NEWS ARCHIVES - MSHS Wildcats Girls Soccer

AUGUST 2010 - Final Entry From 2009 Season

ENTIRE 2009 WILDCAT GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS

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Great Season Calendar

JUNE 2010

MORE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:

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TOUGH LOSS TO END THE SEASON

Lose to Sammamish

End of regulation tie at 1-1

2 Overtime Periods

Sammamish Wins On One Penalty Kick in Regulation and a Shoot Out after 2 Overtime Periods

SEASONS SHOULD NOT END WITH A SHOOT OUT IN A PLAYOFF GAME. GAMES SHOULD BE DECIDED ON THE FIELD!

IN THE NEWS:

Mount Si's soccer season ends in heartbreak

By: Rhett Workman - SnoValleySports.BlogSpot.com 11.03.09

Despite a heroic effort, the Mount Si Wildcats' girls soccer season ended in heartbreak last night as they fell to Sammamish in a shootout.
 
Sammamish won 2-1, with the shootout going 4-1 in favor of the Totems. Lauren Snead's goal with nine minutes left aided the Wildcats and forced overtime. Anna Geldenhuys, who scored the lone goal last week when the Totems beat Mount Si 1-0, scored Sammamish's goal on a penalty kick.
 
With the game tied, the two teams went to overtime, then to a second overtime, before the shootout was called. Laura Barnes was the lone scorer in the shootout for Mount Si, whose season ended at 5-9-3. The Wildcats will have some holes to fill, but look for some players to emerge next season, specifically goalie Carly Weidenbach, forward Miranda Rawlings, and midfielder Barnes, who will lead next year's returning group. (read more)

SnoValleySports commentary: Get rid of the shootout in the girls' soccer playoffs

By: Rhett Workman - SnoValleySports.BlogSpot.com 11.03.09

Last night's game between the Wildcats and Totems ended a way that we wish it wouldn't have ended: in heartbreak for Mount Si because of a loss in a shootout.
 
One of our pet peeves, and this is true whether it's hockey or high school soccer, is that you let the players decide the game on the field. Not with a shootout which if you lose can end your season just like that.
 
Mount Si worked very hard to get the game to overtime, then to have that, and their season, go out the window with one simple series of kicks, is just awful. Even more so on the six seniors whose high school careers ended last night. And even more so on one senior specifically, and we're talking about Marika Loudenback, who didn't deserve to see her season end like this, unable to stop those shots and keep her team's dream alive. One guesses it was a long night afterwards for all the ladies, but maybe especially so for Loudenback.

(read more)

NOVEMBER 2009

PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

FOR TONIGHT'S PLAYOFF GAME
By: Rhett Workman - SnoValleySports.BlogSpot.com 

KINGCO 3A PLAYOFFS
MOUNT SI WILDCATS VS. SAMMAMISH TOTEMS
SAMMAMISH HS - BELLEVUE - 7:00 P.M. KICK

The Wildcats and Totems played just last Tuesday; Mount Si fell in the game 1-0 to Sammamish, as star Anna Geldenhuys scored in the 70th minute. The Wildcats will have to stop her if they have any chance of succeeding. Another thing Mount Si will have to do is up the intensity. The theme of the postgame comments after last Thursday's game was they needed to see the intensity shown in the last 15 minutes of the Senior Night game against Bellevue, a 2-1 loss, show up for the full 80 tonight. Intensity and consistency have been big issues for this team this year, so this is not new. The question will be is can they walk the talk?

Mount Si will need to win three straight games, first tonight, then Wednesday night at either Juanita or Liberty (we think Liberty since they have the better talent in our view) and then again on Saturday against a Metro opponent. So the road will be tough, but this is a second half team so maybe they will pick it up. (read more)

OCTOBER 2009

"We played well enough tonight to get the "W" but, at times looked sluggish.  We could have really penetrated the attacking third all night by pushing forward better which results in better movement off the ball and communication.  This has been better of late but, tonight was missing at times.  We have a big game next week vs Juanita and need to start the prep process for a game that will be very up tempo.  With the win tonight, we are now in the 3rd slot with 2 points behind 2nd.  These next two weeks ahead are all about playoff positioning.....home field to the 2nd seed which is always a big plus.  I thought Molly Sellers spelled nicely this evening as did Alyssa again.  This is our 3rd consecutive game with a shut-out....tonight going to Weidenbach who played well.  This season is in some ways mirroring last years 5-0-1- 2nd half run.  We have to keep this going one match at a time".

 
Players of the Match: #8 LAUREN SNEAD and #6 MEGAN TRAVIS

Mount Si’s girls soccer team had a solid week, and now they have a favorite number: three.

Three wins, three losses and three ties is the record for Mount Si after a week which started out with another potentially season-defining game, this one against Mercer Island.

Against the top team in the league and among the best in the state, the Wildcats, last Tuesday in front of a large crowd as part of SVYSA Youth Appreciation Night, played hard and got a big goal from a key junior to post the upset win.

