Prep soccer: Reloaded Lady Horsemen ready for new season
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8/25/2008 - 8/26/08
Ed Velie isn't thinking about following perfection.
Perfection belongs in the display case, and there it will stay: The 23-1 record along with the 2007 Class A-AAA Girls State Soccer Championship trophy.
If perfection happens again, it will be by using different blueprints.
"This year, I consider it a totally different team," says Velie, the 14th-year head coach of the St. Michael's Lady Horsemen. "We're only returning three starters from last year."
That doesn't mean the rest of the state gets much of a break, though the losses are significant with the most glaring being Jordan Miller. Miller is the state's career leader in goals scored with 173 — that's for girls and boys. In all classes.
Others that didn't get as much attention but were just as valuable to the team's success are also gone to graduation: J.J. Bear, Marisa Marlow and Clarissa Medina.
New faces are ready to step in.
"It's not rebuiling, it's reloading in a smaller caliber," Velie says. "I think we're gonna be very good — eventually."
Returning starters are Jaimie Palermo at forward, Liana Coppola at defensive midfield and Margaret Hickey in goal. Jenn Najjar is also a returning starter, but she is not expected to be availible in the midfield until October because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament, which she suffered in the District 2AAA Tournament basketball championship.
Palermo, who was the Robin to Miller's Batman, just happened to score the winning goal in the A-AAA title game in the third overtime last November. This year she will perform as a solo act.
"Jaimie is the only true scorer we have," says Velie of the junior.
But Bridgette Butler knows where the goal is at. The now-sophomore was the one who assisted Palermo on the championship-winner.
That Butler was there at all was rather remarkable. She suffered a severe knee injury in a camp before last season and wasn't availible until mid-October.
She'll compliment Palermo at the other forward position this season.
"She's been very useful as a playmaker," Velie says.
While St. Michael's molds its talent, Santa Fe Preparatory, the 2003 and 2005 A-AAA champs are hoping for less visits from the trainer (a common occurance last) season and to develop players at all levels.
There is a core group of four seniors returning led by Kiki Lenihan that will be expected to steer an inexperienced team that finshed 9-13 in 2007.
There is also talent in the freshman ranks with Emily Hickmott and Lizzie Lanman, but it's still raw.
"Kiki is like our point guard right now," said Prep head coach Rennae Ross, who first took over the program in 1990. "And (Lizzie) and Emily, they're going to be big-time for us."
But likely not immediately. They are still riding the learning curve.
Julia Harris, a former Blue Griffin, is returning from a student exchange in Estonia, where she admitted the soccer was of a lower skill level.
Ross will also have to deal with injuries to the McKenzie sisters, Piper and Ali.
Piper, like Najjar, is recovering from ACL surgery and could be ready in mid-to-late October. Ali, Ross says, "is a mess," suffering from a hip flexor and a stress fracture in the hip. Her return is uncertain.
The pieces to a successful season are there for Ross, putting them together is the challenge.
The Demonettes of Santa Fe High are looking to win a couple games in District 2AAAAA after being shut out last season at 0-8.
They were 5-15 overall. It was a small step for team that was rebuilding under a new head coach.
The theme will be the same this season as Arturo Martinez takes over Katie Roberts.