Single Chances Saxons Counted Among Contenders For Gsl Soccer Title As Teams Face Just One Round Of League Games

Thu., Sept. 3, 1998

By Janie McCauley janiem@spokesman.com

Ferris High girls soccer coach Robin Crain says University and Shadle Park have the most experience among the Greater Spokane League teams this fall.

But Crain isn’t leaving out Mead - the 12-time defending league champion - even though the Panthers graduated seven starters from last year’s team that finished second in state 4A.

Mead is picked by league coaches to win the GSL again.

But Crain’s Ferris team will be in the chase, coaches say.

“With a single round of league games, the GSL champion will have to have a little luck and be injury free,” Crain said.

Lewis and Clark begins the year under new coach Shannon Stiles.

Stiles is one of two new coaches in the GSL. The other is Jay Frank at Shadle.

LC was fourth in the GSL in ‘97.

Four starters return at Ferris

The Saxons have just four starters back from their team that went 15-6 overall last season and finished third in the GSL with a 7-2 mark.

Three of four returning starters are seniors. They are midfielder Julie Cummings, defender Angela Faridnia and goalie Jessica Froelich.

Joining the three seniors as a returning starter is sophomore defender Abbie Socha.

Other varsity veterans include senior defenders Mollie Gardner, Sarah Lundstrum and Cassie Garner, junior defender Shannon Driscoll, junior midfielder Becca Hemingway, junior forward Kate Parks, sophomore forwards Lindsey Fundine and Rachel Lassman, and sophomore midfielder Courtney Lynn.

“Ferris will be an exciting, dynamic team to watch,” said Crain, the team’s third-year coach.

Lewis and Clark has depth

The Tigers lost five seniors last year, but four of their eight returning starters are seniors, including midfielders Megan Mackenzie, Gina Auffant and Erin Quigley and forward Chelsey Hendrickson.

Other returning starters are junior defenders Janine McNally and Carly Sanchez and sophomores midfielder Sarah Bott and goalie Therese Crisp.

Two freshmen who are potential starters are forwards Kara Mackenzie and Kayla Constable.

Fourteen freshmen are turning out for soccer, and five are expected to be varsity contributors, said Stiles, who played soccer for Santa Clara University.

“They have a strong showing so far,” Stiles said of her team. “We have a lot of depth and a good group of freshmen.”

Six starters back at G-Prep

The Bullpups lost their leading scorer and nine others to graduation, but they have plenty of players who can pick up the load on offense, said coach Christian Birrer.

Birrer, entering his sixth season, has six starters back from his team that finished fifth in league a year ago.

Senior Allyson Roberts, a second-team all-league choice in 1997, begins her second season as starting sweeper and also is one of the team’s captains.

Twins Shaynie and Deidre Leonard are senior midfielders. Shaynie Leonard, who also plays goalie, is a returning starter, and her sister also has varsity experience.

Another sister tandem is senior defender Renee Umbdenstock and sophomore forward Lauren Umbdenstock, both of whom started last season.

Senior midfielder Tara Hertel and sophomore forward Laura Oliva round out Prep’s list of returning starters.

Seniors Anna Carroll and Stephanie DeLeo are returning letter winners.

“We’re looking to be half underclassmen and half upperclassmen,” said Birrer.

“Our strength is our offense. We have a lot of players who can score.”

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