With Dunford Leading, Mead Heads For Gsl Title G-Prep, Ferris Also Contend For Girls Soccer Championship

Back when Jen Dunford learned to like soccer, she hated it.

“The first team I started with, I had a coach that was really hard on me,” she recalled. “We weren’t really good; he kind of put the team’s pressure on my shoulders. It was hard, but I did some good things.

“I hated it at the time but I think it was good for me to be pushed like that. When you’re expected to do a lot, you kind of live up to expectations.”

The expectations have continued to increase, and now she enters her senior season at Mead as a leader on a team that has won 32 straight league matches and 39 of 40 games since she joined the varsity as a sophomore.

The Panthers went 21-0 and won Spokane’s only State AAA soccer title two years ago, and ran that winning streak to 39 games before losing in the quarterfinals last fall.

“I think it’s really neat,” said Dunford of the winning and the expectations that have come with it. “I don’t think anyone thinks about that when they start, but it’s always one of those things you work up to.”

Dunford’s contributions are easily overlooked since classmate Stacy Clinesmith won the league scoring title and was named player of the year. But Dunford didn’t exactly hide in the shadows, having been named to the All-GSL first team as a forward.

“She’s a real hard worker and an excellent role model, besides the obvious skills she brings to the team,” Panthers coach Dick Cullen said. “Jen’s always been a real blue collar-type player; lot of hard work, never give up, always striving to be the best, eager to learn.

“And the neat thing about her is she’s always been an encourager of other kids. I think that’s a real important attribute.”

That’s probably a lesson she learned when the leadership role was thrust upon her when she moved from recreational soccer up to select.

“About fourth grade, I did all of it - soccer, basketball, volleyball,” she said. “I like soccer the most; I like to run. It seemed like something I was good at, so naturally I stayed with it.

“I like the competitiveness. It’s hard to get into a competitive sport. I’ve met a lot of friends this way, traveled to Europe, done a lot of things.”

Dunford would like to have soccer in her future. She hasn’t heard from college soccer coaches yet, although track coaches have inquired about Dunford, one of Spokane’s top sprinters. She wants stay close to home.

“Soccer is No. 1,” Dunford said. “I like track - it fills up my spring. I’ve had pretty good luck with it. I’ve done OK the last couple of years.”

She ran on Mead’s second-place 4x100 relay team at state last spring.

“She’s gifted with very good speed,” Cullen said. “She’s naturally very aggressive, a good shooter. She’s a very capable striker for us.

“Once again, we’ve got some big shoes to fill, losing some talented seniors. It’s Jen’s turn to step up.”

She should be used to that role.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: GSL SOCCER Predicted order of finish: 1, Mead; 2, Gonzaga Prep; 3, Ferris; 4, Central Valley; 5, University; 6, Shadle Park; 7, Lewis and Clark; 8, Rogers; 9, North Central. Defending league champion: Mead Defending district champion: Mead Last year’s league records: Mead 16-0; GP 14-2; U-Hi 10-4-2; LC 9-5-2; Ferris 8-6-2; CV 4-11-1; SP 4-12-0; NC 2-13-1; Rogers 1-15-0. Returning all-league players: MVP, midfielder Stacy Clinesmith (MVP), Mead. First team: goalkeeper Angela Harrison, Gonzaga Prep; defender Katie Brooks, Central Valley; midfielder Ali Powers, Gonzaga Prep; midfielder Sara Streaufert, University; midfielder Jessica Fransen, Lewis and Clark; forward Jen Dunford, Mead. Second team: goalkeeper Ida Hardin, Ferris; defender Sara Strom, Gonzaga Prep; defender Sarah Michelbook, North Central; midfielder Allison Beatty, Mead; midfielder Jennifer Koegen, Gonzaga Prep; midfielder Sonja Duenwald, Ferris; midfielder Marisa Jenkins, Gonzaga Prep; forward Dani Thorn, Gonzaga Prep. Season openers: Today, NC vs. LC at Hart Field and U-Hi at Ferris, 4 p.m.; Rogers at CV, SP vs. Mead at Mead J.H., 7 p.m. GP opens Friday at U-Hi, 7 p.m. Key games: Sept. 13, Mead at Gonzaga Prep; Oct. 9, Gonzaga Prep at Mead (Mead Junior High). Changes: Most leagues games will be on Wednesdays and Fridays, with four Monday games. Streak: Mead has won last nine league titles (all but the first two years girls soccer has been a GSL sport) and has not lost a league game in exactly 3-1/2 seasons. New coaches: Brandon Deyarmin, University; John Gould, Ferris.