2017 Girls Soccer Capsules

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Jay Howard, 13th season

2016 record: 20-1-2 (11-0-1 Northwest, first)

Returning letter winners (starters): Fifteen (eight)

Top athletes: F Deja Erickson (Sr.), GK Haylee Niemann (Sr.), MF Hannah Ferrara (Sr.), MF Allyssa Larkin (Sr.), D Neally Peters (Sr.)

Outlook: It’s getting more and more difficult to remember a time when the Aggies weren’t defending a state title.

Arbor View won its fifth consecutive large-school crown last year and returns 15 letter winners from that squad, including three of the top four scorers in Erickson (26 goals, 8 assists), Ferrara (18 goals, 18 assists) and Larkin (17 goals, 12 assists).

Niemann (11.5 shutouts) and Peters are back to guide the defense.

“We have to replace key positions that were lost to graduation,” said Howard. “We have strong senior leadership and hope to continue playing at a high level.”

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BASIC

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Darrin Johnson, first season

2016 record: 5-9-2 (0-9-1 Southeast, sixth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (six)

Top athletes: D Sasha Bodison (Sr.)

Outlook: Johnson inherits a team with 12 returning letter winners and one that is hungry for success.

“We want to build upon the things the team does well and be ready to compete,” Johnson said.

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BISHOP GORMAN

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Doug Borgel, ninth season

2016 record: 21-3-1 (11-1 Southwest, first)

Returning letter winners (starters): Seventeen (eight)

Top athletes: F Isabel Rolley (Jr.), MF Gianna Gourley (Jr.), MF Jaden Terrana (So.), F Taylor Cox (Jr.)

Outlook: Losing three seniors who combined for 88 goals and 56 assists last season would decimate most teams.

The Gaels, though, have reinforcements ready to step up.

Terrana (16 goals, 16 assists) and Cox (6 goals, 7 assists) both were solid contributors last season, and the Gaels eagerly welcome back Rolley (10 goals, 5 assists in 2015) and Gourley (7 goals, 4 assists in 2015).

“The return of two key players from the 2015 season will help lessen the scoring loss and strengthen an already deep team,” Borgel said. “While the 2017 Gorman soccer team won’t be quite as talented, they will be much deeper.

“Returning eight starters and adding three players from Nevada’s first national champion club team will once again make the Gaels one of the teams to beat in 2017. This may be the most experienced team I’ve had in my time here at Bishop Gorman.”

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CENTENNIAL

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Kristina Kasten, fourth season

2016 record: 12-7-1 (5-6-1 Northwest, fifth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (seven)

Top athletes: GK Addison Riddle (Sr.), F/MF Quincy Bonds (So.), F Marcella Brooks (Jr.), F Dawn Frederick (Sr.)

Outlook: The Bulldogs return seven starters, including an All-Sunset Region honoree in Riddle and the team’s leading scorer last year in Brooks (18 goals, 7 assists).

Bonds (5 goals, 3 assists) was third on the team in scoring last year.

“With a great mixture of old and new faces, Centennial has a strong lineup for this season,” Kasten said. “There are strong forwards with powerful shots, commanding midfielders, a solid defense and great leadership in goal.

“This year will test their resiliency and cohesion, and they are expected to come out strong.”

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CHAPARRAL

League: Class 3A Sunrise

Head coach: Lyndsey Sobrero, second season

2016 record: 2-10-2 (2-6-2 Sunrise, fifth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (four)

Top athletes: GK Isabella Solorzano (Sr.), D Erika Neal (Sr.)

Outlook: The Cowboys welcome back seven letter winners from last year’s squad and are hoping to show improvement this season.

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CHEYENNE

League: Class 3A Sunset

Head coach: Jeff Dameworth, fourth season

2016 record: 12-6-4 (8-1-1 Sunset, second)

Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (six)

Top athletes: F Yadira Erives (Sr.), D Mya Heard (Sr.), D Soraya Gonzales (Sr.), MF Maria Borrero (Jr.)

Outlook: The Desert Shields bring back six starters from a team that advanced to the Southern Region semifinals last season.

Erives (26 goals), Borrero (11 goals, 4 assists) and Heard (9 goals, 10 assists) are back on offense. Gonzales is expected to be among the leaders on defense.

“With the return of Class 3A’s third, eighth and 10th leading scorers and the return of the defensive player of the year, we have a good mix of young players to go along with the veterans,” Dameworth said.

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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: George Morales, third season

2016 record: 6-11-3 (1-9-2 Northwest, sixth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (eight)

Top athletes: GK/MF Samantha Silva (Sr.), MF/F Justice Rodriguez (Sr.), D Haylee Nerio (Jr.), MF Nancy De La Torre (Sr.)

