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2016 Girls Soccer Capsules

ARBOR VIEW

League: Class 4A Northwest League

Head coach: Jay Howard, 12th season

2015 record: 21-1-1 (8-0 Northwest, first)

Returning letter winners (starters): Fifteen (nine)

Outlook: Last year’s Division I state champions return 15 letter winners and start the season nationally-ranked by USA Today.

“The majority of the team is juniors, so we are still relatively young,” Howard said. “We hope to continue to play at a high level and improve upon last year’s success.”

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BISHOP GORMAN

League: Class 4A Southwest League

Head coach: Doug Borgel, eighth season

2015 record: 15-3 (7-1 Southwest, second)

Returning letter winners (starters): Fourteen (eight)

Top athletes: F Hannah Borgel (Sr.), MF Arlie Jones (Sr.), F Tavin Hays (Sr.), D Kevyn Hillegas (So.)

Outlook: Eight starters are back from a squad that finished 7-1 in Southwest League play last year.

“The 2016 Bishop Gorman girls soccer team is one of the most talented teams in school history,” said Borgel.

Hannah Borgel (18 goals, 9 assists) and Jones (17 goals, 11 assists) return up front, and the Gaels have added Hays, an Iowa State commit.

Hillegas was the top defender in the Southwest League last year.

“The Gaels will push the tempo in an attempt to capture another state title this season,” Doug Borgel said.

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CENTENNIAL

League: Class 4A Northwest League

Head coach: Kristina Kasten, fourth season

2015 record: 12-9 (6-2 Northwest, second)

Returning letter winners (starters): Thirteen (nine)

Top athletes: F Marcella Brooks (So.), GK Addison Riddle (Jr.), D Victoria Cera (Sr.), F McKenna Stratton (Sr.)

Outlook: The Bulldogs return their top two scorers in Stratton (20 goals, 4 assists) and Brooks (11 goals, 2 assists), their top defender in Cera and goalkeeper Riddle (6 shutouts, 197 saves).

In all, nine starters are back for Centennial.

“We are trying to build on the successes from last year and hope to go even farther this year,” Kasten said. “From the solid group of seniors to help lead the team, all the way to the new, impressive freshmen, this team has a strong drive and talent. If they come in with the right mindset to each game, they will be strong.”

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CHEYENNE

League: Class 3A Sunset League

Head coach: Jeff Dameworth, second season

2015 record: 9-7-2 (7-5-2 Sunset, fourth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Five (five)

Top athletes: F Yadira Erives (Jr.), GK Shayna Thompson (So.), MF Isel Acosta (Sr.), D Mya Heard (Jr.), D Soraya Gonzales (Jr.)

Outlook: The Desert Shields bring back five starters from a team that qualified for the Division I-A playoffs last year.

Erives (17 goals, 9 assists) and Acosta (3 goals, 6 assists) should be among the leaders on offense, with Heard and Gonzales among the top players on defense in front of keeper Thompson (4 shutouts).

“We’re still a pretty young team with some returning veterans with playoff experience,” Dameworth said.

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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL

League: Class 4A Northwest League

Head coach: George Morales, second season

2015 record: 11-7-1 (3-4-1 Northwest, third)

Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (eight)

Top athletes: MF/F Haylei Hughes (Sr.), MF/F Annalise Esparza (Sr.), D Yasmin Martinez-Martinez (Sr.), D Haylee Nerio (So.), D Katie Caldwell (So.), GK Samantha Silva (Jr.)

Outlook: Esparza (17 goals, 5 assists) should be one of the top weapons on a team that returns eight starters, but must make up for some key graduation losses.

“We are hoping to build upon last year’s success,” Morales said. “There are some young players that are ready to step in and contribute immediately.

“We feel we will be competitive, in what we believe, is the toughest conference in the Valley. We are looking forward to the challenge.”

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CLARK

League: Class 4A Southwest League

Head coach: Liz Case, 11th season

2015 record: 14-8-1 (9-4-1 Sunset, third)

Returning letter winners: Fifteen

Outlook: With 15 returning letter winners, the Chargers should be in good stead to compete, even after the move to Class 4A.

