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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Prep Preview Soccer

All-league returners

Here are the first-team returners in the GSL and GNL

GSL: Nick Hamer, Mead, forward

GNL: Garrett Lawson, Medical Lake, goalkeeper; Dan Igbinoba, Cheney, midfielder; Petra Lee, Medical Lake, MF; Austin Walker, Cheney, F; Xavier Day, Cheney, F

Outlook

GSL: Graduation took a heavy toll on the league last spring, as 10 of the 11 players named to the 2009 all-GSL team were seniors. That means much more uncertainty abounds this spring as teams scramble to find capable replacements and attempt to carve out their niche among the league’s elite. Mead, which finished third in last year’s regular-season standings but advanced to the State 4A tournament by winning the district championship, would seem to be the one constant in the 2010 GSL title race. The Panthers boast the league’s top returning player in senior midfielder Nick Hamer, a two-time all-GSL honoree. Hamer’s presence is enough to cause alarm among opposing coaches. “He might be the best player in the league,” said Lewis and Clark’s Casey Curtis, who lost eight starters from last year’s Tigers team that won the GSL regular-season title but lost to eventual state champion Pasco 5-0 in the first round of the state tournament. “The league lost a great deal of talent, but kids always seem to step up and perform.” Among some of the other top returning players are senior midfielders Trevor Delmedico (Central Valley), Chris Woodward (University) and Joe Fenter (Shadle Park); senior defender Aaron Gleason (U-Hi); senior goalkeeper Garrett Brickley (North Central) and junior forward Jordan Etten (Mead).

GNL: Unlike the Greater Spokane League, the GNL returns several first-team all-league players from last year. The fact that three of those returners – including last year’s offensive MVP Austin Walker – play for Cheney, makes the Blackhawks, who are coming off a second straight runner-up finish in the State 2A tournament, a clear pick as the favorite to win another regular-season GNL title. Joining Walker, a senior forward, on Cheney’s packed roster are classmates Dan Igbinoba, a midfielder, and Xavier Day, a forward, who also named to the 2009 all-league team after helping the Blackhawks advance to last spring’s 2A title match, where they lost to Squalicum 4-2. Since then, Mark Kiver has replaced Steve Davis as Cheney’s head coach. But considering Kiver spent the previous nine seasons as Davis’ assistant, don’t look for the Blackhawks’ team-first approach to change. “We have a very tight-knit and team-oriented group again this year,” Kiver said. “That’s one of the things that’s becoming a tradition here – everyone buying into team. We don’t have any one standout, but on any given day, anyone is capable of stepping up and getting it done.” Cheney’s biggest challenge should come from Medical Lake, which returns an all-league midfielder in senior Petra Lee, and an all-league goalkeeper in junior Garrett Lawson. Pullman, a perennial contender, could also work its way into the title race.

Quick starts

GSL: Mead (5-0 overall, 5-0 GSL) has cruised early in outscoring its first five league opponents 24-0 and moving into the No. 8 spot in the latest Seattle Times 4A state rankings. But the Panthers have been matched win for win by Gonzaga Prep (5-0-1, 3-0), which tied Great Northern League power Medical Lake 0-0 in a nonleague match. The Bullpups have outscored their first three league foes 9-2 and look like legitimate title contenders in the league – especially with University (3-2, 2-1), Ferris (2-4, 2-1) and Central Valley (3-1, 1-1) each having already suffered one league loss.

GNL: Although Cheney gets the nod as the favorite to win another regular-season league title, Medical Lake that has been the most impressive in the early going. The Cardinals (5-0-1, 5-0) have yet to give up a goal this season and have outscored their first five league foes 15-0. The only blemish on ML’s record is a season-opening 0-0 tie with G-Prep, which is tied with Mead atop the Greater Spokane League standings. Cheney, however, has been impressive and is riding a six-game winning streak, after opening it season with a 2-1 loss to LC.