Federal Way Eagles
Coach: Jason Baumgardt (fifth season)
Last year’s record: 6-7-3 overall, 4-7-3 in SPSL North (tie for fifth place)
Strong returners: Sr. Alleah Pac, midfield; Jr. Kendal Feider, midfield; Jr. Molly Campbell, defense; Soph. Haley Ward, midfield; Sr. Jacqie Evenson, forward.
Top newcomers: Sr. Joanne Packer, forward; Fr. Tanisha McGruder, defense; Fr. Madison Campbell, defense; Fr. Jessica Evenson, midfield.
Team strengths: Team speed and possession
Team weakness: Defending as a team
What Baumgardt has to say about his team: “If we can learn to defend as a team and in tough situations, bend but not break, we could be very successful.”
Thomas Jefferson Raiders
Coach: Wade Webber (third season)
Last year’s record: 9-3-5 overall, 8-1-5 in North (third place)
Strong returners: Sr. Kelsey Learned, midfield/defense; Sr. Jasmine Sharpe, midfield; Jr. Sasha Nevin, defense; Jr. Megan Hilby, midfield; Soph. Nicolette Carnahan, defense
Top newcomers: Sr. Samantha Pham, defense; Jr. Lauren Jerde, forward; Soph. Kathleen Carrel, forward; Fr. Kassandra Carrel, midfield; Fr. Lindsey Dahl, forward; Fr. Hannah Friedman, forward; Fr. Chelsa Jensen, midfield/defense; Fr. Aja Ybarra, midfield; Fr. Breanna Ziccarelli, midfield/defense
Team strengths: “We should be strong defensively and we have far more attacking options than we have had in the past. Whether the attacking options translate into more goals remains to be seen, but it is an exciting prospect,” — Webber.
Team weaknesses: “I can’t predict where we will be weak, but we could suffer from the inconsistency of youth…or maybe we won’t. Being an optimist, I think the young players will respond to the challenge of high school soccer.” — Webber
What Webber has to say about his team: “Entering our 25th season at TJ, I am excited about the prospect of fielding a very young and talented team. Our veterans have been to the playoffs several times and are competitors, which has set a positive example for the large number of new players. The young players will not have the luxury of easing into their high school careers because we need them to be good now, but they have shown the capacity to do just that. If we can answer the question, ‘Where will the goals come from?’ we will have a successful season.”
Decatur Gators
Coach: Christy Gross (third season)
Last year’s record: 5-4-5 in North (fourth place)
Strong returners: Sr. Krystal Arredondo, midfield/forward; Jr. Carissa Frazier, forward/midfield; Jr. Sarah Isaac, foward/defense; Jr. Rachel Markey, midfield/foward; Soph. Jennifer Kanesta, midfield/defense; Jr. Rylie Buckholz, midfield/forward; Soph. Ellie Franco, midfield/forward; Soph. Kayla Lipston, goalkeeper
Top newcomers: Fr. Alexandra Bush, defense; Fr. Ashley Graves, foward/midfield; Fr. Hannah Herbert, midfield; Fr. Allison Lewis, goalkeeper; Fr. Abby McFaul, midfield/forward
What Gross had to say about her team: “This team has an excellent mix of youth and experience. They’re going to be very exciting to watch.”
Beamer Titans
Coach: Carrie Hentchell
Last year’s record: 14-0-0 in SPSL South (league champions)
Strong returners: Jr. Holland Crook, midfield/forward; Jr. Mackenzie Hickel, defense; Sr. Megan Miller, midfield/forward; Jr. Sara Miller, forward; Jr. Jessica Niewoehner, defense; Jr. Sarah Petosa, forward; So. Avery Salisbury, midfield/defense.
Top newcomers: Fr. Rebecca Burns, foward; Fr. Meghan Graf, goalkeeper; Fr. Lindsey Richou, midfield/forward; Fr. Breanna Straus, midfield/forward.
Fun facts: The Titans return several starters, including all-stater Holland Crook, after losing in the state championship game to Eastlake High School on penalty kicks. Crook finished last season with 19 goals, including an amazing stretch of four-straight games with a hat trick. But the Titans did lose a lot of talent from last year, including Brittany Orr (15 goals, seven assists), Nicole Peterson (seven goals, five assists), Megan Miller (nine goals, 10 assists), Maia Kurnik (15 shutouts) and Jordan Salisbury (11 goals).
