Prep girls soccer: 5 players to watch

Kailin Wiley | Kamiak

Junior | Forward

Wiley has been a first-team All-Wesco forward in both her freshman and sophomore seasons. She finished last season with eight goals and nine assists, helping lead the Knights to a second-place finish in the Wesco 4A.

“Kailin is a dangerous player on the field with her speed,” Kamiak coach Beth Stewart said. “She isn’t afraid to take people on and attack the goal. Going into her junior year I feel this could be a breakout year for her as she has matured both as a person and a player. Beyond the assists and goals she has scored, she does so much more off the ball with her runs that it makes it very tough to defend her and the rest of the offense. She may not always score the goals, but she has the ability to set up her teammates for success and is a very team-oriented player.”

Mckenzie Buell | Arlington

Senior | Forward

Buell has been a first-team All-Wesco forward each of the last two seasons. She had 13 goals and six assists as a junior last season, helping the Eagles to a fourth-place finish at the 3A state tournament. She has totaled 31 goals and 11 assists in her career at Arlington.

“She is a very creative attacking player who has a knack for scoring timely goals,” Arlington coach Nathan Davis said. “She scored our game-winning goal against Bellevue in the state playoffs last year and goals to send us to the state playoffs the past two years. This year she has really stepped up as a vocal leader. I expect her to score and create opportunities for her teammates much in the same way she has the past two seasons. She is a dangerous attacker and fun player to watch.”

Kia Mackey | Edmonds-Woodway

Senior | Defender

Mackey anchored the back line for the Warriors as they went on to place third at the 3A state tournament last season. She is emotional leader the team in both practices and games.

“She will be on the back line for a third year and was a very large reason for as many shutouts as we had last year,” Edmonds-Woodway coach Bill LeCompte said. “She will be one of our prominent leaders on our team this fall. Kia is a tremendous person and player. I think that she earns every bit of respect that she gets on and off the field by the way she carries herself and always looks to build others up.”

Nikki Leishman | Lynnwood

Senior | Defender

Leishman has been a first-team All-Wesco defender in each of the last two seasons. She was the team’s co-MVP a year ago and is a returning captain as a senior. Despite being a defender, she scored two goals and added two assists last year. She currently has several Division-1 scholarship offers on the table.

“I expect Nikki to still be one of the best all-around players in the league and be impossible to beat one-on-one,” Lynnwood coach Mark McAlexander said. “Her experience makes her a veteran player at 17 and very few things rattle her. We’re lucky to have her.”

Talia Daigle | Archbishop Murphy

Senior | Forward

Daigle was the Cascade Conference offensive MVP last season, scoring 17 goals and adding five assists. She has career totals of 31 goals and 20 assists.

“Talia is a dynamic player with power, speed and great finishing abilities,” Archbishop Murphy coach Mike Bartley said. “She is a team captain and a great leader. Talia is an integral part of the team chemistry and success.”

By Aaron Lommers, Herald Writer

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