“We have a lot of returning athletes this year,” Case said. “We expect to be very competitive and have a great season.”

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DESERT OASIS

League: Class 4A Southwest League

Head coach: Jared Ogden, first season

2015 record: 8-7-2 (2-6 Northwest, fourth)

Returning letter winners: Sixteen

Top athletes: GK Kelsey LeBoeuf (Jr.), MF Gabriella Nevinger (Sr.), F Miah Strellnauer (Jr.), F/MF Ashley Wood (Jr.)

Outlook: Ogden inherits a team that returns 16 letter winners and should be in good shape to contend for a postseason berth.

“We expect to build on our past success, improve on our record and progress further in the playoffs,” Ogden said.

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DESERT PINES

League: Class 3A Sunset League

Head coach: Stephanie Gonzales, second season

2015 record: 6-4-6 (6-2-6 Sunrise, fourth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (seven)

Top athletes: F Lizuly Mireles (Jr.), D Maria Guzman (Sr.), D Savanna Strott (Sr.), MF Jazmin Sandoval (So.)

Outlook: The Jaguars held off Moapa Valley by one point for the final playoff spot in the Sunrise League last year, and with seven starters back, hope to make a return to the postseason this year.

“We are striving to build a stronger program and exceed the expectations set last year by making and performing well during post-season play,” Gonzales said.

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DURANGO

League: Class 4A Southwest League

Head coach: Lara Dupree, fifth season

2015 record: 0-14-1 (0-8 Southwest, fifth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Five (five)

Top athletes: Carmen Suarez, Melissa Castillo (So.), Andrea Gondinez, Nicole Bustamante

Outlook: The Trailblazers will continue to try to show improvement.

“It will be a building year for the players to persevere throughout the season with a good attitude, intensity and skills,” Dupree said.

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FAITH LUTHERAN

League: Class 4A Northwest League

Head coach: Steve Morrill, seventh season

2015 record: 20-6-3 (10-2-2 Sunset, first)

Returning letter winners (starters): Thirteen (seven)

Top athletes: D/MF Nikki Amavisca (Sr.), F Megan Donnelly (Sr.), GK Beka Lescenski (Sr.), D Brooke Nigro (Sr.), D/MF Megan Sonerholm (Sr.)

Outlook: The Crusaders captured the state title they had long been seeking last season in Division I-A and return seven starters.

Donnelly (20 goals, 5 assists) and Sonerholm (8 goals, 3 assists) likely will lead the offense. Lescenski recorded 16 shutouts last season, including one in the state title match, and should get help on defense from Amavisca and Nigro.

“The Crusaders return a number of starters and welcome in a talented group of underclassmen, as they look to compete in Class 4A after having four years of success in Division I-A,” Morrill said. “The team hopes to play at a consistently high level and continue to have success in this division.”

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GREEN VALLEY

League: Class 4A Southeast League

Head coach: Catherine Davis, fourth season

2015 record: 17-5-2 (7-3 Southeast, third)

Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (eight)

Top athletes: F Alexis Kirson (Sr.), D Chloe Kirson (Sr.), MF Maggie Bender (Jr.), MF/D Izzy Madrid (Jr.), GK Emberly Sevilla (Jr.)

Outlook: Three of the Gators’ five losses last year came in a tough Southeast League, and with 12 letter winners back, Green Valley should be in the hunt for a league title.

Alexis Kirson (30 goals, 10 assists) is one of the top weapons in Southern Nevada and should get help from Bender (8 goals, 11 assists), Chloe Kirson (4 goals, 6 assists) and Madrid (3 goals, 2 assists) among others.

Sevilla, who did not play last season, likely will take over in net and has already committed to Boise State.

“We were fortunate enough to have a small graduating class last year, so we are looking forward to working with the same core players and building on our past sucess with several exciting new players,” Davis said.

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LEGACY

League: Class 4A Northwest League

Head coach: Brian Granata, second season

2015 record: 8-9-1 (2-6 Southwest, fourth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (nine)

Top athletes: MF Isabella Skrinjaric (So.), F Gabriella Lancaster (So.), D Diana Perea (Sr.), D Gianna Urquidez (So.)

