Varsity A East (Mercer Island Preseason #1)
November 1st, 2006
Mercer Island is an overwhelming favorite in the Eastern division of Varsity A, which is the weaker half of the league. Overlake is rebuilding, and it isn't clear how recently promoted Snohomish and Lake Sammamish will fare.
Mercer Island
Coach: Sarah Milo
2005 Record: 11-2
Three Players To Watch: Tanya Swarts (Middie), Carolyn Peterson (Middie), Rachel Choung (Defense)
The Skinny: Mercer Island returns half the starters from its 2005 team that lost a devastatingly-close, one-goal game to Lakeside in the semifinals last season.
All indications are Mercer Island once again should be a state title contender this season, not to mention the favorite to win its division.
"We've got returning talent," coach Sarah Milo said. "We've got girls coming up from our Varsity B team, so we're just going to dream big."
Mercer Island will be led this season by senior middies Tanya Swarts and Carolyn Peterson, who are affectionately referred to as "The Twins." They aren't related, but Milo said their games are similar and they even kind of look alike.
"They don't play exactly the same, but they have the same talents," Milo said. "They have beautiful double teams together defensively, and they both can score."
On defense, junior Rachel Choung is expected to take charge this season, as Milo hopes her team can be more clutch during the defining moments of its season.
"They didn't make the most mature decisions in crunch time (last season)," Milo said. "I think that we're at the place where the team has grown in terms of the skill and knowing how to play the game, and now that we're there, we can do more scenario-based practicing."
Predicted League Finish: 1st
The Overlake School
Coach: Sue Haviland
2005 Record: 8-6
The Skinny: This could be a down year for Overlake, which lost seven seniors and half the starting lineup from its 2005 team to graduation.
But Overlake traditionally is one of the state's best girls' teams, so it will be difficult to count them out. Coach Sue Haviland declined to name any of her players for this preview.
"Overlake is a very small school, so I have never had so many seniors leave," said Haviland, who said she has been coaching girls' lax at Overlake for 12 years. "I have no idea what effect this will have on our program. We normally are quite strong, but I truly have no prediction for this year."
Predicted League Finish: 2nd
Snohomish
2005 Record: 10-1-2
Three Players To Watch: Daniele Bergquist (Goalie), Keena Hopkins (Attack), Sayre Creighton (Middie)
The Skinny: The 2005 Varsity B champs have moved up to Varsity A this season. Seven of the starters from last year's championship squad return for Snohomish, which can expect to face far stiffer competition.
"I expect our second half of the season to be strong," said 2005 Coach Sean Collins, who has stepped down to take over the program at Eastside Catholic. "We're going against some fantastic teams."
Collins said his former team has few juniors, and he is banking on his seniors to lead a budding crop of sophomores. One of those sophomores is goalie Daniele Bergquist, who excelled last season as a freshman.
"She just attacks," Collins said. "No one stops her. She has a really good self-confidence about her, she's self-aware and just a real leader."
Junior attack Keena Hopkins can play any position on the field, including goalie if she has to, and can take control of a game when necessary. Hopkins was named the most valuable player of last season's Varsity B state championship game after she scored six goals and dished out four assists.
"I've never seen a kid that sees the field like she does," Collins said. "She's very team-conscious."
Predicted League Finish: 3rd
Bellevue
Coach: Sarah Nehring
2005 Record: 2-10-1
Three Players To Watch: Jennifer Sawyer (Attack), Melissa Coppess (Middie), Rose Smith (Defense)
The Skinny: With nine starters back from 2005, Bellevue's prospects under second-year coach Sarah Nehring continue to improve.
"The year before I started we had no wins, so last year was a big step up for us," Nehring said. "Hopefully we can keep improving until we have a winning season."
Bellevue returns last season's top two scorers, junior attack Jennifer Sawyer and senior middie Melissa Coppess. Sawyer scored 21 goals last season, while Coppess added 13.
Nehring described Sawyer as "a really hard worker and a good team player. She always gives 100-percent effort. She's a no-fear attacker."
Coppess led the team in draw controls, and junior defender Rose Smith led the team in groundballs and turnovers caused.
Predicted League Finish: 4th
Lake Sammamish
Coach: Lena Hanson
2005 Record: 12-1-1
Three Players To Watch: Catherine Rodriguez (Middie), Jessica Wang (Attack), Meagan Wehe (Middie)
The Skinny: Lake Sammamish entered last season's Varsity B title game unbeaten but lost to Snohomish.
Instead of sticking around for another shot at the Varsity B title, however, Lake Sammamish Coach Lena Hanson has moved her squad up to top-flight Varsity A.
"It's going to be a huge learning and growing experience," Hanson said. "We lost three players who we thought would be there when we made the decision to move up. But we still have a really strong core. I expect (us) to hold our own."
Leading the team this season will be junior center Catherine Rodriguez, who led Lake Sammamish in scoring last year with more than 50 goals. Hanson described Rodriguez as versatile.
"I can put her anywhere and feel confident that she can play that position," Hanson said. "She's an incredible teammate. She spreads the ball around and can be the go-to person."
Joining Rodriguez will be junior attack Jessica Wang and sophomore middie Meagan Wehe. According to Hanson, Wang is a strong ground-ball getter and Wehe is a loud and aggressive defender.
Predicted League Finish: 5th
Forest Ridge
Coach: Hilary Carpenter
2005 Record: 0-11-1
The Skinny: Forest Ridge Coach Hilary Carpenter did not respond to an e-mail requesting information for this preview, and the Washington Schoolgirls Lacrosse Association refused to provide WSL with her phone number.
Predicted League Finish: 6th
Lacrosse Season:
2006