2018 Girls Soccer Capsule Previews
(as submitted by coaches)
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ARBOR VIEW
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: Erica Peeples, first season
2017 record: 15-5 (11-1 Northwest/first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (four)
Top athletes: GK Krystin Cooper (Sr.), F Jolianna Meyers (Sr.), D Mya Wilson (So.), D Daniella DeLaTorre (So.)
Outlook: Peeples takes over for wildly-successful coach Jay Howard, who helped the Aggies to a run of five straight state titles before having the string broken last season.
She’ll have some work to do as only four starters return.
Meyers (19 goals, 5 assists) should be among the leaders on offense, and Cooper (6½ shutouts) is back to anchor the defense.
“We lost seven senior starters to graduation, so we are a young team,” Peeples said. “Our goal is to remain competitive and continue playing at a high level.”
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BISHOP GORMAN
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Doug Borgel, 10th season
2017 record: 23-2-2 (12-0 Southwest/first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Fifteen (eight)
Top athletes: F Gianna Gourley (Sr.), F Jaden Terrana (Jr.), MF Caitlyn Rueca (Sr.), F Jackie Hillegass (So.)
Outlook: Gourley (32 goals, 8 assists), Terrana (19 goals, 16 assists), Hillegass (10 goals, 11 assists) and Rueca (3 goals, 5 assists) are among 15 returning letter winners for the defending Class 4A state champions.
“Bishop Gorman girls soccer returns a powerful offense led by senior Gianna Gourley,” Borgel said. “The defending State Champions lost a few players on defense from 2017, but have once again bolstered an already strong returning group with club players who sat out the last few seasons.
“Newcomers Ashtyn Fink and Camden Berry will join Gourley and Jackie Hillegas to form one of the valley’s most potent offenses.”
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BOULDER CITY
League: Class 3A Sunrise
Head coach: Arnold Oeland, first season
2017 record: 6-8-1 (5-6-1 3A Sunrise/fifth)
Outlook: Oeland takes over a team that is hoping to make its second playoff appearance since 2012.
Oeland said he is building the team in line with United States Soccer Federation training and development and is hopeful a highly-competitive training program will carry over into the matches.
“The team is excited to get this season under way,” Oeland said.
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CENTENNIAL
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: Kristina Kasten, sixth season
2017 record: 10-8-1 (7-5 Northwest/third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (seven)
Top athletes: F Marcella Brooks (Sr.), MF/F Quincy Bonds (Jr.), D Amanda Page (Sr.), D Kyarah Taylor (Jr.)
Outlook: The Bulldogs return seven starters from a team that finished third in the Northwest League.
All-Southern Nevada and all-state honoree Brooks (22 goals, 13 assists) and All-Sunset Region performer Bonds (16 goals, 7 assists) return to lead the offense.
Page and Taylor are back to anchor the defense.
“The Bulldogs have a strong and talented group of returning athletes as well as some fresh, new players who show a lot of potential,” Kasten said. “They are determined to make an impact this year and build upon the successes from last year.”
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CHAPARRAL
League: Class 3A Sunrise
Head coach: Durley Nolen, first season
2017 record: 0-15 (0-12 3A Sunrise/seventh)
Outlook: Nolen takes over a squad that is hungry for success.
“We hope to improve and build from last year,” Nolen said.
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CHEYENNE
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: Catherine O’Rourke, first season
2017 record: 7-10-1 (4-6 3A Sunset/fourth)
Outlook: O’Rourke inherits a team that qualified for the postseason last year. She hopes to help the Desert Shields contend this season.
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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: George Morales, fourth season
2017 record: 7-10 (2-10 Northwest/sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (six)
Top athletes: MF/D Haylee Nerio (Sr.), MF Kaylee Nerio (Sr.), D Katie Caldwell (Sr.), MF/D Daniela Perez-Vazquez (Sr.)
Outlook: The Spartans had great results in nonleague play, but struggled a bit in the difficult Northwest League last year.
They’re hoping to show improvement this year.
“A lot of new faces will be on the field for the Spartans this season,” Morales said. “We are looking for some of these newcomers to step up and fill the attacking positions. We will also be moving some of our returners to different positions.
“We are excited about having the opportunity to play some different teams this season.”
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CLARK
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Liz Case, 13th season
2017 record: 7-11-2 (5-6-1 Southwest/fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Five (five)
Outlook: The Chargers were a win short of qualifying for the playoffs last season and return five starters from that squad.
“We have a good team that is willing to work hard,” Case said. “This will be a team that may surprise some teams this year.”
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CORONADO
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Dana Neel, 12th season
2017 record: 22-2-3 (9-0-1 Southeast/first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (eight)
Top athletes: D Kaitlyn Kowalchuk (Sr.), GK Taylor Book (Jr.), F Alysa Caso (Sr.), MF Leili Rosenberg (Sr.), MF Haley Meusy (Sr.)
Outlook: The Cougars bring back eight starters from a team that went undefeated in league play and advanced to the Sunrise Region title game.
“We have a strong group of returners,” Neel said.
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DESERT OASIS
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Jared Ogden, third season
2017 record: 12-6-2 (10-2 Southwest/second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (five)
Top athletes: F Endya Scott (Jr.), MF Audrey Dunn (Sr.), MF/F Alex Houston (So.), D/MF Bri Lane (Jr.), MF/F Mikayla Anderson (Jr.), D Kennedy Ficklin (Jr.), GK Samantha Gato (Jr.), MF Madison Montellano (Sr.)
Outlook: The Diamondbacks bring back eight letter winners from a team that finished second in the Southwest League.
Scott (19 goals, 9 assists) is the leading returning scorer, but should get plenty of help from Dunn (3 goals, 11 assists), Houston (3 goals, 6 assists), Lane (2 goals, 5 assists), Anderson (2 goals, four assists) and Montellano, who missed last season due to injury.
Gato (2.33 shutouts) and Ficklin return to lead the defense.
“We plan on continuing to be competitive and doing well in our region,” Ogden said. “This is a very talented and creative group of players that work well together. We are excited to have players returning from injuries, some new faces, and our strong, veteran players.
“We look forward to playing some teams we haven’t faced before, and we hope to improve on our previous postseason play.”
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DURANGO
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Lara Dupree, sixth season
2017 record: 1-15 (0-12 Southwest/seventh)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (eight)
Top athletes: MF Laila Loring (Sr.)
Outlook: The Trailblazers should be improved this season as they bring back eight starters and welcome in Loring, who did not play last season.
“We expect to stay focused on developing into a stronger technical team to maintain possession of the ball and to tactically develop a cohesive defense that will decrease opponents’ opportunities to score,” Dupree said.
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FAITH LUTHERAN
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: Steve Morrill, ninth season
2017 record: 10-8-2 (6-5-1 Northwest/fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Fourteen (11)
Top athletes: MF Kadyn Lane (Sr.), MF/F Amelia McManus (Sr.), MF/F Maggie Shuirman (Sr.), MF Madison Sonerholm (Sr.), D Madison Stenslie (Sr.), D Hannah Thomas (Sr.)
Outlook: Some members of the Crusaders’ senior class played as freshmen when the team won the Division I-A state title. They’re hoping to compete for another crown this year.
McManus (12 goals), Shuirman (8 goals, 6 assists), Sonerholm (6 goals, 5 assists) and Lane all return to guide the offense. Stenslie (2 assists) and Thomas (2 assists) should be among the leaders on a team that returns all of its starters and graduated only one senior last year.
“The team is very upperclassmen-heavy,” Morrill said. “The team also has a number of returning sophomores that contributed to last year’s varsity squad, and several incoming freshmen that look to contribute right away.
“This is probably the deepest and most talented Faith Lutheran team in the last few seasons, if not ever in program history. The Lady Crusaders are hoping to compete for the 4A Mountain League title, earn a bye into the second weekend of regional playoffs, and make a deep playoff run in the 4A.”
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FOOTHILL
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Chem Simoneau, second season
2017 record: 11-4-1 (6-3-1 Southeast/third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (nine)
Top athletes: F Brooke Vokoun (Jr.), MF Gabby Anderson (Sr.), MF Elise Bush (Jr.), MF Ari Vigil (So.)
Outlook: Despite being in a league with powerhouses Coronado and Green Valley, the Falcons lost only four matches last year. They return nine starters from that team.
Vokoun (12 goals, 6 assists), Anderson (6 goals, 2 assists), Bush (5 goals, 3 assists) and Vigil (5 goals, 2 assists) all return to lead the offense.
“While we lost eight seniors from last year, we still have our core of varsity players who have grown in size, strength, and confidence on the ball,” Simoneau said. “We also have several new players to the varsity team who will provide tremendous depth.
“We look forward to competing against new teams this season and continuing to challenge our traditional rivals.”