Outlook: The Longhorns return nine starters, including the team’s top two scorers last year in sophomores Skrinjaric (19 goals, 4 assists) and Lancaster (15 goals, 3 assists).

“We were a younger team last year and will once again be young this year,” Granata said. “Hopefully the experience pays off because this is a talented group of girls that work hard.”

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MOAPA VALLEY

League: Class 3A Sunrise League

Head coach: Lisa Cornwall, sixth season

2015 record: 7-10-2 (7-5-2 Sunrise, fifth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (eight)

Top athletes: Lexi Schraft (Jr.), Bailey Bunker (Jr.), Lainey Cornwall (So.), Peyton Schraft (So.), Natalie Mills (Jr.)

Outlook: The Pirates return 11 letter winners from a squad that finished one point out of the final playoff spot and two points out of third place in the Sunrise League.

“We have a strong core of girls,” Cornwall said. “We are really excited for a successful season.”

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MOJAVE

League: Class 3A Sunset League

Head coach: Abby Forsberg, first season

2015 record: 0-18 (0-14 Sunset, eighth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Four (three)

Top athletes: D Marilyn Membrano (So.), MF/D Anahi Rosales (Jr.), MF/D Cynthia Carbajal (Sr.)

Outlook: Forsberg inherits a program that has fallen on hard times.

The Rattlers’ last win came on Oct. 23, 2013, and since then the team is 0-34-1, but with a new coach and new enthusiasm, Mojave is hoping to start to turn things around this season.

“We are looking to improve as a team over last season,” Forsberg said.

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PALO VERDE

League: Class 4A Northwest League

Head coach: Frank Messina, 10th season

2015 record: 13-5-1 (7-1 Southwest, first)

Returning letter winners (starters): Sixteen (eight)

Top athletes: F Macee Barlow (Sr.), MF Jadyn Nogues (Sr.), MF Gia Barone (Sr.)

Outlook: The Panthers seemingly always have one of the top programs in the Sunset Region, and with 16 letter winners back from a league championship team, this season should be no different.

Barlow (18 goals, 5 assists) and Nogues (17 goals, 14 assists) are a terrific one-two scoring punch, and Barone (1 goal, 10 assists) also is a big weapon.

“The team returns many veterans, and with this experience, we will try to make a return to the playoff scene in what is a very competitive league,” Messina said.

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SHADOW RIDGE

League: Class 4A Northwest League

Head coach: Kalah Williams, third season

2015 record: 10-7-1 (4-4 Southwest, third)

Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (six)

Top athletes: MF Hunter Wyett (Sr.), MF Camryn Grant (Jr.), F Samantha Villa (Jr.), MF Cheyenne Banks (Jr.)

Outlook: Villa (10 goals, 7 assists) and Banks (8 goals, 3 assists) were second and third on the team in scoring last year and return to help lead an offense that lost its leading scorer.

Additionally, the team must replace goalkeeper Jenna Gallagher (5 shutouts), who was lost to graduation.

Seven returning letter winners should make for a good foundation around which to build.

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SIERRA VISTA

League: Class 4A Southwest League

Head coach: Ross Muir, fifth season

2015 record: 7-9-2 (7-7 Sunset, fifth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Nine (five)

Top athletes: MF Calista Reyes (Sr.), MF Danielle Johnson (Sr.), D Grace Lasker (So.), D Emma Zeigler (So.)

Outlook: Reyes (18 goals, 7 assists) is one of five starters returning for the Mountain Lions, who are young. Muir said half of his team are freshmen or sophomores.

“We have a lot of youth that is learning as we go,” Muir said. “We are leaning on a small number of returners to maintain the hard-working mentality from last year.

“The new players on the team have shown great potential and dedication to go along with their youth. The experience of the returners should mix well with the new players, and we are confident to continue that success.”

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SILVERADO

League: Class 4A Southeast League

Head coach: Jenna Carter, 10th season

2015 record: 11-4-3 (6-0-2 Northeast, first)

Returning letter winners (starters): Ten (six)

Top athletes: F Victoria Bravo (Sr.), GK Mikaila Becze (Sr.), D Kristyn Lommason (So.)

