Varsity A West (Lakeside Preseason #1)
November 1st, 2006
The Varsity A West division of the Washington Schoolgirls Lacrosse Association sets up as a phenomenal race between Lakeside, Holy Names and defending state champ Bainbridge Island. Any of the three could contend for the state title.
Lakeside
Coach: Jamie Asaka
2005 Record: 13-2
Three Players To Watch: Gracie Binder (Attack), Tess Eisenhart (Middie), Darcy Mullen (Defense)
The Skinny: Lakeside brings back seven starters from its 2005 squad that lost a heartbreaking one-goal thriller to Bainbridge in the state final.
"I don't think our success will depend on our skill or our ability, but on our ability to gel," Lakeside Coach Jamie Asaka predicted. "Last year, I had people on the bench and JV who could have played significant time. I will be disappointed if we're not near the top."
Junior attack Gracie Binder will spearhead Lakeside's offense this season. Binder has good field sense, is a great passer and can score at will, Asaka said.
"She's definitely a player," Asaka said. "Lacrosse is her deal."
Binder is joined by speedy senior middie Tess Eisenhart, who led Lakeside in takeaways last season. In back, senior defender Darcy Mullen plays with confidence.
"She's very poised, she has excellent intuition and anticipation and really keeps our defense together," Asaka said of Mullen. "She gets everybody where they need to be. She's a silent leader."
Predicted League Finish: 1st
Holy Names
Coach: Kelly Haley
2005 Record: 7-6
Three Players To Watch: Hannah Ozubko (Defense-Middie), Amanda Riggers (Middie), Alicia Patten (Middie)
The Skinny: With eight starters back from its 2005 squad, Holy Names is gearing up to be one of the best girls' teams in Washington this season. And coach Kelly Haley knows it.
"I expect us to finish among the top in the Varsity A division with a strong returning team," Haley said. "The goal is to take each game one at a time and build toward the state playoffs."
Holy Names will be at its best in the middle of the field, where seniors Hannah Ozubko and Amanda Riggers will team with Alicia Patten and junior Aly Romeo. In goal, senior Christine Villanueva has been on the varsity since her freshman season, Haley said.
Senior middie-attack Caitlin Durgan should add a spark to the front line.
"We have a strong, quick midfield with our strongest players returning there," Haley said. "We also have a fourth-year goalie. We will be rebuilding our line attack, looking for some of our younger players to step up and put the ball in the net. Finishing has been our biggest problem the past two years."
Predicted League Finish: 2nd
Bainbridge Island
Coach: Tami Tommila
2005 Record: 13-1
Three Players To Watch: Dimi Lotakis (Goalie), Colby Brawner (Middie), Jane Baumgartner (Attack)
The Skinny: Defending Varsity A champion Bainbridge has some rebuilding to do after losing 12 seniors, nine of whom started, to graduation.
Coach Tami Tommila said her team has a strong feeder program, and she will rely on her three senior captains to lead the younger players.
"It's hard to say how we'll do with such a young group," Tommila said. "We have really enthusiastic young athletes in the ninth and 10th grade. A lot of other programs have a lot of seniors and will be itching to beat us, but our goal is to go back to the state championship game."
Senior goalie Dimi Lotakis has accepted the role of mentor for the younger players, since she knows what it's like to be one. Lotakis has started on the varsity since her freshman season.
"She's just really encouraging them and supporting them," Tommila said. "It's kind of come full circle for her."
Another team captain, senior middie Colby Brawner, has played on the varsity since her freshman year. Tommila described Brawner as a great athlete who is patient.
"She really has a lot of determination, is coachable and is a great team player," Tommila said.
The third team captain, senior attack Jane Baumgartner, is especially strong in transition, Tommila said.
"Our goal is the same every year," Tommila said. "To seek unlimited potential in each other. Any team that does that, if they're athletic, they'll be successful."
Predicted League Finish: 3rd
North Kitsap
Coach: Val Torrens
2005 Record: 5-8
Three Players To Watch: Bria Phillips (Middie), Madeleine Hernandez (Defense), Denita Santos (Goalie)
The Skinny: North Kitsap returns eight players from last year's team for its second season in Varsity A. And coach Val Torrens said she thinks her team could be ready to make a playoff run.
North Kitsap will be led by sophomore center Bria Phillips, senior defender Madeleine Hernandez and junior goalie Denita Santos.
Phillips is an East Coast transplant who also is a good basketball player, Torrens said.
"She just came in with a superior skill set when she moved here three years ago," Torrens said. "She has real good field sense and is a good team player. She's always looking to getting her teammates involved to make things work."
Torrens described Hernandez as fast and a good leader.
"She is able to anticipate the offense to make interceptions and things of that nature," Torrens said.
Santos has picked up the game quickly after taking a position that nobody wanted, Torrens said.
Predicted League Finish: 4th
Seattle Prep
Coach: Gail Loveland
2005 Record: 4-8
The Skinny: Coach Gail Loveland did not respond to an e-mail requesting information about her team, and the Washington Schoolgirl Lacrosse Association declined to provide WSL with her phone number.
Predicted League Finish: 5th
Lacrosse Season:
2006