The big names may be gone, but the Jackson girls soccer team still looks to be the team to beat in the Western Conference South Division.
The first week of the preseason has done nothing to dispel the notion as the Timberwolves, picked as the top team in the South Division in a coaches’ poll, racked up a pair of victories over Mariner and Lynnwood and outscored the opposition 11-0.
It’s a new cast of characters for coach Michael Bartley, who saw the graduation of top offensive player Kristi Kingma and top defensive player Sara O’Neal. Bartley, however, wasn’t expecting to lose senior Laura Hernandez, also a first-team, all-league selection.
Hernandez recently was selected to the Colombian national team for her age group and has decided to stay in Colombia.
“It’s a great thing for her,” Bartley said. “We’ll move forward. No excuses.”
The Jackson offensive attack is spearheaded by returning junior Megan Bolmes, a first-team all-leaguer, and freshman Cara Wegner, who Bartley described as a pleasant surprise.
Bolmes was a key part of the Jackson offense with Kingma and Hernandez last season.
“Megan scored quite a few goals last year. Now it’s a little more required,” Bartley said.
In a 6-0 season-opening victory over Mariner, Bolmes, a junior co-captain, didn’t score any goals but set up quite a few of them, Bartley added. Wegner had two goals in her debut. Bolmes scored the Wolfpack’s first two goals in a 5-0 victory over Lynnwood.
“This year it’s going to be Cara and Megan and we’re going to support them the best we can,” Bartley said of the offense.
The defense is anchored by senior co-captain Katie Reese, who likes the way the team has come together in its first week of preseason action.
“For being such a new team, we all work really well together,” said Reese, an honorable mention, all-league selection. “At first it was kind of weird because (the offense) had been the same for all four years. It’s going good.”
Bolmes was a little cautious on the outlook for the Jackson offense in spite of the preseason success.
“I think we’re going to have maybe a little bit of trouble scoring, but we’re really strong in the back,” she said.
Junior Meaghan Hatcher returns to the defense as does sophomore goalkeeper K.C. Wilson. Bartley plans to platoon Wilson and junior Kayla Beer.
“They’re pretty even,” Bartley said. “We’re going to switch them off through the preseason now that we have seven games to do that. We’ll kind of see who’s in the best form when it comes time (for league play).”
Reese is the lone senior on the roster. The junior class includes nine players.
“Really it’s a whole new mix,” Bartley said. “That’s how it feels. I’ve got nine juniors, but really only a few played last year. … It’s a young, old team.”
Other varsity returners are sophomore midfielder Denae Fitz and junior midfielder Ellen Favale.
The somewhat lengthy preseason schedule means that Bartley is focused on keeping everyone healthy and is able to get a lot of playing time for his entire roster, which includes three freshman.
Jackson is looking to win its sixth straight league title and earn a fifth straight state berth. Advancing to state will be a tad more difficult this year.
Unlike previous seasons, the winner of the league will not earn an automatic berth to state. The South Division champion will play a crossover game with the North Division.
Nothing has changed as far as Jackson is concerned, though.
“It’s always the same,” Bartley said. “We want to win the South. That’s our goal.”
Bolmes said the Timberwolves have the same mindset heading into the season as previous years.
“You want to go for it all,” she said.
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