Prep’s Mirabel Always In Right Spot
Picture a water bug skimming across a pond, appearing to occupy a space between liquid and air.
Such an image adequately describes Gonzaga Prep soccer player Danielle Mirabel.
Line up Greater Spokane League players for a footrace and Mirabel likely wouldn’t be first to the tape.
But soccer favors the pond skimmers of the world, whose zig-zagging methods compensate for pure speed.
“I think I burst,” is how Mirabel sums it up. “I don’t know where it comes from.”
Defenders, in turn, often don’t know where Mirabel comes from. At 5-feet-4 and 103 pounds, the senior finds the proper places to hide on the field.
“She knows right where the play is going and gets there in plenty of time,” said Prep’s Christian Birrer, entering his sixth year as the Bullpups head coach.
“After a period of time you learn to read the game,” Mirabel said. “It just comes naturally to know the next step.”
Playing for Prep since her sophomore year has helped Mirabel see how the game should be played. Watching all-leaguer Dani Thorn, now playing at Division II Regis University in Denver, especially proved beneficial.
Mirabel possessed the talent to play varsity as a freshman, but Birrer had a loaded group and placed her on junior varsity. Mirabel dominated the JV league, scoring more than 20 goals.
“A year of JV gave me more confidence than I’d ever had,” said Mirabel, 18. “But I didn’t think (it was a good idea) at the time.”
Mirabel stepped into a starting varsity spot as a sophomore. She was selected as an all-league midfielder last year, but Birrer is toying with the idea of moving her to forward.
English remains Mirabel’s top class at Prep, although zoology is the subject that intrigues her. Mirabel’s brother, Brigham, is a junior at Prep.
Mirabel, with 10 years of soccer experience, is one of four all-GSL returners on Prep’s roster. Funny thing is, the Bullpups otherwise lack returners.
In assessing the league, Birrer said Ferris should “clean house” because of a lineup nearly intact from 1996; 11-time defending champion Mead should be a close second; and G-Prep will jockey for one of the other three district spots.
Mirabel knows the Ferris and Mead players well, having played club ball with quite a few of them. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: GSL GIRLS SOCCER Non-league play begins Wednesday at five sites: League openers: Sept. 29. New member, new format: With the addition of Mt. Spokane, each team will play nine league matches instead of eight. Five teams still advance to district, starting Oct. 30. Defending champion: Mead (11th consecutive title). Ferris also made the state playoffs. All-league returners: First team - Mariah McConnaughey, Ferris; Shaynie Leonard and Danielle Mirabel, Gonzaga Prep; Stacey Drollinger, Mead. Second team - Natasha Opsal, Central Valley; Angela Faridnia (seeing an orthopedic surgeon for her ankles) and Megan Cummings, Ferris; Allyson Roberts and Michele Caputo, G-Prep; Megan Black, University. New coaches: Craig Griffiths, CV; Travis Hanson, Mead; Craig Busch, Mt. Spokane; Tim Cox, North Central. Projected finish: Ferris, Mead, G-Prep, U-Hi, Shadle, CV, Lewis and Clark, NC, Rogers, Mt. Spokane.