SHS girls soccer 2017 season preview
Head coach: Derek Vandervelde (third year); Assistants: Antonio Frutos, Javier Gomez, Keith McMinn, Erin Vig
2017 record: 6-6 in the Olympic League (fifth), 9-7 overall
Returners: Jessica Dietzman (jr.), Hope Glasser (jr.), Gabby Happe (jr.), Olivia Hare (so.), Yana Hoesel (sr.), Natalya James (so.), Eden Johnson (jr.), Mary McAleer (so.), Kristina Mingoy (jr.), Nathalie Torres (sr.), Daisy Ryan (jr.), Abby Shroeder (so.), Alexis Smith (jr.)
Newcomers: Lauryn Cameron (sr.), Autumn Hilliard (jr.), Clair Payne (sr.), Shayli Shuman (jr.), Hannah Wagner (fr.)
An experienced pack of Wolves returns under third-year girls soccer coach Derek Vandervelde.
“We have 14 players returning that all saw varsity time,” Vandervelde said.
That includes junior forwards Jessica Dietzman, Hope Glasser and senior midfielder Nathalie Torres.
Deitzman scored seven goals while Glasser added three as sophomores in 2017.
Defenders Yana Hoesel, Gabby Happe, Kristina Mingoy and Mary McAleer also saw extensive playing time in 2017.
And senior Claire Payne returns after suffering a torn ACL in her knee last season.
“With our defense, the team’s strengths lie there and in possessing the ball and really working on the attack this year,” Vandervelde said.
“Some teams like to play the long ball over the top and chase the ball down offensively, but that’s not really what I have in mind,” he said. “I’d like to see the distribution come from all over the field and be able to build up the play but take opportunities offensively when the space exists.”
Another Claire, graduated goalkeeper Claire Henninger, is a freshman on the Western Washington University women’s soccer team. Henniger was the 2016 All-Peninsula Girls Soccer MVP and a staple of All-Olympic League teams in recent seasons, earning back-to-back-to-back first team honors in her final three prep seasons.
Sophomore Olivia Hare steps into the position full time this fall.
“Olivia did fill in and play a few games at keeper last year,” Vandervelde said.
“She has a lot of talent and I’m really confident in Olivia’s ability to be a great keeper and develop into being a quality keeper.”
Sequim went .500 in Olympic League play (6-6) and missed out on a second-consecutive district playoff berth by one win last season. The Wolves played top teams close, earning a victory against North Kitsap and losing one-goal games to Port Angeles (twice) and NK, a pair of teams that earned wins at state.
Getting back to the postseason is a team goal, according to Vandervelde.
“I’m looking at reaching .500 in league again,” he said. “I would love to get into the top four, make districts and see what happens.”
Opening with a draw
The Wolves opened their 2018 season with a 1-1 draw at Lakewood on Aug. 31 and were scheduled to play at Klahowya on Sept. 4; details of the matches were not available at press time.
Sequim opens Olympic League play at home on Sept. 8 against rival Port Angeles; game time for the Saturday special is 12:45 p.m.
The Wolves are at Bremerton on Sept. 11 before hosting defending league champ Olympic at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13
Sequim Gazette editor Michael Dashiell contributed to this story.
