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60 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, September 20, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 7, 2004 SOC teams hit the ground running By ROB McCALLUM Mail Tribune In Major League Baseball, players get back into the swing of things in spring training. NBA players play pickup games in their exhibition season. Rookie football players get a shot in the NFL’s preseason. But in Southern Oregon Conference girls soccer, they have nothing. The 2004 season begins today in earnest with postseason implications already on the line. Gone are nonleague games and in their place, a 14-game, round-robin schedule, where teams face each other twice in a season, and some coaches aren’t happy about it. "It sets our program back 10 years," North Medford coach Dick Darcy says. "We need to have outside competition. When we get to the playoffs it will hurt us because we’re not used to the style of play up north." The format change was also disappointing to South Medford coach Cindy Jolly, who points to a loss to eventual state champion Sheldon as a major learning experience for her team. Advertisement "You gain a lot of experience when you iron the bugs out in a preseason game," says Jolly. "You can learn so much from playing outside teams." For some teams in the SOC, the there-and-away schedule means a greater chance for upsets. "Now, you get two chances against the big teams," Grants Pass coach Hector Cruz says. "You play a team once, then you get to make adjustments. There are going to be some upsets. We just hope we’ll be on the winning end of them." South Medford will be the team hoping to avoid upsets this season, as SOC coaches have tabbed the defending champions the preseason favorite. With nine lettermen returning from a team that went 7-0 in the conference, the Panthers are the legitimate team to beat. Forward Chelsie O’Neill was a freshman phenom last season, scoring six goals. She helps ease the loss of Amber Stevens, the SOC’s top scorer in 2003. "You couldn’t ask for more," says Jolly. "I think she’s going to be hard to stop because she’s got a lot of support behind her." Part of that support system includes a loaded midfield led by unanimous first-team all-SOC selection Kelsey Corbin. Along with seniors Kaylyn Knutson and Jill Walport on the outside, and Jessica James in the middle with Corbin, the group is experienced and cohesive. The defense is where the Panthers will need to rebuild. In addition to graduating three starting fullbacks, top sub Sammy Matthews was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Bethany Stousland takes over as goalkeeper. "It will be hard to replace them," Jolly says. "We will see who works well and try to meld everything together. The games will tell us a lot." NORTH MEDFORD — Last season, the Black Tornado was picked to win the SOC but finished third, the lowest finish in Dick Darcy’s nine years as head coach. North hopes to return to the top spot this season with a loaded defense and two of the conference’s top returning scorers. Senior Caitlin Seeley was the conference’s top goalie last season, allowing fewer than 10 goals with six shutouts. In front of her, all-SOC picks Jennifer Standifer and Aleisha Stormberg are formidable fullbacks. "We should be very good defensively," Darcy says. "We’ve got some experience, and they all have a good work ethic." First-team all-SOC selection Amber Wihtol (seven goals in 2003) anchors a midfield that Darcy calls "the best in the conference." North will have to rebuild at forward, where the Vilarino sisters, Nicole and Kelly, and Kim Tiger all depart. "We have some surprises up front, " Darcy says. "We’ll have four real quality forwards who are good workers and good shots." A 3-2 loss to Grants Pass and a 3-1 loss to cross-town rival South Medford last season are fresh in the minds of North’s players. "Our goal is to win the SOC and be undefeated," Darcy says. "We’re strong all over the field and that should give us a good run at it." ROSEBURG — With the most returning starters of any team in the league and all of its scorers coming back, Roseburg looks to be the most improved team. Ten starters return from a team that just missed the playoffs. A pair of MVP-caliber players lead the Indians. Senior forward Carli Godard was a unanimous first-team all-SOC selection last fall after leading Roseburg with 10 goals. Senior defender Val Groshong is the Indians’ stopper and was a first-teamer as well. "Both of them played extensively in the off-season, in clubs and tournaments," Bryce Martin says. "They are very prepared for their senior seasons." Roseburg’s "X" factor could be sophomore Julie Piper, who was the team’s second-leading scorer in an injury-shortened season. Junior midfielder Kaitlin Estabrook received SOC honorable mention last season. CRATER — Flexibility and balance will be the Comets’ approach in 2004, a stark contrast to the past. The two-headed monster of Sarah LaFontaine and Kasidy Reina combined for a whopping 29 goals last season, but both are gone. "Losing Sarah and Kasidy, that’s big," Crater coach Terry Fretz says. "There are a lot of people who have been chomping at the bit to prove themselves." Senior Courtney Ratty epitomizes Crater’s flexibility, as Fretz says she can play any position on the field. Junior Courtney Stoner leads the Comet defense, roaming from midfielder to fullback. Sophomore Andy Bagdan was an accomplished keeper last season, but may move to the midfield. "It will be hard to defend us because our goals will come from a variety of players instead of one or two," Fretz says. "This year’s team is faster than last year’s, so we’ve got a couple of different combos ." Look for junior Janelle Stoner, a second-team all-SOC pick at midfield, to lead the Comets in scoring after switching to forward. GRANTS PASS — The Cavers lost 11 players to graduation from a 10-1-1 team that was runner-up in the SOC. "We are going to have a rebuilding year," says GP’s Hector Cruz, the SOC coach of the year. "We lost power and strength, but we’re tactically intact. We can still go out and play a competitive game." The Cavers’ two returning starters are good ones. Midfielder Megan Franko scored nine goals last season en route to a spot on the SOC’s first team. Katelyn VanBrunt anchored Grants Pass’ defense and is one of three seniors. "The earlier this new team comes together and plays as a team, we will have success," Cruz says. "If we can do that, then I think we will have a decent season." ASHLAND — The sophomore slump hit the Grizzlies last season. After their freshmen-dominated team overachieved in 2002, Ashland dropped off to a 4-8-1 record last season. "Last year, we hit a bit of a lull," third-year coach Eric Wolff says. "There was some overconfidence because they had made it as freshmen. They really learned their lesson last year, and we’re practicing harder and we’re much more focused." Ashland’s strong junior class includes honorable mention all-SOC pick Tess Golling, top returning scorer Katie Cowger and third-year starters Rissa Barton, Hannah Sohl, Maddy Stokes and Jamie Roupp. Senior midfielders Laura Newton and Sylvia VanAusdal provide leadership. KLAMATH UNION — Dick Ledgerwood takes over coaching duties at Klamath Union after 11 years and eight state playoff berths under Gerrin DeGroot. Nearly all the players from the 2002 co-SOC championship team are gone, including last season’s leading scorer, Jenna Fay. Senior defender Cassondra McDonnell was an honorable mention all-SOC pick last season, while juniors Chelsea Lundy and Ellie Casey are the top returning scorers. EAGLE POINT — Longtime youth soccer coach Paul Munyon takes over a program that has won only one SOC contest over the past four seasons. Munyon hopes to turn things around in Eagle Point with seven returning starters. "I want to bring interest in playing soccer up here," Munyon says. "My hope is that we can create some success, get more involvement and turn the program around." The Eagles return second-team all-SOC selections Ashley Jacobson at forward and Andrea Wilkinson at midfielder. Other returning starters are midfielders Lindsey Jolliffe, Kayla Hess and Hayley Ward and fullbacks Melissa Bronkhorst and Carolyn Rotar. Reach reporter Rob McCallum at 776-4480 Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities