Waplinger, Salo earn honors for a strong season with BHS girls soccer.
With a new coach in Anh Tran taking over and several seniors coming back, the Bainbridge girls soccer team were ready to make some noise in the 2006 season.
They won five of their first six games, but injuries were their downfall, as they lost several key players for numerous games.
No one was spared, including top scorer Zena Hemmen and Maureen Callahan who were lost for the season to a torn ACL and a broken collarbone, respectably.
The team lost four of their last five games, including a first round loss to state finalist Seattle Prep in the Metro League tournament.
For their efforts, six Spartans made the All–Metro Mountain Division team.
Hannah Oshin was a second–team selection, while Melissa Hoshizaki, Lindsey Montoya and Maddie Ginder were honorable mentions.
Two Spartans also made this year’s Kitsap News Group All–Kitsap team, as voted on by the sportswriters from the Bainbridge Review, the North Kitsap Herald, the Central Kitsap Reporter, the Bremerton Patriot and the Port Orchard Independent.
The starters
Forward – Shannon White, Olympic – The Trojan senior co–captain went out with a bang for the 2006 Olympic League champions, scoring 21 goals to lead the Trojans’ offensive explosion. She was also more than adequate in helping out the team, shifting to mid when needed and dishing out five assists. White finished her career with 41 goals across the past three seasons.
Forward – Jacki Hill, Bremerton – Hill was the Knights leading goal scorer on a squad that put 43 goals in the net this year. Hill possesses blazing speed and is arguably the fastest player in the Olympic League.
Midfielder – Naomie Abad, Bremerton – Abad’s fancy footwork was a major reason why the Bremerton Knights soccer squad set the school record for victories. She was essentially the quarterback of the offense, setting up forwards Sarah Gross and Jacki Hill with picture-perfect passes all season long. Abad was the clear cut leader of the Knights in 2006.
Midfielder – Liz Curry, Olympic –Curry showed why she was the team’s most valuable player on the pitch this season, scoring 10 goals to help fuel the Olympic League champion Trojans. But her real assets was in how much better she made her teammates, evidenced by her team–leading 13 assists. Just a junior, Curry will have another season to help continue the Trojans’ turnaround.
Midfielder – Stephanie Skelly, North Kitsap – Skelly was in large part the engine of the Viking team that oiled the offensive transition from the backfield to the front. She also took most of NK’s opponent’s attention with nimble footwork and ample field vision, contributing nine goals and two assists on the season.
Midfielder – Kim Kummer, Central Kitsap – Coming through in the clutch on numerous occasions, Kummer was the leader of a strong CK senior class. While she stood out with a team–high nine goals with three assists, CK’s field general will best be remembered for showing up right before CK’s shootout playoff battle with Wilson due to the ACT, only to drill her shot into the back of the net.
Defender – Sarah Milne, South Kitsap – Tenacious defender that was part of a team that posted nine shutouts and allowed just 14 goals all year in advancing to the West Central District Tournament. Just a junior, the very quick and very tough Milne was a disruption to opposing offenses all year long.
Defender – Jennifer Smalley, Bremerton – Aggressive play always is a key to success in soccer, especially on the defensive side of the field. Smalley was a vital cog in a defense that only allowed 15 goals in 2006.
Defender – Candyce Eaton, North Kitsap – Making the switch from her natural forward position to the very back line of the defense, Eaton was an instrumental and pivotal piece of consistent Viking protection. For her efforts, including just one goal on the season, Eaton was named team MVP.
Defender – Kaliegh Westermann, South Kitsap – Her size and strength are well known around the Narrows League as is her aggressive nature. The junior scored twice as a defender and was the Wolves main stopper throughout the year, helping a defense that allowed just 14 goals in 16 games.
Goalkeeper – Pepper Fanua, Olympic – The most athletic of Kitsap County’s many talented goalies, Fanua used her strength and versatility to shut down opponents during Olympic’s run to the league title. While the fact she allowed just eight goals all season is impressive, she allowed only four during Oly’s 14–0 league run. As if that wasn’t enough, she also racked up 10 shutouts for the Trojans as just a sophomore.
Coach – Scott Sodorff, South Kitsap – Sodorff found the right balance between veteran players and newbies to finish third in the newly revamped Narrows League and just a game short of the state playoffs.
Also stellar
Ashley Waplinger, Bainbridge – The junior switched from playing as a defender last year to a forward/midfield this year, but didn’t lose a step, scoring one goal and leading the team in assists with five. She was named to the All–Metro Mountain Division first team.
Caitlyn Salo, Bainbridge – Already a star on the basketball court, the senior transferred her talent ably to the soccer field as a forward and racked up a team-leading 10 goals for the Spartans. She was named to the All–Metro Mountain Division second team.
CJ Balstad, South Kitsap – Great in the net, Balstad recorded nine shutouts and allowed just 14 goals all year. Saving her best for last, she stonewalled five one–on–one breakaways in a 0–0 tie with Bellarmine. In her two years in goal for South Kitsap, the Wolves went 21–7–7.
Luci Bocklie, Bremerton – Bocklie was a rookie in the goal box when the season started by year’s end she was a seasoned veteran having allowed only 15 goals.
Kate Boyd, Central Kitsap – The final part of CK’s trio of senior co–captains, Boyd’s leadership and defensive abilities earned her a nod over many of her equally–capable teammates. Versatility was also a strength of Boyd’s as she scored once and had an assist in limited time at midfielder.
Siara Byers, North Kitsap – Byers earned her spot in the North Kitsap front field and produced six goals and three assists on the season.
Madeline Johnson, King’s West – The strength of the Warriors squad this year was its defense, and Johnson anchored that corps.
Sarah Dawson, Klahowya – Dawson was also a shut–down defender for the Eagles, helping keep much larger schools at bay en route to the Olympic League’s 2A crown. A senior, the Eagles will miss Dawson’s defense prowess next season.
Sarah Gross, Bremerton – Gross finished her senior campaign with six goals and 10 assists for the Knights.
Rachel Haas, Olympic – Haas shined this season with six goals and nine assists for the Trojans. A fierce competitor, Haas often opened holes for her teammates through her physical presence as well as her tactical ability.
Brandi Hamre, Central Kitsap – Hamre had to battle through an injury–riddle season but still finished with five goals and an assist. Whenever she was on the pitch, the senior co–captain created opportunities for her Cougar teammates simply by drawing the attention of opponents’ defenses.
Jennie Hoogestraat, Olympic – One of just two seniors for Olympic, Hoogestraat was also a co–captain and catalyst in the Trojans’ high–octane offense. Despite a leg injury that sidelined her before Oly’s postseason run, Hoogestraat scored six goals and dished out four assists.
Brenna Lander, North Kitsap – The senior was again the energizer for North as she scored five goals and doled out nine assists.
Kelsey Penn, South Kitsap – The ultimate team player, Penn took a diminished scoring role her senior year for the betterment of the team and still ended up with six goals and three assists.
Rachel Smith, King’s West – Smith put eight goals in the net to lead the Warriors in scoring in 2006.
Anna Stewart, Klahowya – A co-captain, she was a catalyst from the defensive backfield for the Eagles, scoring three goals and adding two assists while shutting down opponents.
