You might as well have put the Varsity A
division in a can in the off season and shook it up because this are
going to be different. Last year was marked by the dominance of the
Panthers who marched, eyes fixed, straight to the state title. But
after such domination was a little ceremony we call Graduation and
the Panthers were hit hard by this. Seattle Prep has the burden this
year of rebuilding while at the same time facing the teams they so
badly beat only a year before. New head Coach Sarah Medwell is
nothing if not up for the task and, with returning assistant Gail
Loveland, and a team who is always ready to leave everything on the
field.New teams to the A
division this year are last years B State Champions Bellevue as well
as the Greenwood team. How will the new kids on the block fair? Only
time will tell. Runner up to the State Champions in the A league,
Lakeside finds itself in a building year according to Coach Lauren
Schwartz. With only 1 senior, Kirsten to lead the team, the Lions
aren't long on experience, but Tang will be flanked by Juniors Kate
Okrasinski, Siobhan Thomas-Smith, Margret Chang, and Emily Cramer.
Returning in Goal is Erin Coltrera. Somehow Lakeside, even in
"rebuilding" years, always manage to be among the very top teams of
the year.
It is the year of the Senior up on
the hill. Forest Ridge finds itself with an even mix of youth and
experience going into this year. Seniors Kate Phillips, Leslie
Walker, Brooklyn Lewis, Monica McQuaid, Liz Voeller, and Christine
Jones look to be the strength for the Raiders. Returning stand out
Goalie Jamie Obrien is back in her Sophomore year to be the teams last
line of defense.
Speaking of stand out Goalies, Mercer
Island will be looking for Goalie Kelly Nakata once again to be the
Miracle Maker on the Island. But this year she's got help. Captain
Nakata is joined by co-captains Jamie Webster and Tara Mctavish as
leaders. Also look for Dani Zorn on attack and Stacy Trumble on
defense as Mercer Island looks to be in the thick of the action in the
A league.
Senior Captian Rosy Rombauer is the
sole Senior for Holy Names this year. Junior Co-Captains Madeline
Levesque and Isabel Loe will add their experience into the mix. The
Cougars will look to speed as their weapon of choice when facing
opponents this year. They are also looking to improve upon last years
record.
Two years ago it was Bainbridge
Island and Overlake playing each other in the State Finals. The teams
were led respectively by coach Tami Tomila and Sue Haviland. Both
coaches were out of the picture last year for various reasons. In
their absence neither team made it to the State Finals. Could the
return of the two longtime coaches signal a return of dominance for
Overlake and Bainbridge Island? Bainbridge Island narrowly missed the
State Finals last year, while overlake struggled through out the
year. Bainbridge Island is taking a 1 game at a time attitude this
year, but with 5 seniors, Jen Utley, Kela Martinez, Alec Zimmerman,
and Maggie Pettit, expect a fight every time. Sue Haviland is
jumping back onto the scene part way through this season after having
been out of the country for an extended period of time, but the owls
are no doubt happy to welcome her back, as! is all of Northwest
Lacrosse.
With Bellevue and Greenwood gone to
the A league and new teams to the Varsity rank in Lacrosse Lake
Sammamish Maple Valley and the Raiders club team, it will be
interesting to watch who establishes themselves as the top few teams
in this league. State runner up Kitsap will look to establish
themselves again as a strong team to contend with. Bainbridge Island
and Curtis will no doubt prove tough to beat. Curtis has a strong
line up with Senior Kristen Brown joined by Sara Sipes and Heejong
Choi. It is not often in these parts that a team gets to take on a
seasoned lacrosse player as a freshman. New to the west coast is
Freshman Alexis Opp who may find herself a key contributor on her team
right away.
Seattle Prep lost all of it's
Varsity B players to the Varsity A team this year and will be starting
from scratch, but is very excited for the challenges that lay ahead.
Mercer Island, lake by coach Craig "take it to the hole" Van Der Horn,
will look to establish themselves with speed and intensity this year.
The Raiders club team is brand new and looking to gain needed
experience this year, but are a group with a never give up attitude
who are fast looking to take on the game of lacrosse.
Lacrosse's geographical borders keep
expanding. The Varsity B league welcomes Maple Valley and Snohomish
into it's fold, as those teams are also gaining experience, they are
also building new traditions of lacrosse in the Northwest. One team
not to be ignored this year will be Lake Sammamish. Eastside Lacrosse
merged with the growing Lake Sammamish program and lacrosse alive and
well in this area as well. Look for Captains Danielle Price, Emily
Sandbo, and Katrina Beck to lead this up and coming team. The team
welcomes new talent from the successful Eastside Eagles middle school
program.