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GREEN VALLEY
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Catherine Davis, sixth season
2017 record: 17-3-1 (7-3 Southeast/second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (six)
Top athletes: MF Devyn Parsons (Sr.), D Taylor O’Neill (Sr.), MF Hailey Thomas (Sr.)
Outlook: Last year’s Sunrise Region champions bring back six starters, though they’ve got some big losses to overcome.
Parsons (8 goals, 5 assists), O’Neill (6 goals, 5 assists) and Thomas (5 goals, 2 assists) return to help lead the Gators.
“After winning the Sunrise Region championship and going to the state tournament last year, we graduated a large class of seniors like many other programs in the valley,” Davis said. “We are extremely excited about the fresh, young talent on our team and look forward to making another deep run into playoffs.”
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LAS VEGAS
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: Alvaro Zetino, first season
2017 record: 11-8 (8-0 Northeast/first)
Returning starters: Five
Top athletes: F Brinkley McCoy (So.)
Outlook: McCoy, who had 16 goals and 11 assists last season, is one of five returning starters for the Wildcats.
“This team has a lot of potential to make the playoffs and advance,” Zetino said.
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LIBERTY
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Charity Cress, third season
2017 record: 10-6-2 (3-5-2 Southeast/fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (seven)
Top athletes: MF Makenna Ciska (Sr.), MF/D Ylexus Gilliland (Jr.), F Jordyn McCollum (Jr.), MF/F Mia Edwards (Jr.)
Outlook: McCollum (7 goals, 3 assists), Edwards (6 goals), Ciska (5 goals, 3 assists) and Gilliland (3 goals, 2 assists) return to guide the offense of a Patriots’ team that brings back seven starters.
“With a majority of experienced players returning, we look to continue to improve and build off last year’s successful season,” Cress said. “We have added some talented freshmen to the mix and hope to go deeper into the playoffs.
“It’s going to be a fun year watching these girls play.”
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MOAPA VALLEY
League: Class 3A Sunrise
Head coach: Lisa Cornwall, 10th season
2017 record: 12-6-3 (9-1-2 3A Sunrise/first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (six)
Top athletes: D Lainey Cornwall (Sr.), D Peyton Schraft (Sr.), F Ashlyn Western (Sr.), GK Kyla Larsen (So.)
Outlook: After winning the Class 3A Sunrise League last year, the Pirates return six starters.
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PAHRUMP VALLEY
League: Class 3A Sunset
Head coach: Julie Carrington, third season
2017 record: 16-4-3 (8-0-2 3A Sunset/first)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (five)
Top athletes: F Grace Gundacker, F Makayla Gent, D Juliana Hemphill
Outlook: After advancing to the Class 3A state tournament last year, the Trojans must replace more than half of their starting lineup.
“We lost a great group of seniors last year, but we have high expectations for our talented younger group coming up this season,” Carrington said.
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PALO VERDE
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: Frank Messina, 11th season
2017 record: 14-4 (10-2 Northwest/second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (two)
Top athletes: F Madison Hernandez (Jr.), MF Carlee Giammona (Sr.), F Kassidy Sayles (Jr.)
Outlook: Graduation was not kind to the Panthers, who return only two starters from a squad that lost a heartbreaking Sunset Region semifinal last year.
Hernandez (13 goals, 7 assists), Giammona (12 goals, 13 assists) and Sayles (6 goals, 2 assists) are back to help guide the offense.
“The program is looking to build back the key positions that were lost to graduation and be right back in the mix this season,” said Messina, who guided the Panthers to the Class 4A state final in 2016. “I hope to see new faces step into leadership roles to guide the newer players through a great season.
“The returning players are excited to get the season started and all are determined to make it back to the state final.”
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SHADOW RIDGE
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: Kalah Williams, fifth season
2017 record: 10-6-2 (5-6-1 Northwest/fifth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (six)
Top athletes: F Taylore Simmons (Sr.), D Taylor Lee (Jr.), GK Tieg Simmons (So.)
Outlook: The Mustangs bring back 11 letter winners, but still will have some youth
The team has five seniors, but three freshmen and three sophomores also are on the 18-player roster.
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SIERRA VISTA
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Ross Muir, seventh season
2017 record: 8-8-2 (6-5-1 Southwest/third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (seven)
Top athletes: MF Jasmine Trinidad (Jr.), D Emma Zeigler (Sr.), GK Jamie Kalaau-Sunia (Sr.), D Isabella Costa (Jr.)