Alexis Pearlstein scored off a feed from Laura Barnes in the second half to lift the Wildcats to the 1-0 win over the Islanders. “We can get this ship steered in the right direction and tonight was just a little taste of what we can do,” said Mount Si coach Darren Brown, and he praised Pearlstein. “Pearlstein’s been playing great soccer. She’s my wrecking crew, my physical force in the middle and she’s taking on a little (Katie) Woolsey / Kali Roestel in her. She’s just tough as nails and loves the tough assignment.”

The team won despite not having their top two assistant coaches, as both Ben Tomlisson and Tom Burford missed the game as they served one-game red card suspensions following their controversial red card ejections in the Wildcats’ previous game October 8 against Liberty. Pearlstein was thrilled at her team’s accomplishment. “It feels great knowing we can accomplish a lot by ourselves,” she said.

Last Thursday, Mount Si rolled into Interlake and picked up a 2-0 win. That said, Brown thinks the Wildcats may have taken a small step backwards. "We played well enough tonight to get the "W" but, at times looked sluggish,” Brown said in comments on the Mount Si girls’ soccer website.

Even with that, Mount Si finds itself in third place, right behind Sammamish, so if the team keeps winning, the Wildcats look as if they may host opening round KingCo Tournament games on their home field as the #2 seed.

Mount Si hosts Juanita next week. The game on Tuesday begins at 7:30 p.m.

"Wow! Great performance tonight...thought we should have had 3 or 4 tonight but, a win is a win and against the 5th ranked team in the state.....we have the ship on track. We are playing with much better pace and poise over the last two matches. I think the girls are really realizing their potential and what they can accomplish if they play together. Very proud of the way we came out of the gates tonight. Very strong performances by many but, Lex and Jess really had a strong games and gave the MI attack fits. Warnke had another stellar game in the back and has been a real catalyst for our back 4. I thought Hailey provided a presence up top by really working hard holding up possession for our shape to get into the attacking third. Meghan gave us a lot of energy for 80 minutes and Alyssa Proudfoot had a great performance tonight spelling in the middle of the pitch. Lets keep this winning streak alive and stick to our 2nd half goals....one game at a time."
 
Players of the Match: #16 LEX PEARLSTEIN

"The intensity is back.  That is Wildcat soccer!  I thought everyone came out strong and played a good match tonight.  Felt our backline was superb.  Warnke was on her "A" game and Jessie Hargett was outstanding in the stopper role for us.  Great distribution and really played the way I have been wanting to see from Jess all year.  Our midfield played with a boost of energy and were getting after the 50-50's.  Hailey Conway, Daniella Romo, and Miranda were all effective.  Hailey did a great job battling a very physical defender for 90 minutes and held her possession well.  I thought we had three really good scoring chances tonight....Barnes set piece, Romos shot that just went wide in OT, and again Conway's breakaway that I thought a PK should have resulted.  Lex played physical and strong in her role and was just what I wanted from her...she is great in that holding mid position.  The Duncan twins spelled nicely for Chase and Besmer and really gave us another element that I like going forward.  Very poised and controlled, contained well, and got forward with pace.  Overall despite the tie result...VERY PROUD of the performance tonight.  Good way to start the 2nd half....we play like this and there will be good results ahead.  Good effort tonight ladies.
 
Players of the Match: EVERYONE

We have just completed the 1st half and with the loss to Bellevue- there will be some changes in our lineup and our direction going forward.  We are no where near playing to the level that I expect us to be at and most of that is pure execution and mental focus.  This second half we will be getting back to our rotation like we had during the preseason.  I have held back my frosh and younger kids for half the season by breaking them in slowly but, they are ready now to see an increase in minutes.  We worked on goal setting for the 2nd half of the season and look to put up better numbers ahead. 
 
Players of the Match: NONE

Played well in the first half.....second half another story. Communication went out the window, movement off the ball, and our game plan was forgotten. This cannot happen. We have played two games during this season where we should have "W's" and we really beat ourselves. Meghan Travis had two great goals and was good to see her going.
 
Players of the Match: #6 Meghan Travis

SEPTEMBER 2009

"We played the best 20 minutes of the season to start the match...then, our movement off the ball went down and we stopped working for each other. I really thought after our first goal that we were going to close the deal but, we have seen this before. We have to possess and not go into a state of panic when we are in the trenches. This is not just a soccer lesson but, a lesson in life. When things get tough....you need to dig deep. This goes hand in hand with mental focus as well".
 
