Auburn, Auburn Riverside and Auburn Montainview at a glance | Prep girls soccer

Auburn, Auburn Riverside and Auburn Montainview girls soccer previews

By Shawn Skager • September 24, 2014 6:00 pm
Auburn's Jordan Blosser
Auburn's Jordan Blosser

AUBURN RIVERSIDE RAVENS:

• COACH: Paul Lewis, 10th year.

• LAST YEAR: 9-6-3 overall, 8-5-3 fifth in SPSL North 4A. Lost in second round of West Central District III tourney.

•TOP PERFORMERS: Six returning starters. Kellie Jensen, senior, defender; Jewlie-Ann Young-Holm, senior, midfielder; Kristina Nelson, senior goalkeeper; Patricia Phithamma, sophomore, forward; Calli Millang, senior, midfielder; Izzy Creighton, junior, midfielder; Taylor Smith, freshman, defender.

• OUTLOOK: Last year the Ravens snagged the last spot out of a brutal SPSL North 4A and rode all the way to the district tourney, where they fell 2-1 to Union in overtime. Although this year the team plays in the SPSL 3A, don’t expect the road to be any easier. In addition to last season’s SPSL 3A champs, Auburn Mountainview, Auburn Riverside has to deal with Sumner, which won the state 2A title last season.

The team returns six starters, including Nelson – who had five shutouts last season — and all-SPSL North 4A selections Jensen and Young-Holm.

“We have a very strong midfield, we have created an average of 23 shots per game already this season,” Lewis said. “There is a lot of team speed, and the girls are determined to play an exciting brand of soccer. We feel that we should be competing for the league’s top spot, building upon our run in the playoffs last year.

“Phithamma is having a breakout year after a pretty quiet freshman campaign,” he continued. “Her teammates are determined to work through and off of her tremendous runs. She and Creighton are stepping in to replace graduated second team all-leaguers.

AUBURN MOUNTAINVIEW LIONS:

• COACH: Cary Davidson, 10th year (100-48-13 overall record)

• LAST YEAR: 17-4-0 overall, 9-1-0 first in the SPSL 3A. Lost in quarterfinals of state 3A tourney 2-1 to Bellevue.

•TOP PERFORMERS: Rachel Fieser, senior, goalkeeper; Quinn Ramsay, senior, defender; Malia Brudvik, junior, defender; and Kelly Brudvik, junior, defender.

• OUTLOOK: “We lost an amazing group of seniors in terms of soccer, athletic ability and attitude,” Davidson said.

Among those were five now competing in college, including Madi Clarkson (soccer, University of Utah), Sophia Wagner (soccer, University of Chicago), Viktoriya Vasina (soccer, Central Washington University) Delene Colburn (fastpitch, University of Montana) and Nicole Carter (track, University of Idaho).

“There are certainly big shoes to fill this season,” Davidson said.

Add in the injury bug, which has sidelined Elli Alfrey (ACL, out for the season), Kaelyn Hanson (knee, should be back by end of September) and Emilee Greve (broken ankle, could be back for second half of season) and four starters who didn’t even play on varsity last season and it could be a tough road for the Lions.

Davidson said the team looks to seniors Nicole Gaarder, Sarah Bailey and Josette Lake; junior Leanna Harris; sophomore Maddi Tanberg and freshman Chloe Baquian, “little used players last year but who will be a huge part of any success we have this season.”

“We’ll play a little different style of soccer this year, but we have a 10-year tradition of competing no matter what the circumstances are,” Davidson said. “I have no doubt that this year’s squad will find a way to get to the playoffs.’

AUBURN TROJANS:

• COACH: Chance Darling, 1st year

• LAST YEAR: 5-8-3 overall, 5-8-3 sixth in SPSL 4A North

•TOP PERFORMERS: Makayla Sonstelie, senior midfielder; Raelee Hemenway, senior, defender; McKenna Wall, senior midfielder; Narihya Hudson, sophomore, midfielder; McKenna Robinson, junior, defender; and Hailey Sue Hunsaker, freshmen, defender

• OUTLOOK: Last season the Trojans just missed out on the postseason, finishing sixth in the SPSL 4A behind rival Auburn Riverside. Although the team drops to 3A and the new-look SPSL 3A league, don’t expect the road to the playoffs to be any easier. In addition to Auburn Riverside, who also dropped down, the SPSL 3A also features Sumner, who have won the state 2A title the past two years before moving up to 3A this season. Also in the mix is perpetual powerhouse Auburn Mountainview, which won the SPSL 3A last season.

This year’s Trojan team is underclassman heavy, with just four seniors on the roster to lead the way. With five allocations to state on the line, new head coach Darling hopes to slog his way through league play and get his team a taste of the postseason.