Women’s soccer outlook
WASHINGTON STATE
Coach: Matt Potter (5th season)
Assistants: Lindsey Jorgensen, Erin Otagaki
2006 record: 9-7-4 overall; 4-3-2, 4th Pac-10
Key players: M Carly Dobratz, so.; GK Brooke Bemis, sr.; D Allison Scurich, sr.; M Anna Miller, sr.
Outlook: Washington State finished fourth in the Pac-10 last year and is pushing to make the postseason. The Cougars return 10 starters from last year’s team, and have a core of veterans to go along with a group of newcomers that includes promising forward Emma Stolz. Stolz, a Woodinville, Wash., native, led Woodinville High School to the state championship and garnered first-team All-King County honors last season.
IDAHO
Coach: Pete Showler (4th season)
Assistants: Morgan Crabtree, Lindsay Smith
2006 record: 0-17-2 overall; 0-5-2, 7th WAC
Key players: M Erika Teixeira, fr.; D Kelsey Manning, jr.
Outlook: Perennial cellar-dwellers, the Vandals are hoping to buck tradition this year. After a winless 2006 campaign, Idaho – predicted to finish seventh in the eight-team WAC this year – is counting on some new blood to revive the team. This off-season the Vandals picked up midfielder Cari Hachmann, who spent last season at Chico State, and freshman Brazilian midfielder Erika Teixeira, who was ranked a top 2007 international prospect by Soccer Buzz magazine. In preseason practice, Showler declared every roster spot open, forcing all his players to compete for starting positions. The results of this increased pressure remain to be seen.
GONZAGA
Coach: Shannon Stiles (9th season)
Assistants: John Cossaboon, Tiera Como
2006 record: 10-9-1 overall; 3-4-0, 5th WCC
Key players: D Lauren Zuckerman, sr.; F Jamie Blanche, sr.; F Nanda McCormick, rs-sr.; D Lori Conrad, rs-so.
Outlook: Ranked sixth in the recent WCC coaches’ preseason poll, the Bulldogs lost only starting defender Beth Drollinger to graduation, and return 10 starters eager to win a berth to the national tournament. Nanda McCormick, last year’s leading scorer, returns for her senior season, and Lori Conrad is also back in the backfield after sitting out last season with an injury. Stiles is shooting for a top-3 conference finish, and said the team takes pride in its underdog role in the competitive WCC. The Bulldogs hope to build up a good momentum from the beginning instead of having to rely on a late-season spurt like they did last year after losing three games in a row in the first half of the season.
EASTERN WASHINGTON
Coach: George Hageage (8th season)
Assistants: Tamara Hageage, Julio Morales
2006 record: 5-13-1 overall; 1-6, 8th Big Sky
Key players: D Carrie Conners, sr.; M Melissa Guthrie, jr.; F Shelly Ikerd, sr.;
Outlook: The Eagles will have to fill the shoes of goalkeeper Tiera Como, last season’s Big Sky Defensive MVP. They’ll have the help of seven returning starters including seniors Guthrie and Ikerd, who led the team in scoring last season. The Eagles were picked to finish eighth this season in the Big Sky Conference preseason coaches’ poll.
WHITWORTH
Coach: Sean Bushey (12th season)
Assistants: Damon Hagerott, Matt Stueckle
2006 record: 12-5-2 overall; 10-5-1, 3rd NWC
Key players: F Greta Thibodeau, rs-sr.; M Jael Hagerott, rs-jr.; F Penelope Crows, so. Sarah Brogden-Thome, rs-sr
Outlook: Last year, the Pirates were beset by injuries to key players. This season, with nine starters returning and a roster full of experienced players – Thibodeau and Brogden-Thome are going into their fifth seasons with the team – Whitworth hopes to compete for the NWC conference title. The Pirates were picked to finish third in the annual preseason NWC coaches’ poll.
NORTH IDAHO
Coach: Dan Hogan (5th season)
Assistant: Becky Thompson
2006 record: 10-4-2 overall; 3-4-1, 1st SWAC
Key players: M McKenzie Favero, so.; D Jillian McAndrews, so.
Outlook: The Cardinals are hoping to repeat as SWAC champions, but want to make a deeper run into the postseason this time. North Idaho lost 1-0 in overtime in the first round of the playoffs to Western Nevada, a team that ended up fifth in the nation. This year, the Cardinals are without starting goalkeeper Makayla Desjarlais, who plays for St. Edward’s (Austin, Texas) but return a full backfield and several forwards.
COMMUNITY COLLEGES OF SPOKANE
Coach: Jim Martinson
Assistants: Keri Hilton, Kenny Krestian
2006 record: 20-2-2 overall; 16-1-1, 1st NWAACC
Key players: F Lindsay Hood, so.; D Roxanna Johnson, so.
Outlook: After a successful 2006 season that saw Martinson named the NWAACC women’s soccer coach of the year, the Sasquatch are set to defend their NWAACC championship this year. CCS lost NWAACC all-stars Kaitlyn Laughlin and Steffannii Johnson from last year’s squad, but are counting on Hood – who scored the winning goal in last season’s NWAACC final – and Johnson to fill their shoes.