Outlook: The Mountain Lions bring back seven starters, but lost a talented senior class.
Zeigler (3 goals), Costa (2 goals, 1 assist), Trinidad (1 goal, 3 assists) and Kalaau-Sunia (4½ shutouts) will be among those who are asked to contribute.
“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 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 Desert
Head coach: Jenna Carter, 12th season
2017 record: 4-10-2 (0-8-2 Southeast, sixth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Thirteen (eight)
Top athletes: MF/F Sydni Bishop (Sr.), D Kristyn Lommason (Sr.), MF/F McKenzie Papa (Sr.)
Outlook: The Skyhawks are hoping last season’s rebuild will pay off in a big way this year.
Lommason (4 goals, 2 assists), Papa (4 goals) and Bishop (3 goals, 1 assist) are among 13 returning letter winners.
“The Skyhawks are looking to improve on last year’s overall record and be competitive in the newly formed 4A Desert League,” Carter said. “With the core group of starters returning, Silverado will rely on senior leadership led by defender Kristyn Lommason.”
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SLAM ACADEMY
League: Independent
Head coach: Johnny Garcia, second season
Outlook: The Bulls start their second season and continue to prepare to join a league next season.
“We are continuing to build on what we started last year,” assistant coach Jillian Guerrette said. “We are trying to gain momentum as a women’s program in our community and establish a culture of teamwork, hustle, and set up for future success.”
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SPRING VALLEY
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Matt Hubbard, second season
2017 record: 4-13 (2-10 Southwest/sixth)
Returning starters: Seven
Top athletes: F Mackenzie Carcelli (Sr.), MF Dani Carballo (Jr.)
Outlook: The Grizzlies were young last year, but bring back seven starters and hope the experience gained last season will pay off.
Carcelli (7 goals) and Carballo (2 goals, 3 assists) should be among the leaders on offense.
“This team is full of young talent,” Hubbard said. “Last year we had many sophomores playing varsity. This year we return with experienced upperclassmen and added some young phenoms coming in as freshmen.
“We have a goal of landing in the top four of the league this year.”
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TECH
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Josh Jones, 18th season
2017 record: 12-5-3 (8-2-2 3A Sunrise/second)
Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (seven)
Top athletes: D Rylie Haynes (Sr.), F Alysia Mestas (Sr.), MF Analysa Zepeda (Sr.), GK Chloe Dody (Jr.), MF Samantha Elliot (Jr.), F/MF Adriana Carrillo (So.), MF/F Gianna Mestas (Fr.)
Outlook: The Roadrunners bring back 10 letter winners from a team that finished second in the Class 3A Sunrise League.
Carrillo (11 goals, 3 assists), Zepeda (10 goals, 8 assists), Alysia Mestas (5 goals, 5 assists) and Elliot (4 goals, 2 assists) all return to guide the offense. Haynes and Dody (10 shutout) return to lead the defense.
“Tech returns a very solid core of girls who hope to continue to be successful in the move to the 4A conference,” Jones said. “If some of the veteran players and younger players can mesh together, they will look compete in the 4A conference.”
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VIRGIN VALLEY
League: Class 3A Sunrise
Head coach: Scott Trimming, first season
2017 record: 11-7-4 (6-3-3 3A Sunrise/fourth)
Returning letter winners (starters): Five (five)
Top athletes: F Rainee Brito (So.), MF Alley Wright (Jr.)
Outlook: Trimming takes over a team that returns only five letter winners after qualifying for the playoffs last year.
“We are a young team this year,” Trimming said. “It will be a rebuilding year in terms of the loss of seniors graduating last year.
“We are confident that the younger players are going to pick up where the team left off last year.”
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WESTERN
League: Class 3A Sunset
Head coach: Shoichi Sato, third season
2017 record: 7-6-3 (6-2-2 Sunset/third)
Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (seven)
Top athletes: MF Geraldi Gomez (Sr.), F/MF Devany Marroquin (Jr.), F Caro Acosta (Jr.), D Samantha Navarro (Jr.), MF Kimberly Castaneda (So.), MF Angelica Sanchez (So.)
Outlook: The Warriors bring back nine letter winners from last year’s squad.
“We return a strong group of upperclassmen who have been playing together for two years,” Sato said. “There are promising freshmen that will be contributing meaningful minutes this year. The team has a lot of potential and is looking to continue the growth of the Western soccer program.
“We want to win the region and compete for the state championship.”
