By Chris Trujillo
Herald Writer
EVERETT-It’s hard to tell if Paul Bartley actually elevated his coaching career when he accepted the Everett Community College women’s soccer gig this season.
After all, he’s had to deal with a litany of troubling circumstances not usually associated with collegiate athletics.
After replacing former coach Tony Gilman just two weeks before the season opener, Bartley soon found out that the team’s recruitment of players over the years had been less than impressive – a flaw in which Bartley uses to help explain the team’s 0-7 record.
Bartley, the former assistant soccer coach at Cascade and Jackson high schools, believes that EvCC’s poor facilities have turned away future prospects.
“I don’t mind telling you that the facilities here at Everett haven’t been good in past years,” Bartley said. “The facilities at Edmonds and most other community colleges are immaculate. Tell me, where you would rather go?”
That, however, is something he wants to help change and he’s not alone. The faltering program has already made improvements by changing the team’s home field from a ragged, dirt field near the EvCC campus to the lush greenery of the Walter Hall soccer field, adjacent to Walter Hall Golf Course in south Everett.
Bartley is also dedicated to bringing more top-notch players to Everett through a better recruiting program.
“I want to bring players who are more likely to transfer to schools like Western,” Bartley said. “We have so many high schools with great players who aren’t going to Division I schools.”
Aside from scouting local high schools this season, Bartley has added the talent and experience of Julie Stachelski, a former Boise State University varsity soccer starter and Marysville-Pilchuck High School graduate.
“I just asked her to come play for us,” Bartley said. “I’ve coached her since she was 8 or 9. She brings so much experience to the team.”
He has also received an excellent return from his players’ attempts to bring their friends to tryouts. In fact, this year’s squad, which consists of 17 players – the majority attended local high schools – is the largest in recent memory, according to Bartley.
Despite seeing little tangible evidence, Bartley has seen vast improvement, including the team’s overall attitude and enthusiasm. The gradual improvement has led him to consider staying longer than one year, as he originally planned. He said he might like to stick around for two or three years.
The Trojans continue league play at noon Saturday at Edmonds CC.
Stellar D: For a defense-minded coach, Edmonds’s Teddy Mitalas couldn’t be more pleased with the smothering play his team has unleashed this year.
So far, the North Division’s second-place Tritons (4-1-1 in league, 6-1-1 overall) have allowed an anemic three goals in eight games played.
“We have been playing great defense,” Mitalas said. “We play smart. Our defense plays just defense and nothing else. They don’t try to do anything other than that.”
Aside from returning eight players from last year’s team, the Tritons received an added boost from newcomer Cheryl Elves from East Valley High School in Yakima. Elves took over for Amy Zehung (Mountlake Terrace) as the Tritons’ top sweeper, the last player before the goalie. Zehung returned to her high school position of goalie.
“I can’t say enough about Cheryl,” Mitalas said. “She is very good with both of her feet. That is very rare that a player can use both feet.”
Offensively, EdCC has scored 22 total goals, three of which came off the foot of Melissa Brooks in the team’s 3-0 victory over Skagit Valley last week. The Tritons continue play Wednesday when they travel to Wenatchee (2-2-0).
Gut Check: A lack of chemistry and confidence has started to strain the Edmonds volleyball team.
After being named one of the top teams by league coaches this season, the Tritons have struggled to put together the type of play that led them to a second-place tie last year.
Last Wednesday’s three-set loss to second place Bellevue (2-1 in league, and 5-3 overall) left the team’s confidence level in shambles. Losses to Shoreline and Bellevue mark an inability to beat top level teams, according to coach Bill Kellogg.
“We need to believe in ourselves more than we do,” Kellogg said. “In time of panic, we have some players who try to do too much. Our self-confidence is not where it should be right now.”
However, the team got a slight shot of encouragement last week with a 3-0 victory over Everett. Although it came against the winless Trojans, Kellogg hopes it will be enough to ignite a spark he knows exists amongst his players. It couldn’t have come any sooner. EdCC begins a daunting road trip against third place Whatcom on Wednesday and then second-place foe Olympic on Saturday.
“Our victory over Everett will help with our confidence,” Kellogg said. “We need better team chemistry and winning can do that.”
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