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ENLARGE
Nevada Union's Marinda Graham, left, and Rachel Whittler, right, chase the ball Saturday along with Bear River's Kacie Fredrickson.
Last year was a season of change for high school girls soccer in western Nevada County. Two of the three teams, Bear River and Forest Lake Christian, played with new coaches, as Nevada Union's roster witnessed a complete overhaul.
But after all the dust settled, two of the teams missed the playoffs by only one game and the other established itself as an up-and-coming program.
This year, hopes run high to snag playoff bids - as long as the snow and rain clears long enough for the three teams to sink their cleats into the playing fields for some games and practices sooner rather than later this season.
Forest Lake Christian
The season looks bright for the Forest Lake Christian girls soccer team - a squad that's returning nine of its 11 starters and hoping to make the playoffs after finishing one tie short of doing so last season.
"This is a very strong team," Forest Lake Christian coach Alane Burke said. "I definitely feel we'll make the playoffs. The players are totally dedicated and committed and really want it this year."
The Falcons will feature a speedy team this season, anchored by a tried and tested defense with its primary scorers coming out of the midfield.
Sophomore sweeper Jordan England was the Falcons' lone first-team all-Central Valley Christian League selection last season and she returns with a year of high school soccer under her belt to direct the team from the back.
Teaming up with England in the back will be senior stopper Sarah Hodges, a captain, with Aubrey Stelzner and Taryn McGirr playing outside marking backs.
"I think we have the best defense in the league," Burke said. "And we always say we're only as good as our defense."
Both of the team's two inside midfielders return with senior captain Megan Stallings playing more of a defensive midfielder while Shelby Lowe, a second team all-CVCL selection last season, will look to score.
The Falcons plan to have two other second team all-CVCL selections in senior captain Jillian Witzke and sophomore Jessica Raskin. They will rotate back and forth from outside midfielders to forwards. Rachel Kerber will spend time at outside midfielder with Chelsie McGirr logging some time at forward.
After losing last year's goalie, Amber Harman, the Falcons had a hole to fill between the pipes and think they have found the answer in sophomore Katie Fletcher with Kim D'Antonio willing to step in if needed.
While 10 of the team's 16 players are upperclassmen, Burke warns to watch out for sophomore Katie Shore and speedy freshman Laura Woody.
The Falcons figure their main competition in league again this season looks to be Victory Christian and Sacramento Waldorf. The top two teams in the CVCL make the playoffs.
But after all the dust settled, two of the teams missed the playoffs by only one game and the other established itself as an up-and-coming program.
This year, hopes run high to snag playoff bids - as long as the snow and rain clears long enough for the three teams to sink their cleats into the playing fields for some games and practices sooner rather than later this season.
Forest Lake Christian
The season looks bright for the Forest Lake Christian girls soccer team - a squad that's returning nine of its 11 starters and hoping to make the playoffs after finishing one tie short of doing so last season.
"This is a very strong team," Forest Lake Christian coach Alane Burke said. "I definitely feel we'll make the playoffs. The players are totally dedicated and committed and really want it this year."
The Falcons will feature a speedy team this season, anchored by a tried and tested defense with its primary scorers coming out of the midfield.
Sophomore sweeper Jordan England was the Falcons' lone first-team all-Central Valley Christian League selection last season and she returns with a year of high school soccer under her belt to direct the team from the back.
Teaming up with England in the back will be senior stopper Sarah Hodges, a captain, with Aubrey Stelzner and Taryn McGirr playing outside marking backs.
"I think we have the best defense in the league," Burke said. "And we always say we're only as good as our defense."
Both of the team's two inside midfielders return with senior captain Megan Stallings playing more of a defensive midfielder while Shelby Lowe, a second team all-CVCL selection last season, will look to score.
The Falcons plan to have two other second team all-CVCL selections in senior captain Jillian Witzke and sophomore Jessica Raskin. They will rotate back and forth from outside midfielders to forwards. Rachel Kerber will spend time at outside midfielder with Chelsie McGirr logging some time at forward.
After losing last year's goalie, Amber Harman, the Falcons had a hole to fill between the pipes and think they have found the answer in sophomore Katie Fletcher with Kim D'Antonio willing to step in if needed.
While 10 of the team's 16 players are upperclassmen, Burke warns to watch out for sophomore Katie Shore and speedy freshman Laura Woody.
The Falcons figure their main competition in league again this season looks to be Victory Christian and Sacramento Waldorf. The top two teams in the CVCL make the playoffs.
Nevada Union
As head coach of the Nevada Union girls soccer team, Mike Voss is faced with a dilemma that many coaches would envy. He has 13-14 players he wants to start, but only 11 spots to give out.
