Goalkeepers make headlines for amazing saves and the offense receives recognition for spectacular goals but the defense is rarely acknowledged for its contribution to a soccer game.
Everett senior defender Valerie Stahl is one of the exceptions. During her four years on the Seagulls’ varsity squad, Stahl’s athletic skills and leadership qualities helped a struggling Everett team turn its game around, culminating in a 3A state championship last month and earning Stahl the honor of Herald All-Area Player of the Year.
“I think it’s rare (for a defender to be named Player of the Year) because it doesn’t show in the stats,” Everett head coach Kosta Pitharoulis said. “The defenders are the unsung hero of the game. To be successful, you have to have good defenders on your team and it’s been a good opportunity for us to be able to have Val on our squad for the past four years.”
In addition to being a strong defensive player, Stahl also managed some impressive offensive stats, including a career-total 14 goals and 10 assists.
Stahl, who began playing soccer at the age of five, became serious about the sport when she joined the select soccer league at nine years old. She’s been playing with several of her Everett teammates since then and has formed a close bond with them on and off the field.
“All four years, we’ve just improved so much. We’ve gotten better each and every year,” said Stahl. “It’s so much fun playing with all the girls and we work together so well.”
When Stahl began her career at Everett in the fall of 2005, the Seagulls were hoping to improve upon a one-win season. Their record improved substantially during her freshman year to 7-8-1. The then-4A Everett team missed the playoffs by one game.
The following year, Everett became a 3A school, won the district championship and advanced to the quarterfinals before losing 2-0 to Seattle Prep. Stahl’s junior year ended in a similar fashion with a loss to Seattle Prep in the quarterfinals, except that year the Seagulls held the lead for much of the game before succumbing to the Panthers in a penalty-kick shootout.
“People knew Everett should be good … and I think living up to the pressure and the hype wasn’t easy, but they managed to do it,” Pitharoulis said.
After being knocked out of the playoffs by Seattle Prep two years in a row, Stahl had one more chance at a state championship. It was fitting that the final game of her Everett career was the 3A state championship game against Seattle Prep, which Everett won 3-0 on November 22, giving the Seagulls their first girls soccer state title.
“It felt amazing (to win against Seattle Prep),” said Stahl, who plans to attend Cleveland State on a soccer scholarship next fall. “It was a good revenge match, especially in the finals. It was a way better way to beat them than in the quarterfinals. It was perfect timing.”
During Stahl’s four years at Everett, the team amassed a record of 55-21-5.
On a team full of amazing soccer players — including co-captain senior Shelby Bell, co-captain junior Kylie Beeson, junior Annie Sittauer, senior Brittany McMullen, junior Sele Vance and senior Emily Nesting — Stahl, a three-year team captain, managed to stand out by her ability to lead the team through her athletic prowess and support for her teammates.
“She’s quite humble. She doesn’t walk around saying she’s the best but she could because she’s really good,” Pitharoulis said. “It’s part of her character and also probably one of the reasons why the girls are so willing to be led by her. She leads how you’re supposed to lead, by example.”
“I hope that I’m fortunate enough to have a player like (Valerie) come through Everett again,” Pitharoulis added.
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