Girls soccer league outlooks
KingCo 4A
Favorites: Bothell, Eastlake
Contenders: Garfield, Inglemoor, Redmond, Roosevelt
Players to watch: MF/F Kate Brindley, Sr., Redmond; D Stephanie Brossmann, Sr., Ballard; D Juli Edwards, Sr., Roosevelt; F Hillary Heath, Jr., Garfield; MF Angela Hulse, Jr., Juanita; F Stephanie Jamison, Sr., Bothell; MF Jennifer Lee, So., Juanita; GK Erin MacIsaac, Jr., Bothell; D Jessica Martinez, Sr., Eastlake; MF/F Ashley McDougall, Sr., Redmond; MF Megan Miller, Sr., Eastlake; MF Ashley Porter, Sr., Inglemoor; MF Sophie Spickard, Sr., Roosevelt; MF/D Megan West, Sr., Redmond; D Jeanne Webster, Sr., Bothell; MF Melissa Winter, Jr., Ballard; F Leah Wymer, Sr., Bothell.
Outlook: Arguably the state's toughest Class 4A conference of late, having sent two teams to Final Four each of past three seasons. ... Eastlake, defending state champion, returns eight starters and has a school-record 15-game winning streak dating to Oct. 10 last year. ... Bothell won Mountain Division last year and returns nine starters, including F Wymer, who led conference with 18 goals. ... Roughriders, with talented duo of Edwards and Spickard, should be strong.
— Matt Peterson
WesCo North
Favorites: Cascade, Oak Harbor, Snohomish
Contenders: Arlington, Lake Stevens, Marysville-Pilchuck, Monroe
Players to watch: F Jesse Heath, Jr., Arlington; F Jessica Hughes, Sr., Cascade; D Kayla Anderson, Jr., Cascade; F Jessica Hinton, Jr., Lake Stevens; F Danielle Monson, Jr., Marysville-Pilchuck; F Anna Jensen, Sr., Marysville-Pilchuck; MF Chelsea Bumbaugh, So., Monroe; D Chelsey Zimmerman, Sr., Monroe; D Michelle Sowers, Sr., Monroe; MF Kris Sowers, So., Monroe; MF Gretyl Pruss, Sr., Oak Harbor; F Jenny White, Sr., Oak Harbor; D Hazel Sapida, Sr., Oak Harbor; MF Tina Nicolas, Sr., Oak Harbor; MF Lindsey Kihm, Sr., Snohomish; D Kelsey Manning, Jr., Snohomish; D Nicole Bernston, Sr., Snohomish; F Whitney Ross, So., Snohomish.
Outlook: Coaches say Oak Harbor is team to beat, but some add that as many as six teams could win division. ... Cascade finished second in state last fall, but lost seven starters. ... Arlington has no seniors. ... Stanwood has a new coach, Lori Stunz. ... Snohomish is always near top of division and should be again. But Panthers return only four starters from state-playoff team and lost Lucy Miller to cross-country.
— Greg Bishop
WesCo South
Favorites: Edmonds-Woodway, Shorewood
Contenders: Kamiak, Lynnwood, Meadowdale, Shorecrest, Jackson
Players to watch: F Lindsay Milone, Sr., Edmonds-Woodway; MF Hayley Zevenbergen, Jr., Edmonds-Woodway; MF Melanie Bohnet, Sr., Kamiak; MF Annika Fjortoft, Jr., Kamiak; F Sarah Smart, Jr., Lynnwood; F Courtney Hughes, Sr., Meadowdale; D Jessica Duty, Jr., Meadowdale; MF Brooke Simons, Jr., Meadowdale; MF Brittney Doran, Jr., Meadowdale; D Micaela Pelland, Sr., Shorecrest; D Katie Barnes, Jr., Shorewood; MF Akosua Fordjour, Sr., Shorewood; D Rebecca Allen, Sr., Shorewood.
Outlook: Meadowdale didn't lose a game in league last year, but lost its coach, Michael Bartley to nearby Jackson. Sean Griffin takes over. ... Coaches see a lot of parity league-wide, meaning injuries will be a big factor. ... Lynnwood's Smart finished second in division in scoring last season. ... Shorewood returns the most all-league players. ... Two years ago, Lynnwood hadn't won more than one game in many seasons. Coach Kim Plumis led Lynnwood to four wins last year, and Royals are expected to contend.
— Greg Bishop
SPSL North
Favorites: Tahoma, Auburn, Auburn Riverside
Contenders: Kentwood, Kentlake, Kentridge
Players to watch: F Christina Rios, Sr., Auburn; GK Brittany Soong, Sr., Auburn; GK Erin Keeley, Jr., Auburn; D Olivia Stover, Jr., Auburn; D Lisa Worden, Jr., Auburn; D Christine Moore, Sr., Auburn Riverside; F Amber Baumann, Jr., Auburn Riverside; MF Morgan Stumpf, Sr., Enumclaw; MF Roebi Gerber, Sr., Kentlake; D Jamie Williams, Sr., Kentlake; D Kristin Follmer, Jr., Kent-Meridian; D Lauren DeCarteret, Sr., Kent-Meridian; GK J.J. Stewart, Sr., Kentridge; MF Melissa Buitrago, Sr., Kentridge; D Hayley Doyle, Jr., Kentwood; MF Kelly Gagne, Sr., Kentwood; F Vanessa Edwards, Sr., Kentwood; D-MF Courtney Wells, Sr., Sumner; F Darcy Gard, Sr., Sumner; MF Rhonnie Kolp, Jr., Sumner; D Vanessa Ransom, Sr., Tahoma; D Lindsay Pollock, Jr., Tahoma; GK Jodi Palmer, Fr., Tahoma.
Outlook: Auburn rates a strong chance to improve from fourth in North in 2002 to No. 1 with 19 letterwinners back, including 10 starters. ... Kentlake, 2002 North champ, lost many of its top players, including Class 4A state co-MVP and North MVP Shuree Hyatt (at U. of San Francisco). ... Tahoma usually restocks quickly, and despite losing leading scorer Shannon Dillon (UW), appears ready to bounce back after finishing second in North last year. Bears won North and Class 4A state title in 2001. Tahoma senior Dani Bridges will miss most — if not all — of the season after ankle surgery to repair ligament damage.
— Matt Massey
SPSL South
Favorites: Jefferson, Federal Way, Curtis
Contenders: Decatur, Puyallup, Emerald Ridge
Players to watch: CMF Ashley LaRose, So., Beamer (transfer from Federal Way); D Jessica Hunley, So., Beamer; D Rachel Thatcher, So., Beamer; F Ashlyn White, Sr., Federal Way; CMF Hannah Bridges, Sr., Federal Way; D Rachel Christensen, Jr., Federal Way; MF-D Mandy Ploskonka, Jr., Federal Way; D Christina Ruiz, Jr., Federal Way; F Melissa Hicks, Fr., Jefferson; F Rachael Maus, Sr., Jefferson; MF Christa Bingham, So., Jefferson; MF-D Michelle Mohn, So., Jefferson; MF Amanda Font, Sr., Decatur; F Nicole Collins, Sr., Decatur; F Amanda Meadows, Jr., Decatur; MF Brittany Gilmer, Sr., Decatur; MF Lindsey Marburger, Sr., Rogers; CMF Molly Daugherty, Jr., Rogers; F Jocelyn Charette, So., Curtis; D Rachel Christman, Jr., Curtis; MF Teal McKay, Sr., Curtis; GK Channel Hardeman, Jr., Curtis; MF Darcy Holland, Jr., Curtis; MF Malia Jensen, Sr., Curtis; GK Amanda DuRocher, Jr., Bethel; GK Bridget Schramm, Sr., Emerald Ridge; MF Brittney Beitel, Sr., Emerald Ridge; F Alex Pielek, Sr., Puyallup; MF Kaelyn Caldwell, Sr., Puyallup; MF Rachael Kimball, Jr., Puyallup; F Amanda Fox, Sr., Spanaway Lake.
Outlook: Carrie Boers, who coached Federal Way to state quarterfinals last year, takes over at first-year Beamer. Justi Baumgardt-Yamada, former U.S. National team player and professional, returns to her alma mater to coach Federal Way. Baumgardt led Eagles to back-to-back state titles in 1991 and '92 and was national player of the year in '92, when Federal Way finished No. 1 in nation. ... Jefferson lost South MVP and all-state pick Chelsea Hunt, but retains some young firepower and could repeat. ... Curtis, last year's South runner-up, goes for its seventh consecutive playoff appearance with just four returning starters.
