Scots load up on skill

  • Charlie Laughtland<br>Enterprise writer
  • Friday, February 29, 2008 10:50am

SHORELINE — Cut day included more surprises than usual for the Shorecrest girls soccer team.

Four potential varsity returners Scots coach Gary Harris determined didn’t sufficiently improve their skills or work ethic weren’t offered roster spots.

After Shorecrest was ousted in the opening round of last year’s district playoffs, Harris revised the criteria he uses to piece together a lineup.

“I’ve gone away from athleticism and I’m choosing by skill,” Harris said. “The more skill you’ve got, the better. I’m tired of outshooting (opponents) 30 to 2 because we’ve got fast girls who run all over the place and can’t finish.”

The message Harris sent with his personnel decisions made an immediate impact.

“Every single one of us realizes it’s easy for anyone to get cut,” senior midfielder Kat Binder said. “It doesn’t matter how good you are. He cut some good people. But they either didn’t have the right attitude or the right work ethic.”

Binder acknowledged that Harris has a reputation as a demanding coach who holds each player to the same high standard.

“He asks everyone to put in the same amount of work,” Binder said. “The girls that didn’t make the team didn’t put in the same amount of work as the girls who made it. It was hard for a lot of them because they got cut even though they were on varsity last year.”

For the second year in a row the Scots are fielding one of the Western Conference South Division’s youngest lineups. Binder, fourth-year forward Banimi Lawson and backup goalie Carolyn Bauer are the only seniors. Six juniors and six sophomores make up the backbone of the team.

“We just want the hardest working team we can get because that’s what is going to win games,” junior defender Jessica Jakubiak said. “We’re trying to incorporate a lot more skill than just speed and athleticism. Everyone’s working hard to learn our defense and our patterns on offense.”

Harris kept just 14 field players. The Scots return six starters from last year’s 10-6 squad, including their entire backline with the exception of junior goalkeeper Lisa Dimak.

Jakubiak, Brianne Robinson and Sarah Berg lead an aggressive zone defense that posted eight shutouts in 2003 and yielded more than one goal only twice.

“We all have a section of the field we’re supposed to be covering, but we know how to help each other out,” Jakubiak said. “If one person gets beat, there’s always another person there.”

Binder, junior Casey Maehl and sophomore Betsy Pickrell return in the midfield. Maehl led the Scots in scoring as a sophomore and was an all-league honorable mention pick along with Binder.

Shorecrest has the most depth up front, where Lawson, sophomore Sylvia Olsby and three other forwards are vying for time.

“They’ll all get their chances,” Harris said. “The fittest and the best player will stay in the longest. The competition is good.”

Harris is emphasizing ball control and finesse, two elements he felt the Scots lacked on offense last season. Shorecrest created plenty of scoring opportunities, but too often couldn’t cash in.

“We had so many chances but people couldn’t hold the ball or touch a ball,” Harris said. “It’s frustrating.”

The Scots introduced 10 new starters last year and the massive overhaul produced some up-and-down results. Shorecrest dealt division champion Edmonds-Woodway its only league loss, but needed overtime to defeat last-place Mariner.

Binder expects more consistency this season from the Scots, who will contend with Cedarcrest and South Whidbey of the Cascade Conference for two district berths due to classification changes.

“We might not be the fastest team, but we’re one of the more skilled teams,” Binder said. “That’s going to help us in the long run. Maybe not the first couple games, but once we start getting used to each other I think we’re going to be real good.”

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