Returning Rams The Team To Beat

Thu., Sept. 3, 1998

By Janie McCauley janiem@spokesman.com

GNL soccer

The Riverside Rams didn’t lose a game in the 1997 season on the way to winning the Great Northern League and state 2A championships.

And nearly all the members from the Rams’ title team are back for 1998.

Colville and Pullman are expected to be the two teams with the best chance of challenging Riverside.

Lakeside and Deer Park are two young North Side programs still trying to establish themselves, but those teams also have the majority of their players returning from 1997.

Riverside favored again

The Rams are the favorites to take league again, but it won’t be an easy task, said second-year coach Kevin Moon.

“We have all the tools to make a good run at it,” he said. “We have great players and good returners, but people know we’re the team to beat and will be gunning for us.

“If the girls’ minds are not in the right place, it could be a difficult task.”

Senior midfielder Tracy Koesel, who led the league in scoring as a sophomore, had 20 goals and 10 assists last season and should be one of the Rams’ top offensive threats.

Fullback Cassidee Hall is expected to be in the lineup in about a week. The senior had a cast taken off her ankle last week.

Sweeper Jami Baker and midfielder Brooke Dornquast also are returning senior starters, as is Abi Ogle, a midfielder who attends Northwest Christian.

The juniors who started last year are goalie Carlee Schluter, midfielder Jamie Rizzuto and forward Larissa Mueller. Mueller led the league with 30 goals last year and had 33 in all. Rizzuto added 25 goals and 23 assists.

Sophomores Amber Dornquast and Kelly Ostby also are returning starters.

Other sophomores with varsity experience are midfielders Laura Hanby and Crystal Schafer and forward Danielle Renz.

DP snags four from volleyball

Four athletes who played volleyball for the Stags last year are turning out for soccer and are expected to contribute.

The team has eight returning starters, but none are seniors.

The juniors are goalie Amanda Plummer, midfielder Maria Fixmer and defenders Malina Strong, Annika Herbes and Desirae McColough.

Defender Jill Watts and midfielders Angela Smith and Teresa Stragis are the sophomore starters who are back.

“We’re still pretty raw when it comes to knowledge of soccer because not a lot have played,” Collins said. “But there’s a lot of raw talent.”

Lakeside is young

This is just the second season for the Eagles’ soccer program. Lakeside went 4-10-2 a year ago in its debut. Three starters graduated.

Sophomore forward Julia Vojtech led the team in scoring last season. Returning starters joining her are senior Brandi Neagle, a midfielder, junior goalie Genna Burtness and a crop of sophomores.

They are forward Danielle Dibble, defender Ericka Oscarson, midfielder Genna Giampietri, defender Deja Rice, defender Christina Silver, forward Katie Mortlock, midfielder Mandy Cresswell and goalie/defender Caryn Grubbs.

Besides Neagle, Alicia Deluca is the team’s only other senior. She was a reserve last year. Other returning letterwinners are sophomores Krystal Quast and Julie Mosey.

“We’re a young team, but they’re enthusiastic,” said coach Joel Lewinsohn. “They’re good pioneers of the sport in this school and area.”

The school has added a junior varsity team. Lewinsohn coached by himself last year, but has added assistants Tom Peck and Steve Ricketts.

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