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Photo by JIM CRAVEN The benefits of advanced fitness were evident as Eagle Point's Stephanie Lucas, the conference MVP, maneuvered on the soccer field. There was no stopping MVP Lucas By DON HUNT Name the sport and Stephanie Lucas has probably tried it at least a time or two. The Eagle Point High junior has narrowed the list to soccer, basketball, track and karate in recent years, and just within the past few months, she has zeroed in on soccer as her ticket to college. Lucas attended weeklong soccer camps at the University of Portland and the University of Oregon last summer to expand and polish her skills. The upshot was a quicker, more diversified, more confident player that took the Southern Oregon Conference by storm this fall. Lucas thumped in an eye-catching 31 goals in leading Eagle Point to a 6-8 record, and she was named most valuable player in the SOC. "It's really exciting to get this award because this is a tough league with a lot of great players," Lucas said. "Being a junior, I really didn't think I had a shot at it. It's very special knowing the coaches around the league think so highly of you." Lucas was the lone Eagle Point player to make the first team. North Medford and South Medford, which tied for the SOC championship, landed four and three players on the first team, respectively. Forward Tenille Bennett, midfielders Heather Johnson and Katie Longan and defender Jamie MacLauchlan made the grade for the Black Tornado, while midfielders Cassie Keesee and Darcy Maukonen and defender Marissa Gillingham gained first-team status for South Medford. Rounding out the first team were Crater goalie Kate Jenkins, Crater defender Trisha Tewes, Klamath Union defender Betsy Hackett and Roseburg forward Rachel Stribling. First-year South Medford coach Leslie Lang was selected coach of the year. Opponents learned quickly this fall that Lucas was a much tougher player to contain than a year ago. Her once-dormant left foot began to connect on the goal, meaning defenders could no longer gang up on her powerful right leg. And her repertoire of one-on-one moves was a sight to behold, enabling her to break free for many more scoring opportunities than her first two seasons at Eagle Point. "I learned how to use my speed to my advantage when I went to those camps last summer," Lucas said. "I learned how to control the ball a lot better with both feet, and I learned how to get shots off in traffic." Lucas has also gotten stronger. She has grown two inches and gained 15 pounds since last season, partly due to maturation and partly due to weight training. Lucas has been taking an advanced fitness class this fall in which the participants run at least three miles each day and then do vigorous weight training. The run includes a couple of trips up the football stadium steps. "My strength and endurance have gotten so much better," says Lucas, who stands 5-foot-6 and weighs 125 pounds. "It's a tough class and it goes for an hour and a half, but I like it." Little wonder. Lucas, who is the daughter of former Eagle Point High wrestling coach Chris Lucas and a cousin of Eagle Point star runner John Lucas, likes just about anything that involves activity and competition. She was on a soccer field in kindergarten, on a basketball court by the first grade and in karate about a year after that. She earned her black belt the summer before she went into high school. Lucas is presently playing basketball, where she is expected to take over at point guard for the graduated Becky Gregory. By this time next year, Lucas, who carries a 3.6 grade-point average, will likely have soccer scholarship offers pouring in. She has already gotten letters from Portland, Oregon, Oregon State, Michigan, Penn State, Georgia and Hawaii. Just where she ends up is anyone's guess. She has plenty of time to kick around such a decision. First Team DEFENDERS Player, School ..................................................... Yr . Marissa Gillingham, South Medford ................ Jr. Betsy Hackett, Klamath Union ........................ Sr. Jamie MacLauchlan, North Medford ................ Jr. Dylan St. Clair-Bates, Ashland ........................ Jr. Trisha Tewes, Crater ........................................... Sr. MIDFIELDERS Heather Johnson, North Medford ...................... Jr. Cassie Keesee, South Medford ...................... Sr. Katie Longan, North Medford ............................. Jr. Darcy Maukonen, South Medford ..................... Sr. FORWARDS Tennille Bennett, North Medford ....................... Jr. Stephanie Lucas, Eagle Point ......................... Jr. Jenni Rosenberg, Ashland ................................. Sr. Rachel Stribling, Roseburg ............................... So. GOALKEEPER Kate Jenkins, Crater ............................................. Sr. Second Team DEFENDERS Player, School ...................................................... Yr . Sarah Baker, Crater ............................................... Sr. Bethanie Bryant, North Medford .......................... Jr. Shasta Hartman, Roseburg ................................. Jr. Emily Perttu, South Medford ............................... So. MIDFIELDERS Dana Buchanan, Klamath Union .......................... Sr. Morgan Downie, Roseburg ............................Fr. Katie Grace, North Medford ......................... .. Jr. Jenny Thompson, Grants Pass ........................... So. Alina Torrey, Crater ......................... ................ Sr. FORWARDS Sam Gilbert, Klamath Union ................................ So. Rachel Grubbs, Ashland ...................... .......... Jr. Irish Noack, South Medford .................... ........ Sr. Stacey Schmelzer, Crater ................ ................ Fr. GOALKEEPER Jenni Spears, Ashland ...............................So. Honorable Mention Tiffany Cherry, Eagle Point, defender, So.; Lu Crenshaw, North Medford, forward, Sr.; Sarah Davison, Klamath Union, midfielder, So.; Staci Feetham, Grants Pass, defender, Fr.; Tiffany Mason, South Medford, forward, Jr.; Michelle Morton, Eagle Point, defender, So.; Kathleen Narus, South Medford, defender, So.; Hawley Puett, North Medford, goalkeeper, Jr.; Necia Wilkinson, Eagle Point, midfielder, Jr. PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Stephanie Lucas, Eagle Point. COACH OF THE YEAR -- Leslie Lang, South Medford. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford,