With Redmond High’s girls soccer motto, the Mustangs will clutch the most of whatever situation they’re placed in this season.
“You win or you learn,” said senior Ellen Hilbun, an outside and center back who was an all-league honorable mention last year. While playing in 4A KingCo in 2015, the Mustangs tied their final regular-season match and missed the playoffs by one point. It was tough for Redmond to end its season sooner than expected, Hilbun added, but that didn’t stop the Mustangs from gearing up for a successful campaign this year.
This year — with Redmond playing in 3A KingCo — the squad wants to nab the league title and qualify for state. Those goals are within the Mustangs’ grasp, said Hilbun, one of three senior captains.
“We have a lot of great talent on the team. We have really good chemistry so far together and we’re looking at this stage a lot better than we were last year, so we feel really prepared,” she said prior to Redmond’s 0-0 season-opening nonleague draw with Eastlake on Tuesday night.
Vanessa Chung, a senior captain and outside back, reaches for the team motto when discussing its upcoming journey.
“We’ve hit setbacks in the past, but just gotta keep working and hopefully our hard work will pay off,” said Chung, whose squad finished 2-4-2 in league and 5-5-4 overall last year. “Even if you lose, there’s always something to take away from that loss and something that you can improve upon, always come back stronger.”
Second-year coach Stacy Masters echoes Hilbun’s sentiments about chemistry and adds family into the mix when discussing her squad.
“I think that is what we’re looking to really separate us this year from the rest. I think it’s a really good cohesive unit and they really support one another,” Masters said.
Starting from back to front, Redmond is led by two goalkeepers in junior Mackenzie Ault and sophomore Jasmine Johnson; defenders Hilbun, Chung, senior captain Monet Marshall and junior Cameron Kieneker; junior Nicki Chan in midfield; and junior forward Emma Raffman and senior forwards Tessa Fujisaki and Jensen Bell, a speedy trio that is hungry to score, Masters said.
Marshall has committed to play for Gordon College, a Div. III school in Wenham, Mass., and Kieneker has committed to play Div. I ball for Eastern Washington University in Cheney.
Marshall, who will be “the spine” of the defense at center back, feels the Mustangs are strong at all facets of the game and will be tough competition for opponents. Everyone will play a crucial role for the team and push the girls toward their goals.
“It’s a great honor to be able to play for Redmond High School and to be able to represent varsity soccer here,” Marshall said. “(The 3A teams) don’t know right now what we’re bringing to the table and we’re excited to surprise them.”
Chung added: “I think we keep getting better and better, and I just love all my teammates and getting to have fun with them and play with them on the field.”
Photos: Below, Redmond High’s Andrea Dang (4) controls the ball against Eastlake High while teammate Taylor Pisan (17) watches from side left. Bottom, Redmond’s Emma Raffman receives a pass against Eastlake. Andy Nystrom, Redmond Reporter
