The reinforcements are here.
A big turnout this fall helps Sequim High’s girls soccer program reestablish a junior varsity team for the first time in several seasons as the Wolves eye a return to the state tournament under new coach Haley Sue Freeman.
“It’s an amazing group of girls,” she said. “We have a deep talent pool on varsity and JV teams.
“I’m super excited to have our JV team back; that’s huge for us.”
In 2023, Sequim went 11-3 in league play and 2-1 at the district tourney before falling to eventual 2A champ Ridgefield in the state tourney opener.
Since then, SHS lost a quartet of key starters to graduation, including all-time program scoring champ Taryn Johnson — now with the Minnesota State University Mavericks — and ace midfielder Jennyfer Gomez. Both were all-Olympic first-teamers who combined for 42 goals in 2023.
The Wolves also lost defenders Kaia Lestage and Mikiah Winter from a stout defense that produced a four-game shutout last fall.
The Wolves, however see a number of strong returning players, including all-Olympic second-teamers Raimey Brewer, Olive Bridge and Libby Turella, plus veterans Kiley Winter and Ivy Barrett.
Anchoring the defense is senior goalkeeper Kalli Grove, who racked up six shutouts in 2023 and is closing in on the program record. She averages less than a goal per game allowed in 14 regular season contests.
Freeman said she was a bit nervous stepping into the Wolves’ new head coach role.
New Sequim High girls soccer coach Haley Sue Freeman talks with her players in a preseason practice on Sept. 3. The assignment is the first head coach experience for Freeman, who previously was an assistant at Eatonville.
“The seniors … have had success in the past [and] getting a new coach your senior year isn’t always easy,” she said. So she worked with the returning players to find out what they like and didn’t like in seasons past, and then related what she could bring to the table.
In the offseason and preseason practices, that means plenty of hard work. Leading up to the 2024 fall campaign she’s had the Wolves hitting the weight room, getting scrimmages against Port Angeles and a women’s adult league squad, and plenty of cardio.
“I’m pushing them hard … to do things thevy’ve never done,” Freeman said.
Freeman, a first-time head coach, succeeds Ken Garling, who led SHS to a 33-18 record in three seasons (2021-23), three district appearances and a state berth.
Freeman is backed by a pair of Sequim High graduates-turned-assistants — Vianey Cadenas and Kelsey Chapman (Ghere) _ to help oversee the varsity team and a 14-player JV squad.
“Both are awesome; I’m super grateful for them,” Freeman said of the SHS grads.
A Washington stater her whole life, Freeman grew up in the Auburn area. A soccer fanatic since age 3, she excelled at Auburn High and Green River Community College. She worked as an assistant coach with Eatonville, and plays soccer with her brothers at least once a week.
“I just love soccer,” she said.
A successful first season, she said, won’t be measured totally by how many wins the Wolves rack up.
“I want to make a playoff run, but more important than that, I want the girls to look back at the end of the season and be proud of themselves,” she said, and that the girls have a place where they can be themselves.
After a moment, Freeman added, “And get some wins.”
Sequim was scheduled to open the season in a non-league home game against 1A Vashon on Sept. 10; results were not available at press time.
The Wolves are at Kingston on Sept. 12 and are at North Mason on Sept. 17 before hosting Bainbridge — now classified a 2A school after years in the 3A ranks — on Sept. 19.
Fall sports preview: SHS girls soccer
Head coach: Haley Sue Freeman (first year)
2023 record: 11-3 in Olympic League, 2-1 at districts, 0-1 at state 2A tourney; 13-5 overall
Key returning players: Ivy Barrett (D, sr.), Raimey Brewer (F, sr.), Olive Bridge (M, so.), Amara Gonzalez (D, sr.), Kalli Grove (GK, sr.), Libby Turella (D, sr.), Hailey Wagner (D, jr.), Kiley Winter (M, jr.), Sasha Yada (F, so.)
Key newcomers: Bella Rich (F, so.), Harper Moore (D/GK, so.), Ruby Moxley-Horgan (M, fr.), Kaiya Robinson (F, fr.), Aliyah Siemon (D, fr.), Laila Sundin (F, jr.)
Season schedule: Sept. 10 vs. Vashon; Sept. 12 at Kingston; Sept. 17 at North Mason; Sept. 19 vs. Bainbridge; Sept. 24 at Olympic; Sept. 26 vs. Port Angeles; Oct. 1 vs. North Kitsap; Oct. 3 at Bremerton; Oct. 8 vs. Kingston; Oct. 10 vs. North Mason; Oct. 15 at Bainbridge; Oct. 17 vs. Olympic; Oct. 22 at Port Angeles* Oct. 24 at North Kitsap; Oct. 29 vs. Bremerton.
* — game held at Peninsula College