Outlook: The Spartans return 10 letter winners from last year’s squad.

“We lost some key players last season, but there are some new players ready to contribute,” Morales said. “The return of a club player will help us fill the scoring void due to graduation.

“Being in the Northwest League is always a tough challenge, and we will be ready for it.”

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CORONADO

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Dana Neel, 11th season

2016 record: 19-3-4 (8-1-1 Southeast, first)

Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (nine)

Top athletes: F Jensen Boman (Sr.), MF Brenna Heenan (Jr.), MF Katelyn Moxley (Jr.), GK Taylor Book (So.)

Outlook: Boman (17 goals, 14 assists) led the team in scoring last year and is one of nine starters returning for Coronado, which won the Sunrise Region title last year.

Book (5.5 shutouts) is expected to see the bulk of the time in goal as the Cougars have to replace graduated standout Rachel Morris (13.5 shutouts).

“We should be competitive,” Neel said.

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DESERT OASIS

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Jared Ogden, second season

2016 record: 16-4-1 (10-1-1 Southwest, second)

Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (six)

Top athletes: F Miah Strellnauer (Sr.), F Ashley Wood (Sr.), MF Audrey Dunn (Jr.), D Adriana Gonzalez (Sr.), GK Samantha Gato (So.), GK Kelsey LeBoeuf (Sr.)

Outlook: Coming off a highly-successful regular season last year, the Diamondbacks return 10 letter winners, including some big weapons.

Strellnauer (22 goals, 12 assists), Wood (13 goals, 13 assists) and Dunn (1 goal, 10 assists) return to lead the offense. Gato (6 shutouts), LeBoeuf (3 shutouts) and Gonzalez are back to guide the defense.

“We hope to continue to play at the high level that we did last year,” Ogden said. “We are addressing the challenges that kept us from progressing further in the playoffs, and we hope to prove that we can be successful in postseason play.

“We have a strong group of returning players and some new talent that we are excited about.”

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DESERT PINES

League: Class 4A Sunset

Head coach: Stephanie Gonzales, third season

2016 record: 4-10-1 (3-6-1 Sunset, fourth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Five (four)

Top athletes: F Lizuly Mireles-Gutierrez (Sr.), MF Carmen Hernandez (So.)

Outlook: The Jaguars return just four starters but are hoping to continue to show improvement.

“This year we are continuing to build the program, allowing new students the ability to learn the game,” Gonzales said.

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DURANGO

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Lara Dupree, fifth season

2016 record: 2-16 (0-12 Southwest, seventh)

Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (two)

Outlook: The Trailblazers return 10 letter winners and hope to show improvement this season.

“The girls are working hard to increase their mental and physical game,” Dupree said.

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FAITH LUTHERAN

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Steve Morrill, eighth season

2016 record: 10-10-4 (5-4-3 Northwest, third)

Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (six)

Top athletes: MF/F Maggie Shuirman (Jr.), MF Madison Sonerholm (Jr.), D Madison Stenslie (Jr.), D Hannah Thomas (Jr.)

Outlook: Shuirman (7 goals, 9 assists) and Sonerholm (6 goals, 4 assists) are among 10 returning letter winners on a young Crusaders team.

“The Crusaders return a number of starters and welcome in a talented group of underclassmen as they look to again compete in Class 4A and possibly the toughest league in Nevada,” Morrill said. “The team only returns one senior, but will combine that with a strong junior class to build on a solid first season in the 4A.

“The team hopes to play at a consistently high level and continue to have success.”

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FOOTHILL

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Chemberyle Simoneau, first season

2016 record: 12-4-3 (6-1-3 Southeast, second)

Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (eight)

Top athletes: MF Amanda Carducci (Sr.), MF Alexis Huff (Sr.), D Aqui Williams (Jr.), MF Elise Bush (So.)

Outlook: The Falcons return four of their top five scorers in Carducci (7 goals, 6 assists), Bush (8 goals, 4 assists), Williams (5 goals, 5 assists) and Huff (4 goals, 3 assists).

“With over half of last season’s team returning and the addition of new talent, we look to be competitive against schools in our region and improve upon last season’s record,” Simoneau said.

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GREEN VALLEY

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Catherine Davis, fifth season

2016 record: 14-8-2 (6-3-1 Southeast, third)

Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (eight)

Top athletes: MF Maggie Bender (Sr.), MF/D Isabel Madrid (Sr.), D Lianna Soifua (Sr.), GK Ryan Sabol (Sr.)

Outlook: The Gators bring back 12 letter winners and are primed for a successful season.

Bender (8 goals, 9 assists) and Madrid (6 goals, 2 assists) are expected to be among the leaders on offense with Sabol (3 shutouts) and Soifua guiding the defense.

“After two very small graduating classes in a row, we are lucky to have a lot of experience on our field at this point,” Davis said. “Now we are looking forward to see what our new talent can do and how they fit into our dynamic.”

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LAS VEGAS

League: Class 4A Northeast

Head coach: David Forbes, third season

2016 record: 11-5-1 (8-0 Northeast, first)

Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (seven)

Top athletes: D Veronica Eslava (Jr.), D Natalie Gennuso (Sr.), F Brinley McCoy (So.)

Outlook: McCoy had 12 goals and four assists last season and should be among the team’s leaders this year along with Eslava and Gennuso.

“We want to win our division and do well in the playoffs,” Forbes said.

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LIBERTY

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Charity Cress, second season

2016 record: 4-13-1 (2-8 Southeast, fifth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Thirteen (seven)

Top athletes: MF/D Makenna Ciska (Jr.)

Outlook: The Patriots struggled at times last year as a young team learned on the job.

Thirteen letter winners return and should be in better stead to compete.

“It’s still a rebuilding year after taking over the program last year,” Cress said. “We look to compete in a tough division, and our goal is to make the playoffs this year.

“We have a lot of young talent mixed with some older, experienced girls. It should be a fun year to watch these girls compete.”

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PAHRUMP VALLEY

League: Class 3A Sunset

Head coach: Julie Carrington, second season

2016 record: 0-19 (0-10 Sunset, sixth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (eight)

Top athletes: F/MF Kaitlyn Carrington (Sr.), MF Sydney Dennis (Sr.), MF/D Kathleen Niles (Sr.), F Vaniah Vitto (Sr.), GK Alyvia Briscoe (Sr.)

Outlook: The Trojans’ record last year is deceiving due to having to forfeit the bulk of the team’s matches.

Plenty of talent returns, led by the team’s top four scorers from last year — Dennis (14 goals, 7 assists), Kaitlyn Carrington (10 goals, 4 assists), Vitto (8 goals, 3 assists) and Niles (3 goals, 5 assists).

“We have a strong group of girls who know how to play well and have a good ability to read their opponents and adapt accordingly,” Julie Carrington said.

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PALO VERDE

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Frank Messina, 10th season

2016 record: 18-3-4 (8-1-3 Northwest, second)

Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (four)

Top athletes: MF Noah Johnson (Sr.), F Madison Hernandez (So.)

Outlook: The Panthers won the Sunset Region title last year and advanced to the Class 4A state championship match, but return only four starters from that squad.

Hernandez (11 goals, 5 assists) and Johnson (7 assists) are part of the foundation around which Palo Verde hopes to build and be a force again this season.

“The program is looking to build back the key positions that were lost to graduation and be right back in the mix this season,” Messina said. “The returning players are excited to get the season started, and all are determined to make it back to the state game.”

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SHADOW RIDGE

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Kalah Williams, fourth season

2016 record: 8-7-3 (5-5-2 Northwest, fourth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (seven)

Top athletes: MF Camryn Grant (Sr.), MF Samantha Villa (Sr.), MF Jazmine Adame (Jr.), F Kaitlyn Banks (So.)

Outlook: Seven starters return for the Mustangs, who finished fourth in the Northwest League last year.

Banks (8 goals, 3 assists), Villa (6 goals), Grant (5 goals, 3 assists) and Adame (4 goals) all are expected to provide some offensive firepower.

“We are returning several experienced varsity players,” Williams said. “The Mustangs are looking to jump from their fourth-place standing in the Northwest League and return to the playoffs for the eighth year in a row.”

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SIERRA VISTA

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Ross Muir, sixth season

2016 record: 8-6-2 (6-4-2 Southwest, third)

Returning letter winners (starters): Thirteen (seven)

Top athletes: D Grace Lasker (Jr.), D Emma Zeigler (Jr.), GK Jamie Kalaau-Sunia (Jr.), MF Isabella Costa (So.)

Outlook: The Mountain Lions lost their top two scorers, but return seven starters from a team that advanced to the postseason.

Kalaau-Sunia had three shutouts last year and will join Lasker and Zeigler as the leaders on defense. Costa (3 goals, 2 assists) is the leading returning scorer.

“After the loss of some exceptional seniors, our developing underclassmen have big shoes to fill,” Muir said. “We are leaning on the returners to maintain the hard-working mentality that got them to the playoffs last year.

“The new players on the team have shown great potential and dedication to go along with their youth. The experience of the returners should mix well with the new players, and we are hopeful to continue that success.”