Outlook: The Skyhawks return 10 letter winners and move back to the Southeast League.

Bravo (10 goals, 3 assists) figures to be one of the leaders on offense with Lommason expected to be a leader on defense in front of reliable goalkeeper Becze (6 shutouts).

“After losing eight players to graduation, the Skyhawks are looking forward to developing some young talent, while relying on veteran players to lead the way,” Carter said. “Silverado always strives to be competitive in conference play and will focus on making the postseason once again.”

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TECH

League: Class 3A Sunrise League

Head coach: Josh Jones, 16th season

2015 record: 9-5-5 (8-2-4 Sunrise, second)

Returning letter winners (starters): Twelve (nine)

Top athletes: F Melissa Lopez (Sr.), MF Adriana Guzman (Sr.), MF Leslie Santos (Sr.), MF Valerie Webb (Jr.), D Maria Galindo (Jr.), F Alysia Mestas (So.)

Outlook: Lopez (15 goals, 10 assists), Mestas (9 goals, 4 assists), Santos (4 goals, 11 assists) and Webb (5 goals, 3 assists) are among the returnees on what could be a potent offense, with Galindo (2 goals, 3 assists) among the leaders on defense.

“Tech returns a very solid group of girls who hope to continue their quest to advance in the playoffs,” Jones said. “If some of the veteran players and younger players can mesh together, they will be able to make a playoff run.”

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VALLEY

League: Class 4A Northeast League

Head coach: Jaime Alvarez, second season

2015 record: 7-4-3 (4-2-2 Northeast, second)

Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (five)

Top athletes: D Caymbrea Neal (Jr.), D Saray Cruz (Sr.), MF Jennifer Godinez (Sr.), MF Casandra Calzada (Sr.), F Georgia Gardner (So.)

Outlook: Five starters return for the Vikings, who finished second in the Northeast League last season.

“Although we lost several key elements of our team from last season, we are still positive we can achieve great things,” Alvarez said.

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VIRGIN VALLEY

League: Class 3A Sunrise League

Head coach: Bob Snell, 17th season

2015 record: 13-6-5 (11-1-2 Sunrise, first)

Returning letter winners (starters): Eleven (seven)

Top athletes: F Abbie Barnum (Sr.), D Kallie Graves (Jr.), D Kennedi Ludvigson (Sr.), MF Karla Correa (So.)

Outlook: The Bulldogs were dealt an early blow with the loss of their projected starting goalkeeper to a knee injury and a starting defender to knee surgery in the offseason.

“We have a strong nucleus returning, but have major shoes to fill at goalkeeper, center-midfielder and the backline,” Snell said.

Barnum scored 18 goals despite missing eight matches with a concussion last year. She returns to lead the offense.

“The offense has some experienced players returning with the ability to put the ball into the net,” Snell said. “The key for us this year is how well we play in front of our goalkeeper and on the defensive side of the pitch. Our backline has to step up. Our depth is thin. We can’t afford any more injuries.”

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WESTERN

League: Class 3A Sunset League

Head coach: Shoichi Sato, first season

2015 record: 5-12-1 (4-10 Sunset, seventh)

Returning letter winners (starters): Six (six)

Top athletes: MF Ellyson Reynada (Sr.), D Vanessa Margarito (Sr.), MF Katherine Realegeno (Sr.), MF Adelina Jasso (Sr.), MF Kirsten Molina (Sr.), GK Alejandra Alvarez (Sr.)

Outlook: Sato inherits a team that is hungry for success.

Inconsistency plagued the Warriors last season, but with six starters back, the team has higher hopes for this year. Reynada (22 goals, 6 assists) is the team’s most prolific scorer, but should also get help from Margarito (6 goals, 2 assists) and Realegeno (5 goals, 3 assists) as the Warriors hope to qualify for postseason play for the first time since the winter 2009-10 season.

“With six returning senior starters, Western will be looking to make the playoffs,” Sato said.

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