Players of the Match:

#7 Laura Barnes

#9 Taylor Warnke

Big night for Barnes and Snead to open KingCo Schedule
Mount Si's girls soccer team opened KingCo play with a 2-2 draw against Liberty last night.
Rhett Workman - SnoValleySports.com - 09.16.09

The Wildcats got goals from Laura Barnes and Lauren Snead as Mount Si's defense did a good job shutting down the Patriots' most dangerous offensive weapon, sophomore Cassidy Nangle. "We did some good things tonight. Had some scoring chances as this game’s momentum swung back and forth most of the night, but we did a good job of containing Nangle," said Mount Si coach Darren Brown to the Mount Si girls' soccer website. (view article)

The girls were a little flat tonight. We had some moments where we played well but, we need to attack the box with more speed. We had a handful of opportunities that were wasted by runs that were not created or being behind the ball. We did some things well that we will feed off of going into Thursdays contest. It was great to see Hailey get off with her first finish this season.....just a matter of time. I liked to see that. I thought Kelly Besmer was electric tonight. Very big game. The 2nd goal by Snead was a great finish....Lauren always puts herself in a good position to score and I have to say that is a scorer mentality. I would like to see more scoring opps next match. Thought there was good service but, finishing was not strong. We will take the "W" and look forward.

Players of the Match:

#8 Lauren Snead

#1 Kelly Besmer

We played a good 1st half.....2nd half was a let down.
 
We played a 40 minute game tonight. 2nd half was purely won by Mercer Island and they came out strong.....we could not hold possession. I said before that Mary Hill and Erin Bourgenon were two of the top 10 players in the league. You can add another in Haas #4 up top. Caused us fits all night with her size and quick first step. Warnke, Chase, and Besmer again had a great game in the back but, we lost A LOT tonight in the midfield and up top could hold possession mostly due to the strong play by Erin #9. Hill has really matured into a force...reminds me of Stanton of last year in this years league. Mercer Island is tough.....a lot of that youth they had before has grown up and are now seasoned Seniors. From the looks of things early......it is going to be a very tough conference again. Sammamish is a returning state playoff team and Bellevue will always be difficult.
 
Player of the Match - #6 Meghan Travis

"We did some good things tonight.  Had some scoring chances as this games momentum swung back and forth most of the night but, we did a good job of containing Nangle.  Kudos to our backline for doing a great job.  Marika had a great save in the 2nd overtime where we looked really flat as a team.  Hailey Conway had a great game up top and really put in an effort tonight.  I felt Miranda Rawlings was exceptional on the outside......blazing speed and very good runs getting forward.  I thought that shot near the end of regulation with six remaining was going in.  She hit it too well which did not provide any give off the far post.  Lauren Snead and Barnes provided great goals.....that got us on the board.  Laura's run towards goal was outstanding.  I thought the combo of Barnes and Conway was effective and the work rate was top notch.

Player of the Match - #12 Miranda Rawlings

We played better tonight.....7 starters got rest tonight for tonight's opener and the 6 girls called up for last night's match did a good job.  Real proud of the performance they gave.  I thought Brittany Duncan looked exceptionally well tonight starting on the outside flank and was often matched up with Katie Woodman and Brittany did a good job of holding her down.  We had more scoring opportunities tonight but, could not finish.  I thought Lex did a great job in the center midfield.....great distribution and was a presence.  Tomorrow night is our league opener......when the games count. 

Player of the Match-  #16 Alexis Pearlstein

"We ran into a buzz saw this afternoon vs Skyline.  Very talented team to say the least.  Tied 0-0 thru 33 minutes of play and then the flood gates opened on us.  You have to take the positive out of a contest like this and that is we have seen two of the top 5 4A TEAMS IN THE STATE.  Skyline being the defending state champion.  We will be ready for league play as there is not a team in the league that contain that kind of speed, strength, and size.  The defense played well today and I felt bad for the amount of pressure that they faced for 80 minutes but, this will be good down the road.

Eastlake was a very sound team and it is evident why they are ranked 4th in 4A.  Three D-1 Recruits and a handful of top tier talent which stretched out our formation all night long and gave us fits.  That being said, it was good for the girls to experience a team like this caliber in the pre season.  Between Eastlake and Skyline, they will not face another team of that caliber in 3A competition.  We had some good play from some players last night and some that did not have their "A" game which happens.  What concerned me was the scoring times from Eastlake connecting in the 1st minute of the match and a minute after our neutralizer by Barnes.  That is mental toughness which we need to discuss.  I thought our communication in the 1st half was sub par and Eastlake controlled possession for at least 80% of the match last.  There were some holes that were exposed during the course of the night which were evident and will be taken care of.  I am looking for a better showing against the top team in the state.....Skyline on Saturday.

Mount Si girls soccer vs LW

By: Rhett Workman - Sno-Valley Sports 09.09.09

Mount Si's girls soccer team opened the 2009 campaign with a 2-0 win last night over the Lake Washington Kangaroos at Mount Si High School. Jessie Hargett and Lauren Snead scored the goals for the Wildcats, who used a special night from a newcomer to help get the job done.

Both goals were assisted by freshman Miranda Rawlings, who was playing her first high school game along with several other frosh.

Hargett scored first, on a one-timer in the 32nd minute, and Snead wrapped it up in the 73rd with a punch-in into the net past the LW goalie. The team as a whole played a crisp, consistent game which, if they are able to maintain that the entire season, could make them a dangerous team come crunch time late in October. (more)

AUGUST 2009

Mount Si girls soccer team looking to defend title

Mount Si Varsity Goalkeeper Marika Loudenback attempts to stop a shot during a game last year.