— Matt Massey
KingCo 3A
Favorites: Mercer Island, Sammamish
Contenders: Cedarcrest, Skyline
Players to watch: D Kolina Beck, Sr., Sammamish; D/MF Lindsay Bell, Sr., Skyline; F Kristen Berndt, Sr., Mount Si; MF Whitney Chelgren, Jr., Mount Si; F Jamie Coe, So., Cedarcrest; GK Caity Connolly, Sr., Mercer Island; MF Lauren Dascenzo, Jr., Issaquah; F Kimmi Drew, Jr., Cedarcrest; F Karen Frost, Sr., Issaquah; F Bryn Gibson, Jr., Interlake; D Lindsey Kasser, So., Issaquah; MF Jenny Kellogg, Sr., Newport; MF/F Liz MacCool, Sr., Skyline; F Kayla McCulley, Jr., Newport; MF/D Bailee Neylund, Sr., Interlake; D/MF Lindsey Paup, Sr., Skyline; GK Jessica Sode, Sr., Cedarcrest; MF/F Brittney Watson, Jr., Skyline; MF Alex Wexler, Sr., Mercer Island; F Mariye Wick, Sr., Sammamish; F/MF Aimee Wilson, Sr., Skyline.
Outlook: Mercer Island beat Cedarcrest for conference title last season, but lost All-KingCo performers Beth Richards (basketball at Jacksonville U. in Florida) and Rebecca Conte (soccer at Seattle U.). ... Sammamish, with eight returning starters, looks to knock off Red Wolves in Valley Division. ... Skyline finished third at state last year and with eight seniors and 11 returning players should challenge for conference title. ... Mount Si has new coach, Darren Brown, from Beaverton, Ore., where he coached high-school boys for two years.
— Matt Peterson
Metro Mountain Division
Favorite: Lakeside
Contenders: Bishop Blanchet, Bainbridge, Seattle Prep
Players to watch: F Mary Kuder, Sr., Lakeside; F Lucy Strong, Sr., Lakeside; D Laura Fine, Sr., Lakeside; MF Kelly Kosco, Sr., Lakeside; MF Adriana Gonzalez-Medina, Sr., Bainbridge; D Kyle McFarlane, Sr., Bainbridge; F Courtney Bell, So., Bainbridge; F Allie Picha, So., Bainbridge; MF/F Whitney Knox, Jr., Bishop Blanchet; MF/F Erin Foley, Jr., Bishop Blanchet; F Coralie Hews, Jr., Bishop Blanchet; MF/D Andrea Rance, Jr., Holy Names; MF/D Katie St. Germain, Sr., Holy Names; D Lindsey Witford, Jr., Holy Names; GK Lizzy Showman, Sr., Seattle Prep; D Brett Lither, Jr., Seattle Prep; D Eileen Cahill, Sr., Seattle Prep; MF Joan Quint, Sr., Seattle Prep; F Natalie Cerda, So., Eastside Catholic; MF Jilyne McDonald, Sr., Eastside Catholic; D Stephanie Gai, So., Eastside Catholic
Outlook: Lakeside is clear favorite to top Mountain Division, win Metro title and secure a berth in state playoffs. With nine returning starters — including Mary Kuder, last season's Metro MVP — Lions look nearly unbeatable. They finished 15-1-2 overall last season, losing only to Kennedy in 3A state quarterfinals. Bainbridge, Blanchet and Prep will keep things interesting, but are unlikely to pose a great challenge to Lakeside.
