, jr.

Key newcomers - F/MF Craig Buitrago, fr.; GK Zack Mourad, so.

Outlook - With six starters gone via graduation, Chargers lost a lot of talent from last year's playoff team. Biggest losses are first-team all-league players Tim Dapar, Davy Shanko and David Andresen and second-team goalkeeper Peter March. Last year's all-leaguers Sandin, Lineback and Cox need to lead the team. Chargers must come together as a team, especially on defense.

Sumner Spartans

Coach - Darin Mott, first year.

Last season - 3-13-0 (6 points), eighth in SPSL South.

Key returners - MF Ian Creech, sr.; D A.J. Richardson, sr.; MF Brian Coate, sr.

Key newcomers - MF Roman Goyenchea, fr.; GK Danny Donnelinger, fr.; F Jason Moore, sr.

Outlook - Spartans move into North Division, but they'll be pressed to move up in standings with little experience. Former Kentwood coach (1990-93) Darin Mott takes over varsity after coaching JVs. He's the third coach in as many years at Sumner. Spartans opened the season with a 4-0 loss to Auburn. "We're trying to change expectations and level of play, but that's gonna take a while," said Mott, a 1985 Evergreen High graduate. "We're in a new division and it's one of the toughest divisions in the state."

Tahoma Bears

Coach - George Czarnowski, second year.

Last season - 8-4-2 (18 points), tied for fourth in SPSL North (forfeited 3 games for ineligible player); did not make playoffs.

Key returners - F Russell Cahill, sr.; GK Nick Grover, sr.; D Eric Vermehren, sr.; F Robert Leszewski, sr.

Key newcomers - MF Conor Dillon, jr.; MF Josh Cheney, jr.; MF Tony Giralmo, jr.; MF Andy Ashbaugh, jr.; D Brandon Sly, jr.; D Wes Robinson, jr.; D Derek Prenner, jr.

Outlook - Bears forfeited three games for using an ineligible player last spring and it cost them a spot in SPSL playoffs by one team point. University of Washington-bound Cahill makes Bears click with his ability to see the field and pass the ball. Tahoma should challenge for one of top two spots in North. "Last year we didn't have a team, we had all superstars," Czarnowski said. "This year we have a wonderful team with four seniors' leadership and a fantastic supporting cast." Cahill, in the Olympic Development Program talent pool, was suspended for the first two games for violating a team rule.