By KEVIN BREIWICK
Herald Writer
In his first season as coach of the Edmonds Community College women’s soccer team, Teddy Mitalas turned a three-win team from a year ago into a league champion. For which he was named the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Northeast Division Coach of the Year.
For Sunday, Edmonds CC capped its incredible season with a 2-0 victory over North Idaho CC to capture the NWAACC championship.
“We came out with a lot of nerves,” Mitalas said, though Trina Hodo scored five minutes into the game to help settle the team’s nerves.
The Tritons controlled the first half. Edmonds CC outshot North Idaho 11-0.
Katie Peters scored on her own, beating the North Idaho goalkeeper with 20 minutes left in the second half. Peters finished the season with 12 assists and six goals.
Though the Tritons shut out 13 of 17 opponents, Mitalas said it only got tougher as the season progressed.
“All season I have said to have fun with it,” he said. “When it got to where we could win, it got tougher.”
Mitalas said the team chemistry had a lot to do with the team winning.
“I’ve stressed this as a family,” Mitalas said. “It worked just perfect. I couldn’t ask much more as a first-year coach.”
With 14 returnees next year and 10 possible freshman, Mitalas doesn’t see why the Tritons can’t repeat as champions.
Edmonds has eight representatives on the Northeast all-star team: Forwards Pat Pollock and Ryan Hopp, defenders Eric Judd and Jon Reyes, midfielders Jesse DeNike, Jay Kendall and Matt Peters, and goalkeeper Mike Hutchinson.
Pollock was named co-regional MVP along with Skagit Valley’s Brandon Strobaugh. Strobaugh led the league with 24 goals during the regular season, Pollock had 14, and Hopp led the team with 17.
Triton coach Don Nelson, who led his team to a 16-0 regular season record, was named the regional coach of the year, and will coach the Northeast all-star team.
Four players from the EdCC women’s soccer team also earned all-star honors: Defender Sara McManus, forward Marissa Brooks, goalkeeper Erin Guizzetti and midfielder Courtney Speidel. Brooks led the team in the regular season with 13 goals. Edmonds’ Teddy Mitalas, in his first year at head coach, was named the coach of the year and Northeast all-star team coach.
Shoreline’s Elizabeth Mackey, a forward, earned a spot on the Southwest all-star team.
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