OVERLAKE GIRLS’ SOCCER AT A GLANCE

• Head Coach: Sally Goodspeed, 7th season

• Last Year: 10-3-1, 2nd place Emerald City League, 14-7-1 overall

• 2009 turnout numbers: 31

KEY RETURNERS

• Sr. Ceci Votta (GK): Great hands, solid decision-maker in goal. Large part of team’s 10 shutouts last season.

• Sr. Maya Marder (MF): Shows great leadership, energy and has outstanding field vision.

• Sr. Allison Risa (MF): Excellent touch with the ball. Leading scorer on last year’s team has “speed and passion” for the game, according to Goodspeed.

• Sr. Courtney Phillips (DEF): Defensive leader whose calm presence helps her make smart decisions.

Sr. Susannah Kelly (F): Speedy, hard-working front runner. Puts tenacious pressure on opponent’s defense, led team in scoring as a freshman and sophomore.

TOP NEWCOMERS

• Fr. Adrianna Gildner (MF): Speedy winger has the ability to win the ball consistently in heads-up battles.

• Fr. Tess Edenholm (MF): Solid set of soccer skills, great vision and decision making.

• Fr. Quinn Phillips (MF): Courtney’s younger sister is a versatile, energetic player eager to learn.

BIG GAME

• Thursday, Oct. 22 vs. Seattle Academy, 3:30 p.m.: The Owls’ second-to-last regular-season contest of the year may be a big one as teams jockey for prime seeding in the upcoming Emerald City League tournament. An upset of the defending state champions here may be what Overlake needs to earn the valuable No. 1 seed.

QUOTABLE

“We need to come together as a team, because last year we had a slow start with that. We need to pick that up right from the beginning with our first game.” — Goalkeeper Ceci Votta

REDMOND HIGH

• Head Coach: Patrick Scheibe, 14 season

• Last Year: 3-3-4 4A Kingco (6th place), 5-5-7 overall

• 2009 turnout numbers: 21

KEY RETURNERS

• Sr. Morgan Alfrejd (D): Team leader and co-captain will anchor the Mustang defense.

• Sr. Jordan Scheibe (M): Speedy, energetic coach’s daughter will start at midfield.

• Sr. Katie Woodman (F): Sure-footed, consistent goal-scorer up front will get good looks this year. Tied for team lead in assists last season.

• Jr. Rachel Herron (M/F): Led the team with seven goals scored last year, very fast, always a presence and threat to score.

TOP NEWCOMERS

• So. Meghan Cooley (M), Avery Linn (M/F), Elizabeth Zitnik (M): Trio of sophomore midfielders will look to make an impact. With hard work and dedication, they have potential to be future stars in the Mustangs soccer program.

BIG GAME

• Thursday, Oct. 22 vs. Skyline, 7:30 p.m.: The Spartans of the Sammamish Plateau are the defending 4A state champions and return practically their entire team including star senior goalkeeper Jill Stika, who only allowed one goal after September last season. This game’s outcome may be vitally important if the Mustangs are still in the hunt for a playoff berth.

QUOTABLE

“I think we will (be) strong, more experienced returners with a very good infusion of young, hungry players. We return a number of quality defenders with experience, and hope to again compete for a playoff spot in the competitive 4A Kingco conference.” — Pat Scheibe, Redmond girls soccer head coach

THE BEAR CREEK SCHOOL

• Head Coach: Kailee Blankenship, 7th season

• Last Year: 5-2-1, 2nd Sea-Tac 2B League, 8-7-1 overall

• 2009 turnout numbers: 21

KEY RETURNERS

• Jr. Ashley Pittman (SW): Team captain and sweeper is stronger and more confident than last year.

• Jr. Catherine Pomeroy (M/D): One of three second-team all-league selections last year, she is versatile and a defensive leader.

• Jr. Jenny Price (M/D): Second-team all-leaguer is a versatile player who leads by example.

• So. Morgan Rial (M): Second-team all-league honoree led the team in goals last season.

TOP NEWCOMER

• So. Danielle Isbell (M): Has strong background in club soccer (Crossfire Premier) and will be a solid anchor to the Grizzly midfield.

BIG GAME

• Friday, Sept. 25 vs. Evergreen Lutheran, 4 p.m.: Evergreen Lutheran lost a shootout heartbreaker to LaSalle in the 2B state championships last season, 1-0. After losing Beth Graham and star goalie Molly Miller, the Grizzlies will need to come together in a big way to keep up with the Eagles.

QUOTABLE

“Our strong core of year-round players should help carry the team through the season. It’s nice to have a big roster with 21 girls in case of injury and sickness.” — Kailee Blankenship, Bear Creek girls soccer head coach

BOYS SOCCER

THE OVERLAKE SCHOOL

• Head Coach: Bob Bristol, 15th season

• Last Year: 11-3-0, 2nd place Emerald City League; 14-5-0 overall

• 2009 turnout numbers: 55

KEY RETURNERS

• Sr. Devon Schmidt (MF): All-leaguer has excellent ball-handling skills and field vision.

• Sr. Trevor Partington (D/MF): All-league returner, strong defender and great passer.

• Sr. Sky Tweedie-Yates (MF): All-league returner, tireless player and tough on both offense and defense.

• So. Joe Dolack (D): Emerald City League’s Rookie of the Year is very quick on defense but can also play upfield.

TOP NEWCOMERS

• So. Rohan Kumar (MF): Lightning-fast kid has great ball skills, will contribute from the start.

• Sr. Chap Grubb (GK): Goalie for state-champion Owls lacrosse team is making a return to the pitch after a year off. Very strong technically.

BIG GAME

• Thursday, Sept. 17 vs. Seattle Academy: The Owls are looking to exact some revenge against the Cardinals, who reeled off a seven-match win streak to end the regular season last year and edge Overlake by one point to earn the top seed for the Emerald City League tournament.

QUOTABLE

“We are returning 15 players, and eight starters, from last year’s team which reached the state quarterfinals in the spring. We will be an athletic team with skillful younger players joining some very experienced seniors. Should be very competitive in the league. We will be much deeper than in years past.” — Bob Bristol, Overlake boys soccer head coach

THE BEAR CREEK SCHOOL

• Head Coach: Chad Pohlman, 7th season

• Last Year: 9-2-1, 2nd place Sea-Tac 2B League; 13-4-1 overall

• 2009 turnout numbers: 32

KEY RETURNERS

• Jr. Jamie Clough (GK): Extremely talented goalie will go for Bear Creek’s career shutout record this season as a junior.

• Sr. Kyle Blankenbeckler (D): Excellent all-around athlete, a leader on defense.

• Srs. Dillon Camp, Nick Cho (M): Pair of experienced midfielders who can move the ball well and provide scoring punch.

BIG GAME

• Thursday, Sept. 17 and Thursday, Oct. 22 vs. Tacoma Baptist, 4 p.m.: The Crusaders ran through the field at state to win the 1B/2B boys soccer title last season. The young Grizzlies meet up with Tacoma Baptist twice during the regular season and to win one against the defending state champions would be a big confidence booster.

QUOTABLE

“We have lost key contributers from the 2008 season and are looking to reload with younger players. We will play a different style than in years past and are looking forward to a successful year.” — Chad Pohlman, Bear Creek Athletic Director and boys soccer head coach