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Forestville boys' coach James Connors also guides the girls' team along with his wife Lisa.
The Knights will have about 15 players in their second season on the varsity level. The team's only senior, center midfielder Eleana Jenkins, leads the way, while junior Lauren Flowers is the team's top defender. Connors said finding an attacking presence will be the team's biggest challenge this fall.
Henry A. Wise
In their third season, the Pumas are steadily progressing. Coach Jason Gordon said he has the workings of what could be a sleeper team in the County 4A League.
"I'm just expecting to build on a productive season that we had last year," Gordon said of the team's 6-7 mark in 2007, which included a first-round playoff win. "The strength of this group is the fact that most of them have played together. The team is pretty much intact with a few additions."
Junior midfielder Elisa Drummond leads the group returning starters.
Junior forward/strikers Tracee Morgan and Lauren Robertson should provide the Pumas with a scoring punch.
Sophomore midfielder Miranda Luna will get another year of starting experience while senior Jessica Bucknor will be the team's sweeper.
Bishop McNamara
McNamara first-year coach George Hunt inherits an experienced group bolstered by the emergence of a junior playmaker in early Washington Catholic Athletic Conference action. In the Forestville school's opening day win over Bishop Ireton (Va.) Tuesday, forward Jackie Corley's three goals helped the Mustangs to a come-from-behind 3-1 victory.
"I expected her to score, but I wasn't expecting all that," Hunt said. "We've got some experienced players in some key positions and some younger players stepping up so I think we've got a good mix."
Among the youngest, freshman Kathy Anderson has made an instant impact, leading the Mustangs to the championship game of the Grace Brethren preseason tournament with just two goals allowed in five games. Anderson will count on the senior leadership of defenders Allison Baden and Briana "Breezy" Yon as the heart of the conference schedule approaches.
Queen Anne
Second-year coach Betsy Fischer is anticipating a 10-game schedule after her team went 3-1 a year ago, playing just four games because other schools were unable to field girls' teams.
The Lions open at 4:15 p.m. Monday against visiting Takoma. But already games against Lanham Christian (Oct. 9) and McLean (Oct. 17) have been canceled as those schools do not have teams.
"We like to play an offensive game and we like to score," said Fischer. "We have really good speed. Some of our girls haven't played a lot of soccer, so we want to get them to learn the game."
Nine players return, including senior Taylor Deloach at sweeper and sophomore Jordan Deloach at midfield. The sisters play in the offseason as well, Taylor with a select team and Jordan with an ODP squad.
Seniors Amanda Hurlbutt and Anna Pietras lead the defense. Junior Lola Bode-George returns for a third season and can play at forward or midfield. Her younger sister, Yinka, can play on the front line, but Fischer said her strength is at midfield. Sophomore Nia Simmons will switch between fullback and midfield.
Sophomores Ashley Brown at midfield and goalie and Maya Jefferson at midfield are also returning for the Lions this season.
Grace Brethren
After consecutive 11-win seasons and a school-record 16-win campaign in 2005, Grace Brethren Christian School girls' soccer coach Matt Geier is high on his 2008 team.
"We're young, athletic and inexperienced," said Geier. "But we have some talented players up front. Sophomores Brooke Carter and Shannon Bryant will be counted on to capitalize on our scoring chances up front."
Geier, who is 67-28-5 in five seasons as the girls' coach after going 49-8 in three seasons as the boys' coach, will have returning Gazette-Star All-County First Team choice Caitlin Harris returning as the center midfielder, along with three senior captains, Emily Loufik, Jade Carter and Jasmine Bibs. Nicole Elliott, freshman Janae Valentine and transfer J.J. Fahr should give the Eagles plenty of talent across the field. Junior Shannon Bates will return for her third season in goal.
