Girl's Division II Soccer Preview

February 1, 2016 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365


Salpointe's Becky Barry (Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

No. 1 Salpointe (20-1, 12-0)  State Championships in 1990, 1992, 1998 and 1999: Becky Barry is in her second year at Salpointe, "We have found success this year by playing organized defense, having a dynamic offense where different players have scored and all 25 players have contributed. This year has been a team effort."  The Lancers have only given up four goals all year while scoring 61. Paloma Teran leads the team with 10 goals although almost every player has at least one goal. Team captains include CB Hope Seasholes, CB Taylor Bigelow and GK Paloma Mars.

 

No. 2 Willow Canyon (14-4, 12-0) Quarterfinal round in 2011: Kendra Melbye has led her team to a high seed despite having a small roster, "We only have 15 players and one of our 4-year senior starters tore her ACL one week into season. "We are successful with smaller numbers and it's made our fitness level hugely increased." MF Willicia Smith has 15 goals and F Serena Sanchez has 13.

 

No. 3 Notre Dame Prep (16-2-2, 12-0) State Championships in 2009 and 2015: Tom White is attempting to defend his state championship from last year, "Saints are just now refocusing and getting geared up for the playoffs.  Tough to repeat at anything but this team has shown the capability of it, but playoffs are tough and you need some luck here and there in order to make a run."  Team captains include Kassidy Madrigal, Dana Gordon, Jeannie Mongan and Meredith Reinhardt. F Taylor Culver has 15 goals.

 

No. 4 Ironwood Ridge (16-3-2, 8-2-2) Second place 2011: Longtime Nighthawk coach Sean Watkins returns to the playoffs after barely missing the cut last year. Ironwood Ridge lost 11 seniors and eight starters but Watkins likes what he saw with this group, "Outstanding group of 24 young ladies that are friends on and off the field.  Best team chemistry of any team I have coached.  This kids have consistently responded to coaching and have bought into our team defensive responsibilities." Kelly Koppy and Alexis Hernandez have ten goals each.

 

No. 5 Arcadia (12-1) State Championship in 2001: Adam Zweiback is leading one of his best teams at the school. He credits three keys to his success, "Veterans and newcomers who unselfishly pass the ball and can play more than one position, stout defending as a group and skill and speed in the attack." Haley Denning has scored 20 goals despite not playing soccer in four years. Fellow sophomore Kalena Teufel also has 20 goals.

 

No. 6 Cactus Shadows (14-4-2, 10-2) Second place finish in 2012: Jeff Vittorio has a team with talent coming from veterans and newcomers alike. Freshman Jordan Young leads the team with 14 goals and fellow freshman Kelby Kuo has 11. SR Carmen Brown has 10 goals. "Our team has ability to play different styles.  We can possess and hold the ball if the game calls upon it or we can be very direct and beat teams with speed and balls over the top of defenses," Vittorio wrote.

 

No. 7 Catalina Foothills (12-5-1, 10-2) Eight State Championships: Dave Lemon is in his second year with the Falcons. With only two to three seniors starting each game, Lemon has found a way to continue the excellence expected at Catalina Foothills. Freshman Tatianna Lizarraga has 18 goals and junior Olivia Lai has 11. Lemon credits hard work, great chemistry and leadership.

 

No. 8 Tucson (13-6-1, 7-3-1) Quarterfinals 2015: David Goodkin is in his second year with the Badgers and he has them ready for another run, "Most of our team is comprised of returning players. We only lost four starters from last year. This team is talented and plays with tremendous energy and heart." Sabrina Zepp has 24 goals. Team captains include Avadney Gerard-Osbourne and Allye Wright.

 

No. 9 Sahuaro (13-4-2, 9-1-2) Second place 2009: This is the 14th straight year Sahuaro and Dave Kruszewski has made it to the playoffs. Even more, the Cougars have been to the playoffs 19 of the last 20 years. Nerri Hermosillo has 12 goals and team captain is Stacie Sivertson.

 

No. 10 Liberty (17-2-1, 9-2-1) Most wins for the Lions: Erin McRae is having one of her best years at Liberty, "We are young, but this is a very special group of young ladies in that every player is competing for each other. Each athlete understands her role and the team and they are so supportive of each other.  They celebrate each other’s success and they rebuild each other when necessary." Haley German has 18 goals and Maya Lorenzana has 16.

 

No. 11 Rincon/University (13-5-1, 9-2-1)  State Championship in 2008: Christopher Cox is in his second year at Rincon. The Rangers went 3-1 to end the season on games that were played on four consecutive nights. Team captains Melanie Andrade, Emma Dersteine and Alia Raderstorf helped lead the way for the most successful regular season since the team won it all.
 

No. 12 Centennial (13-6, 9-3) Top seed in 2008: Steve Ybarra is in his first year with the Coyotes and the first time he has coached a girls team but he has found success quickly, "The team is 'buying in.'  After a rough season last year and me being a new coach for them. (Third coach in last four years).  Took some time for them to trust me and buy in to what I am asking them to do.  Not saying that everything I have asked them to do has worked out in our favor, but they seem to realize that if they are all on the same page that they have a greater chance of being successful."

 

No. 13 Westview (13-2-1, 10-1-1) State Championship in 2007: Longtime coach Carlos Macias lists consistency during the entire season both defensively and offensively as one of the keys to their success this year. Scoring leaders are Olivia Hernandez and Laura Cooley and captains are Hernandez, Syria Falkenberg and Kori Lewis.

 

No. 14 Marana (8-5-4. 6-3-3) Quarterfinals in 2010: Dan Tarquin has had better years but five straight wins to end the season has returned the Tigers to the state playoffs. Team leaders are Reilly Kalina, Tori Johnson and Hannah Laulusa.

 

No. 15 Mesquite (11-3, 10-2) Quarterfinals in 2010: Stuart Lyall lists three reasons for the team's success, "The girls suit their formation very well, we have a mixture of speed and technical ability in our defense and our intensity is normally very good." Camryn Larson has 20 goals to lead the team.

 

No. 16 Kofa (9-3, 9-3) Quarterfinals in 2013: First-year coach Jan Chvojan inherited a team with 10 seniors and fours juniors and the team will need all that experience as the 16th seed.  Cinthya Samaniego leads the team in scoring.