The situation is, however, quite a contrast from last season, in which the Miners had an extremely young and inexperienced team take the field.
"This is one of the oldest groups I've had with seven seniors and eight juniors and I'm getting 13-14 kids within that older group that I want to start," Voss said. "But the younger kids are filling in holes as well so it should be a more balanced team. It's a good problem to have."
Perhaps the biggest challenge this season is actually logging any practice time on the grass. Thus far, aside from the first three weeks of tryouts, Voss's team averaged two tennis court practices a week, two snow days a week and one chalk talk a week throughout the past month.
Voss said the biggest thing his team needs right now is to be tested in actual games.
After being without a true goalie for the previous four seasons, the Miners finally have a veteran in the goal - Ariane Turner, a junior who transferred to Nevada Union last year, but could not play because she had already played a fall high school season at her former school that year. Even more exciting for Voss is that he has a true backup in Paige Carnahan as well.
The Miners play a flat four defense in the back with senior captain Leigh Collins, the team's most valuable player last year and a first team all-Metro selection, returning as an outside marking back along with junior Erin Meyer. Junior Marinda Graham and sophomore Molly Augustus will be inside defenders with Selah Ross, Jill Hagey, Rachel Wittler and Lauren Burnadett fighting for time in back as well.
Voss hopes to use junior Kai Ling Clark's energy to his advantage in the central midfielder position, while inserting veterans Mallory Meier, a junior, and Chelsea Ulinski, another junior, along side her in the outside midfield spots. However, Voss warns that freshman Alana Migliardi may be able to give Meier and Ulinski a run for their money for playing time.
Senior captain Kacey Rogers, the team's other returning first-team all-Metro selection, has cemented a spot up front at forward with Voss still looking to see which of his players will compliment her best. In the running thus far are Erica Goode, Jocelyn Rapp and Christi Guiliani, who spent half of her time in the goal last season for the Miners and was named honorable mention all-league.
The top three teams in the Metro qualify for playoffs with Nevada Union looking to be in a four-team race again this season with Granite Bay, McClatchy and Kennedy. Last season, the Miners ended up fourth in what ended up to be quite a tight finish.
Bear River
Last year, in his first season as head coach of the Bear River girls soccer team, Dave Barnes commented that there wasn't a soccer trophy to be found at the school. His goal wasn't just to improve his team's play in terms of wins and losses, but to begin to build a successful program the community could rally around.
The Bruins took a step in that direction already this spring, by bringing home that elusive trophy after a second-place finish at the Cal Spring Tournament at Cherry Island to begin the season. Even more impressive was the fact that the team did so without the majority of its seniors who missed the tournament for various reasons.
But while the season began on a high note, Barnes knows his team is working against an uphill battle defensively after losing three senior first-team all-Pioneer Valley League defenders in Tiarra Ivazes, Danielle Barnes and Jenn Nealy.
The team will rely on the junior captain Genevieve Speas at sweeper - a role she's never had before. Joining Speas are Milada Belonlavek at stopper and Vanessa Marin and Brittaney Adams at outside marking backs.
As head coach of the Nevada Union girls soccer team, Mike Voss is faced with a dilemma that many coaches would envy. He has 13-14 players he wants to start, but only 11 spots to give out.
The situation is, however, quite a contrast from last season, in which the Miners had an extremely young and inexperienced team take the field.
"This is one of the oldest groups I've had with seven seniors and eight juniors and I'm getting 13-14 kids within that older group that I want to start," Voss said. "But the younger kids are filling in holes as well so it should be a more balanced team. It's a good problem to have."
Perhaps the biggest challenge this season is actually logging any practice time on the grass. Thus far, aside from the first three weeks of tryouts, Voss's team averaged two tennis court practices a week, two snow days a week and one chalk talk a week throughout the past month.
Voss said the biggest thing his team needs right now is to be tested in actual games.
After being without a true goalie for the previous four seasons, the Miners finally have a veteran in the goal - Ariane Turner, a junior who transferred to Nevada Union last year, but could not play because she had already played a fall high school season at her former school that year. Even more exciting for Voss is that he has a true backup in Paige Carnahan as well.
The Miners play a flat four defense in the back with senior captain Leigh Collins, the team's most valuable player last year and a first team all-Metro selection, returning as an outside marking back along with junior Erin Meyer. Junior Marinda Graham and sophomore Molly Augustus will be inside defenders with Selah Ross, Jill Hagey, Rachel Wittler and Lauren Burnadett fighting for time in back as well.
Voss hopes to use junior Kai Ling Clark's energy to his advantage in the central midfielder position, while inserting veterans Mallory Meier, a junior, and Chelsea Ulinski, another junior, along side her in the outside midfield spots. However, Voss warns that freshman Alana Migliardi may be able to give Meier and Ulinski a run for their money for playing time.