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SILVERADO

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Jenna Carter, 11th season

2016 record: 10-7 (5-5 Southeast, fourth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (four)

Top athletes: F Margie Farnsworth (Sr.), D Kristyn Lommason (Jr.)

Outlook: The Skyhawks return just four starters from last year’s squad.

Farnsworth (8 goals) and Lommason (4 goals, 3 assists) should be among the team’s leaders this season.

“The Skyhawks are looking to be competitive in the Southeast League this season,” Carter said. “Having had eight seniors graduate last year, Silverado will be relying on new leadership on the field. Senior Margie Farnsworth returns as one of the team’s leading goal scorers, and junior Kristyn Lommason will anchor the Skyhawks’ defense.”

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SOMERSET-SKY POINTE

League: Class 3A Sunrise

Head coach: Ashlea Andrade, first season

2016 record: Did not field a team

Returning letter winners (starters): Zero

Outlook: The Eagles are making their debut as a team this year.

“This year we hope to build on the foundations of a team capable of competing with other high schools in the state,” Andrade said. “As it’s our inaugural season in the NIAA, we’re looking to focus on and create a team that is dedicated to the sport, and shaping successful student-athletes that are proud to be an Eagle.

“Sky Pointe is anxious to prove itself in the NIAA. We hope to push players to their best potential on the soccer field and in the classroom.”

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SPRING VALLEY

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Matthew Hubbard, first season

2016 record: 2-12-1 (2-9-1 Southwest, sixth)

Top athletes: F Mackenzie Carcelli (Jr.)

Outlook: Hubbard takes over a team that struggled in its return to Class 4A last season, but is hoping for success this season.

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TECH

League: Class 3A Sunrise

Head coach: Josh Jones, 17th season

2016 record: 14-5-3 (9-0-1 Sunrise, first)

Returning letter winners (starters): Thirteen (nine)

Top athletes: MF Valerie Webb (Sr.), D/MF Maria Galindo (Sr.), F Alysia Mestas (Jr.), MF Analysa Zepeda (Jr.), GK Chloe Dody (So.)

Outlook: The Roadrunners bring back nine starters from a team that advanced to the Class 3A state semifinals last year.

Dody (7 shutouts) and Galindo are back to guide the defense. The offensive firepower could come from Webb (9 goals, 9 assists), Mestas (8 goals, 5 assists) and Zepeda (3 goals, 3 assists).

“Tech returns a very solid group of girls who hope to continue their quest to advance in the playoffs,” Jones said. “If some of the veteran players and younger players can mesh together, they will be able to make another strong playoff run.”

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VALLEY

League: Class 4A Northeast

Head coach: Jaime Alvarez, third season

2016 record: 2-14-2 (0-7-1 Northeast, fifth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Five (five)

Top athletes: D Caymbrea Neal (Sr.), F Alondra Ysita (Sr.)

Outlook: The Vikings bring back only five letter winners and hope to show improvement.

“We are in complete rebuilding mode this season,” Alvarez said. “We hope to compete every game, but this will be a learning year for the majority of girls in our program.”

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VIRGIN VALLEY

League: Class 3A Sunrise

Head coach: Bob Snell, 18th season

2016 record: 12-7-3 (8-1-1 Sunrise, second)

Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (seven)

Top athletes: MF Kallie Graves (Sr.), F Ally Wright (So.), MF Kari Wakefield (Sr.), D Karla Correa (Jr.)

Outlook: The Bulldogs return seven starters from a team that advanced to the Southern Region semifinals last year, but must replace the school’s all-time leading goal scorer in Abbie Barnum.

A pair of midfielders and the team’s goalkeeper also graduated.

“We will need to move some players into new positions to plug the holes left by graduation,” Snell said.

Graves (7 goals, 18 assists) and Wright (10 goals, 5 assists) return and likely will lead the offense.

“We have good experience returning that includes seven seniors,” Snell said. “It may take a little time for players to adjust to new positions. How they respond will be the key to our season. A solid junior varsity team last year provides depth.”

Snell also is encouraged by what he said should be a strong junior varsity team this season and strong incoming classes for the next two years.

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WESTERN

League: Class 3A Sunset

Head coach: Shoichi Sato, second season

2016 record: 17-6-2 (9-0-1 Sunset, first)

Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (six)

Top athletes: F Devany Marroquin (So.), MF Geraldi Gomez (Jr.), MF Angela Corona (Jr.), D Heyddy Paiz-Portillo (Sr.)

Outlook: The Warriors bring back 10 letter winners from a team that advanced to the Class 3A state championship match last year.

Marroquin (6 goals, 8 assists) had a solid freshman season and will be among the team’s leaders again this year.

“Our goal remains the same as last year: Be the best team in Class 3A in November,” Sato said.