Varsity A West (Preseason #1: Bainbridge Island)
November 1st, 2007
WSL's 2008 Washington Preview Section is sponsored by Breakaway Lacrosse.Breakaway Lacrosse is located at 10830 N.E. 2nd Pl., Bellevue, WA. 98004.
Bainbridge Island
Coach: Tami Tommila
2007 Record: 17-3-1
Final 2007 WSL Ranking: 15
Final 2007 Washington Ranking: 2
Three Players To Watch: Natalie Evans (Attack), Lucy Schellser (Attack), Rachel Harmon (Defense)
The Skinny: Bainbridge Island graduated five seniors and returns nine starters from the 2007 team that placed second in the Evergreen State for the second straight season.
The Spartans will have a senior-heavy, experienced roster this season, with 11 seniors returning. And for them there will be a clear goal in 2008.
"I would say it's to go back to the state championship," Bainbridge Island Coach Tami Tommila said. "Our true strength is our graduating class this year, and our junior class. They are very strong."
Bainbridge Island will be led by senior attack Natalie Evans, senior attack Lucy Schellser and junior defender Rachel Harmon.
Tommila described Evans as a mentally-tough player who hates to lose and has been on the varsity since her freshman season. Schellser is a top scorer who has worked hard to improve in the offseason, and Harmon is a tenacious defender, smart and a good team leader, Tommila said.
"We can't take anybody for granted," Tommila said. "We have to take every team as good competition and work very, very hard. There are lots of great teams out there this year."
Predicted League Finish: 1st
The Lakeside School
Coach: Jamie Asaka
2007 Record: 16-2
Final 2007 WSL Ranking: 10
Final 2007 Washington Ranking: 1
Three Players To Watch: Lauren McAndrews (Middie), Brett Eisenhart (Middie), Morgan Merriman (Middie)
The Skinny: Two-time defending state champion Lakeside graduated eight players, including some top-notch talent, but returns 11 for its drive at the three-peat.
Lakeside got the better of Bainbridge Island for the second straight season in 2007, and head coach Jamie Asaka thinks she's got another good team in 2008.
"I expect our team to be strong this year," Asaka said. "We have great leadership, with the seniors, and return some talented and dedicated girls who have given a lot to the program. I believe that our play on the field will reflect our team chemistry and how well we are able to come together as a group."
Lakeside will be led by senior middie Lauren McAndrews, senior middie Brett Eisenhart and junior middie Morgan Merriman.
Asaka described McAndrews as a player with amazing speed, who has a good field sense and on-field presence. Eisenhart is a versatile player with speed and athletic ability, and Merriman is a competitive player who can score, defend and run the field well, Asaka said.
"One of our team strengths is that every single girl in the program has participated on another athletic team at school," Asaka said. "We have soccer, basketball, swimming, cross-country, Frisbee and volleyball all represented as other team sports my players participate in. This keeps them fit, gives them opportunities to work with other coaches and also gives them the experience of being a teammate."
Predicted League Finish: 2nd
Tacoma
Coach: Jaime Schumaker
2007 Record: 11-1
Final 2007 Washington Ranking: 7
Three Players To Watch: Anna Callaghan (Attack), Megan Woodard (Goalie), Caitlin White (Middie)
The Skinny: There will be a new head coach this season at Tacoma, where Julie O'Meara stepped down in the offseason after leading her team to the Varsity B state title.
Jaime Schumaker takes over a Tacoma team that finished the year with 12 wins in 12 games on the field but were forced to forfeit its first victory for using players that hadn't practiced enough prior to the first game. Just one senior graduated off that team. Although it was a captain, Tacoma should be ready to take on Varsity A with 11 returning starters.
"They're looking forward to the stepped up level of competition," Tacoma spokeswoman Wendy Holcomb said. "The girls think they'll be competitive."
Tacoma will be led by senior attack Anna Callaghan, senior goalie Megan Woodard and senior middie Caitlin White.
Callaghan was Tacoma's top scorer last season. Holcomb described her as a fast and aggressive player with good stick skills. Woodard is agile, has a quick stick and moves well, and White is passionate about the game and never gives up, Holcomb said.
"They need to step up their game to this next level of competition and capitalize on their opportunities," Holcomb said. "This is a league you can't make mistakes in, or the other teams will take advantage."
Predicted League Finish: 3rd
Holy Names Academy
Coach: Jenny Levesque
2007 Record: 5-9
Final 2007 Washington Ranking: 9
Player To Watch: Elise Becker (Attack)
The Skinny: Holy Names will have a new head coach for the second straight season, as Jenny Levesque takes over for Tienna Perez-Close.
Holy Names fell flat in 2007 after reaching the Varsity A state semifinals the previous year. This year's team will have an uphill battle, because it has to contend with playing in the toughest conference in the state.
Holy Names will be led by senior attack Elise Becker, a strong finisher who is expected to lead the team this season in scoring.
Predicted League Finish: 4th
North Kitsap
Coach: Lacey Menne
2007 Record: 1-13
Player To Watch: Piper Sellers (Defense)
The Skinny: There will be a new head coach this season at North Kitsap, where Lacey Menne has taken over for Val Torrens, who will stay on with the program as its general manager.