Senior captain Kacey Rogers, the team's other returning first-team all-Metro selection, has cemented a spot up front at forward with Voss still looking to see which of his players will compliment her best. In the running thus far are Erica Goode, Jocelyn Rapp and Christi Guiliani, who spent half of her time in the goal last season for the Miners and was named honorable mention all-league.
The top three teams in the Metro qualify for playoffs with Nevada Union looking to be in a four-team race again this season with Granite Bay, McClatchy and Kennedy. Last season, the Miners ended up fourth in what ended up to be quite a tight finish.
Bear River
Last year, in his first season as head coach of the Bear River girls soccer team, Dave Barnes commented that there wasn't a soccer trophy to be found at the school. His goal wasn't just to improve his team's play in terms of wins and losses, but to begin to build a successful program the community could rally around.
The Bruins took a step in that direction already this spring, by bringing home that elusive trophy after a second-place finish at the Cal Spring Tournament at Cherry Island to begin the season. Even more impressive was the fact that the team did so without the majority of its seniors who missed the tournament for various reasons.
But while the season began on a high note, Barnes knows his team is working against an uphill battle defensively after losing three senior first-team all-Pioneer Valley League defenders in Tiarra Ivazes, Danielle Barnes and Jenn Nealy.
The team will rely on the junior captain Genevieve Speas at sweeper - a role she's never had before. Joining Speas are Milada Belonlavek at stopper and Vanessa Marin and Brittaney Adams at outside marking backs.
Junior Courtney Howell is one of the team's options in the goal this season.
Up front at forward this season are senior Crystal Bailey and sophomore Rachel Jones.
"Crystal has so much energy and a great finish," Barnes said. "And Rachel has never played soccer before this season, but is naturally talented and gifted with tremendous stamina."
Senior Nikki Mathis, another team captain, will patrol the midfield along with junior Erin Noud, a starter on the Bruins' Sac-Joaquin Section Championship basketball team.
In continuing to build the Bruin program, the girls soccer team is hosting another program first - hosting neighbor Forest Lake Christian in its first game under the lights on the football field March 31.
"We are really trying to make these soccer games a party and get the community out to enjoy the experience," Barnes said.
ooo
To contact sportswriter Stacy Hicklin, e-mail stacyh@theunion.com or call 477-4244.
Forest Lake Christian
Coach: Alane Burke (2nd year)
2005 record: 9-4-3
2005 postseason: One tie from making playoffs
Returning letterwinners: 10
Returning starters: 9
Players lost: Andrea Lowe, Amber Harman, Brittney Gilfillian and Emily Boddorf
Key games: March 31 at Bear River under the lights, April 4 vs. Victory Christian, May 1 vs. Woodland Christian
Up front at forward this season are senior Crystal Bailey and sophomore Rachel Jones.
"Crystal has so much energy and a great finish," Barnes said. "And Rachel has never played soccer before this season, but is naturally talented and gifted with tremendous stamina."
Senior Nikki Mathis, another team captain, will patrol the midfield along with junior Erin Noud, a starter on the Bruins' Sac-Joaquin Section Championship basketball team.
In continuing to build the Bruin program, the girls soccer team is hosting another program first - hosting neighbor Forest Lake Christian in its first game under the lights on the football field March 31.
"We are really trying to make these soccer games a party and get the community out to enjoy the experience," Barnes said.
ooo
To contact sportswriter Stacy Hicklin, e-mail stacyh@theunion.com or call 477-4244.
Forest Lake Christian
Coach: Alane Burke (2nd year)
2005 record: 9-4-3
2005 postseason: One tie from making playoffs
Returning letterwinners: 10
Returning starters: 9
Players lost: Andrea Lowe, Amber Harman, Brittney Gilfillian and Emily Boddorf
Key games: March 31 at Bear River under the lights, April 4 vs. Victory Christian, May 1 vs. Woodland Christian
Nevada Union
Coach: Mike Voss (8th year)
2005 record: 9-5-2 overall, 6-5-1 Metro
2005 postseason: One win from making playoffs
Returning letterwinners: 14
Returning starters: 9
Players lost: Courtney Paquin, Kaydee Russo, Ceci Enright, Natalie Fike, Hayley Metz
Key games: Tuesday vs. McClatchy, April 4 vs. Granite Bay
Bear River
Coach: Dave Barnes (2nd year)
2005 record: 6-5-3 overall, 6-5-1 PVL
2005 postseason: Did not qualify
Returning letterwinners: 8
Returning starters: 5
Players lost: Tiarra Ivazes, Danielle Barnes, Jenn Nealy
Key games: March 31 vs. FLC under the lights, April 25 vs. West Campus