— Jeannine N. Befidi
Metro Sound Division
Favorite: Nathan Hale
Contenders: West Seattle, Ingraham
Players to watch: F Alicia Caulfied, Jr., Nathan Hale; MF Brenna Reid, Jr., Nathan Hale; MF Geneva James, So., Nathan Hale; MF Chelsea Anderson, Fr., Ingraham; D Tori Pickle, Jr., Ingraham; GK Jenice Geere, So., Ingraham; F/D Kendra Lindell, So., Ingraham; MF Shantel Zapata, Jr., West Seattle; MF Carley Pierce, So., West Seattle
Outlook: Nathan Hale, the only team in the division with a winning percentage last year, is clear favorite in Sound. Raiders have nine returning starters and welcome back GK Alison Driver and MF Melissa Chandler. Both sat out last season with knee injuries. ... West Seattle and Ingraham should be competitive, thanks to a handful of standout players. ... Cleveland is fielding its first team in eight years, but forfeited today's game against West Seattle.
— Jeannine N. Befidi
Seamount King Division
Favorite: Kennedy
Contenders: Mount Rainier, Lindbergh, Highline
Players to watch: F Vicky Rodriguez, Sr., Kennedy; MF Kryste Jalalian, Sr., Kennedy; GK Kaitlyn Jackson, Sr., Kennedy; F Mike Matsui, Jr., Lindbergh; D Amanda Crawford, Jr., Lindbergh; FK Davie Hay, So., Renton; MF Chris Pallis, So., Renton; F/MF Raeven Prgomet, Sr., Highline; D Trisha Halvorsen, Jr., Highline; MF Jamie Devall-Edson, Jr., Highline; F Jenny Martini, Jr., Mount Rainier; F Natalie D'Amico, Jr., Mount Rainier; D Tricia Loomis, Sr., Mount Rainier; MF Lisa Overbo, Sr., Mount Rainier; GK Meghan Michaud, Sr., Hazen; MF Jenelle Fisher, So., Hazen; D/MF Stephanie Gladstone, Sr., Evergreen; MF Megan Farnam, Sr., Tyee; F Carmen Johnston, Jr., Tyee; GK Allison Maas, Sr., Tyee.
Outlook: With six starters back from last year's state-championship team, Kennedy will be tough to beat. But this is one of toughest 3A divisions around. Kennedy didn't even win the division title last year. That honor went to Mount Rainier, 3-0 against Kennedy last year. Rams then lost state-playoff opener to Skyline, 2-1 in shootout, but Lindbergh and Highline reached quarterfinals. ... Lindergh is loaded, despite losing sweeper Amanda Clark to an ACL and GK Katelyn Faas to swim team. ... Mount Rainier is without D Tricia Loomis (knee injury) for part (if not all) of season. Martini and Matsui were division co-MVPs last season. ... Highline is always in mix and Hazen could make playoff run, too.
— Sandy Ringer
Seamount Pierce Division
Favorites: Peninsula, White River
Contender: Fife, Lakes
Players to watch: MF Cassie Behrendt, Sr., Fife; MF Andrea Archer, Sr., Fife; F Meghan Jackson, Sr., Peninsula; MF Anna McCoy, Jr., Peninsula; D Makaley Tucker, Sr., Peninsula; D Jenny Walker, Sr., Peninsula; D/GK Chelsea Meints, Jr., Peninsula; GK Madie Miser, Sr., Peninsula; D Jessica Bailey, Sr., Franklin Pierce; MF Becca Strong, Sr., Franklin Pierce; F Bevan Elliott, Sr., Franklin Pierce; GK Grace Wood, Sr., Franklin Pierce; MF/F Chloe Yeldon, Jr., Washington; GK Brooklynn Cowan, Sr., Washington; F/MF Veronica Motta, Sr., Clover Park; D Brittney Schrader, So., Clover Park; MF Maggie Schrader, Fr., Clover Park; GK Jackie Denova, So., Lakes; MF Sarah Deleon, So., Lakes; MF Amy Martin, So., Lakes; F Aliaca McArtor, Jr., White River; MF Tara Hanson, Jr., White River; D Meghan Gallagher, Sr., White River.
Outlook: Peninsula and White River finished 1-2 last year and are expected to battle for crown again. Peninsula has new head coach in Rick Coovert, who was boys basketball coach at Chief Leschi in Puyallup past three seasons. He inherits six all-division first-team players. White River was young last season and isn't much older with just two senior starters. ... Fife, which lost only two players, was only team to beat Peninsula twice last season. ... Washington's new coach is Auna vonBlommestein, former UW and WWU player who returns to her alma mater.
— Sandy Ringer