Menne inherits a team that will stay in Varsity A despite only posting one win in 2007, against winless Bellevue. North Kitsap will have a high turnover of players from last season, Torrens said.
"There are always going to be some years when you're going to be better," Torrens said. "We've been fielding a middle school program for the last few years and some of that will be showing itself in the next couple years."
North Kitsap will be led by senior defender Piper Sellers, who will be playing NCAA Division III lacrosse last season at the University of Redlands.
Torrens described Sellers as a tenacious defender who has worked hard in the offseason.
"They need to support each other and work together to help each other," Torrens said. "They need to expect the best from each other."
Predicted League Finish: 5th
Coach: Jamie Asaka
2007 Record: 16-2
Final 2007 WSL Ranking: 10
Final 2007 Washington Ranking: 1
Three Players To Watch: Lauren McAndrews (Middie), Brett Eisenhart (Middie), Morgan Merriman (Middie)
The Skinny: Two-time defending state champion Lakeside graduated eight players, including some top-notch talent, but returns 11 for its drive at the three-peat.
Lakeside got the better of Bainbridge Island for the second straight season in 2007, and head coach Jamie Asaka thinks she's got another good team in 2008.
"I expect our team to be strong this year," Asaka said. "We have great leadership, with the seniors, and return some talented and dedicated girls who have given a lot to the program. I believe that our play on the field will reflect our team chemistry and how well we are able to come together as a group."
Lakeside will be led by senior middie Lauren McAndrews, senior middie Brett Eisenhart and junior middie Morgan Merriman.
Asaka described McAndrews as a player with amazing speed, who has a good field sense and on-field presence. Eisenhart is a versatile player with speed and athletic ability, and Merriman is a competitive player who can score, defend and run the field well, Asaka said.
"One of our team strengths is that every single girl in the program has participated on another athletic team at school," Asaka said. "We have soccer, basketball, swimming, cross-country, Frisbee and volleyball all represented as other team sports my players participate in. This keeps them fit, gives them opportunities to work with other coaches and also gives them the experience of being a teammate."
Predicted League Finish: 2nd
Tacoma
Coach: Jaime Schumaker
2007 Record: 11-1
Final 2007 Washington Ranking: 7
Three Players To Watch: Anna Callaghan (Attack), Megan Woodard (Goalie), Caitlin White (Middie)
The Skinny: There will be a new head coach this season at Tacoma, where Julie O'Meara stepped down in the offseason after leading her team to the Varsity B state title.
Jaime Schumaker takes over a Tacoma team that finished the year with 12 wins in 12 games on the field but were forced to forfeit its first victory for using players that hadn't practiced enough prior to the first game. Just one senior graduated off that team. Although it was a captain, Tacoma should be ready to take on Varsity A with 11 returning starters.
"They're looking forward to the stepped up level of competition," Tacoma spokeswoman Wendy Holcomb said. "The girls think they'll be competitive."
Tacoma will be led by senior attack Anna Callaghan, senior goalie Megan Woodard and senior middie Caitlin White.
Callaghan was Tacoma's top scorer last season. Holcomb described her as a fast and aggressive player with good stick skills. Woodard is agile, has a quick stick and moves well, and White is passionate about the game and never gives up, Holcomb said.
"They need to step up their game to this next level of competition and capitalize on their opportunities," Holcomb said. "This is a league you can't make mistakes in, or the other teams will take advantage."
Predicted League Finish: 3rd
Holy Names Academy
Coach: Jenny Levesque
2007 Record: 5-9
Final 2007 Washington Ranking: 9
Player To Watch: Elise Becker (Attack)
The Skinny: Holy Names will have a new head coach for the second straight season, as Jenny Levesque takes over for Tienna Perez-Close.
Holy Names fell flat in 2007 after reaching the Varsity A state semifinals the previous year. This year's team will have an uphill battle, because it has to contend with playing in the toughest conference in the state.
Holy Names will be led by senior attack Elise Becker, a strong finisher who is expected to lead the team this season in scoring.
Predicted League Finish: 4th
North Kitsap
Coach: Lacey Menne
2007 Record: 1-13
Player To Watch: Piper Sellers (Defense)
The Skinny: There will be a new head coach this season at North Kitsap, where Lacey Menne has taken over for Val Torrens, who will stay on with the program as its general manager.
Menne inherits a team that will stay in Varsity A despite only posting one win in 2007, against winless Bellevue. North Kitsap will have a high turnover of players from last season, Torrens said.
"There are always going to be some years when you're going to be better," Torrens said. "We've been fielding a middle school program for the last few years and some of that will be showing itself in the next couple years."
North Kitsap will be led by senior defender Piper Sellers, who will be playing NCAA Division III lacrosse last season at the University of Redlands.
Torrens described Sellers as a tenacious defender who has worked hard in the offseason.
"They need to support each other and work together to help each other," Torrens said. "They need to expect the best from each other."
Predicted League Finish: 5th
Lacrosse Season:
2008