Soccer preview: Girls teams look to repeat last year's success

BY JARED MACARIN

jaredm@nwfdailynews.com

Niceville coach Michael Denton looks at his team and sees the right pieces for another run at a state title.

The question, as it is every year, is how they perform as a team with the pressure that always comes with playing for a top-flight program.

The Eagles advanced to the Class 5A state semifinals last year, but lost a number of players due to graduation and other circumstances.

“We’ve got to see if this group can come together,” Denton said. “It’ll take some time to see how it goes. It’s not a matter of individuals. It’s a matter of team, and that can make all the difference in the world.”

The Eagles will be led by senior standout Ronnie Wolfkeil, who has already committed to the University of Alabama. Wolfkeil will see time all over the field, but will not be the only Eagle that will draw the attention of the opposition.

Forwards Marleigh Howard and Kylie Ochsenreiter return, and will have to pick up the slack left by Central Florida freshman Lauren Halbert. Suzanne Encardes is the lone returner on a defense that lost, among others, Nicole Yockey and Caitlyn Ezell to graduation and Jennica Hagberg because of her collegiate volleyball commitment to Stetson. Cagney Valloch, who shared goalie duties the past two years with current Troy freshman Hannah McLeaish, will take over sole possession between the pipes.

“We have our work cut out for us this year,” Denton said. “It’s a situation where we lost some talented players, but we have other talented players that can hopefully step in and fill their shoes.”

Along with talent, the Eagles lost plenty of leadership from its departed players. Now Denton is hoping the success of last season, and not the pressure that comes with it, will provide a boost to this year’s squad.

“The positive (of making the final four) is having players who know what it takes to get there and they know they can hang at that level,” he said. “It’s not unattainable and there is that desire to go back. The negative is that teams are coming for you, and that makes a difference. With that final four moniker on you, it’s a bulls-eye.

“Hopefully the positive will outweigh the negative and we’ll go after it.”

Another team looking to recapture the success of last season is Rocky Bayou Christian is Class 2A. The advanced to the regional semifinals for the second straight year before falling to eventual state champion St. John’s Country Day.

“We’re looking forward to it and we’re trying to get the girls to focus on things that they can control,” Knights coach Brian Alldredge said. “I just want them to focus on things we can do something about.”

RBCS returns a healthy core of players from the team that won its fourth straight district championship, including Christin and Katie Kaim and Ashley Weaver up front. Shannon Donahue returns in goal, while defenders Natalie Fleming and Korie Schaeffler also are back.

“It’s always exciting to see how the girls have improved,” Alldredge said. “It’s amazing what another year can do for some players, and there’s a lot of joy in watching that.

And now that Alldredge is starting to get some of his players in that also play other sports, he is happy to get a fuller roster and a better picture of what his team will look like in the upcoming months.

“Now we just wait and see how it flows,” he said.

Here's a quick glance at area girls soccer teams:

Niceville

Coach: Michael Denton

2007 record: 21-2

District: 1-5A

District opponents: Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, Choctawhatchee, Tate, Pace, Escambia, Pine Forest

Returning athletes: Julia Busovne, Kylie Ochsenreiter, Cagney Valloch, Diana Venegas, Jessa Weekley, Ronnie Wolfkeil, Suzanne Encardes, Marleigh Howard, Lindsay Foy

Players lost: Lauren Halbert, Caitlyn Ezell, Nicole Yockey, Whitley Esteban, Hannah McLeaish, Rebecca Deyerle, Jennica Hagberg

Fort Walton Beach

Coach: Bill Wilkins

2007 record: 3-7-1

District: 1-5A

District opponents: Niceville, Choctawhatchee, Crestvuew, Pace, Tate, Pine Forest, Escambia

Returning athletes: Jordan Stone, Kelsey Kurth, Sarah Parker, Tatem Tietgen, Maggie Scott, Diandra Masuda, Amelia Markum, Megan Connor, mae Mae Torry

Others to watch: Kasey Stone, Skye Carpenter

Players lost: Kaci Manion, Chara Barbee

Choctawhatchee

Coach: Michael Lightbourne

2007 record: 5-7-2

District: 1-5A

District opponents: Niceville, Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, Tate, Pace, Pine Forest, Escambia

Returning athletes: Breezy Hupp, Stephanie Groves, Shelby Bush, Kaitlyn Kutemeyer, Michelle Lightbourne, Chelsea Callahan, Mary Allen, Nicole McAuley, Kim Vachon

Players lost: Kelci Dennison, Shawna Watson, Breanna Zybniewski

Crestview

Coach: Carlos Bonilla

2007 record: 0-9-1

District: 1-5A

District opponents: Niceville, Choctawhatchee, Fort Walton Beach, Pace, Tate, Pine Forest, Escambia

Returning athletes: Kimberly Johnston, Catherine Hooker, Shannon Missler, Krisdon Jones, Mary Masterson

Players lost: Mary Andrews, Alexandria Ardissone, Stacy Meyers, Jessica Makowski, Danie Miller, Kahley Teal, Rachel Ries

Rocky Bayou

Coach: Brian Alldredge

2007 record: 8-9-2; reached Class 2a regional semifinals

District: 1-2A

District opponents: Sneads, Bozeman, East Hill

Returning athletes: Shannon Donahue, Natalie Fleming, Christin Kaim, Katie Kaim, Katherine Miller, Korie Schaeffler, Ashley Weaver

Others to watch: Corrie Sober, Stephanie Serban

Players lost: Hannah Green, Brittany Listak, Kayla Spurgeon

South Walton

Coach: Joyce Harp

2007 record: 6-6-2

District: 1-3A

District opponents: Walton, Chipley, Marianna, Pensacola Catholic

Returning athletes: Kendall Brown, Elyse Bushee, Brooke Cannon, Molly Davis, Brittany Jay, Jordan Keeter, Katheryn Kenner, Kaylea Layman, Malorie Leach, Sarah Logan, Caroline Peterson

Others to watch: Jasmin Gonzalez, Claudia Gordilla, Megan O’Donnell, Jessie Taylor, Allie Wright

Players lost: Jessica Monk, Kasce Terry, Brittni Weimer, Lily Bruns, Stephanie Berlanga

NOTE: Navarre and Walton did not return preseason questionnaires that were sent to each school.