Girls soccer preview: Ranking the 5A SIC’s top teams, contenders and challengers
Perennial powers Rocky Mountain and Boise have ruled the 5A Southern Idaho Conference in girls soccer the past four years, trading the district championship trophy between the two of them each year.
So it’s no surprise to see the two neck and neck atop the league’s preseason coaches’ poll. But the SIC always poses plenty of challenges even for the most dominant teams. Perhaps even more so this year as the league grows to 13 teams.
We broke down each team, their top players and their storylines entering the season below.
1. ROCKY MOUNTAIN GRIZZLIES
Last season: 20-2-0, 11-0-0 5A SIC
Coach: Donal Kaehler, 15th season
Players to watch: Kaitlyn Slocum, sr., F; McKenna Doremus, sr., M; Campbell Wilson, fr., F
The reigning conference and district champs transition into a new generation with just two returning starters. But the perennial power plans to reload, not rebuild.
Slocum, a Boise State commit, finished second in the league in scoring last year (23 goals, 11 assists). She’ll pair with Wilson as the heart of an attacking four Kaehler said will be as strong as any in the state.
But the Grizzlies still field plenty of new faces, with only six returning letter winners from a four-year run as dominating as any in Idaho history.
2. BOISE BRAVE
Last season: 16-4-1, 9-1-1 5A SIC
Coach: Nicole Arsenault, third season
Players to watch: Sammy Smith, jr., M/W; Kunie Hirai, so., W/F; Annie Liebich, sr., D; Mia Barron, jr., M
After four straight second-place finishes at state, Boise brings back seven starters trying to capture that elusive title. And many of them are among the most talented players in the state.
Arsenault said Smith (17 goals, 12 assists) will take on a bigger scoring role after the graduation of her sister, Logan Smith, now at Stanford. That alone should give opponents pause. But the U-17 U.S. national team alternate will also have Hirai alongside her after she scored 17 goals as a freshman.
Backing them up is Sophie Hills, a Portland commit, in goal. And Liebich returns from an injury after first-team all-state honors as a sophomore. She’ll anchor the defense as a center back and provide a dangerous option on set pieces.
3. TIMBERLINE WOLVES
Last season: 15-5-1, 9-2-0 5A SIC
Coach: Jarreth Chan, second season
Players to watch: Ellie Lewis, jr., F; Ella Boson, sr., D; Laken Gallagher, sr., F; Ashlyn Sandow, jr., D/M
The reigning state consolation champ lost 10 seniors to graduation. But they bring back five starters and their leading scorer (Gallagher, 10 goals) as they seek to threaten Rocky Mountain’s and Boise’s stranglehold on the conference.
Gallagher pairs with Lewis (two goals, five assists) at the top of the formation, and Boson serves as the leader at center back. Even with all the graduation losses, Timberline enters its second season further ahead and more comfortable with Chan’s possession-heavy style.
4. MOUNTAIN VIEW MAVERICKS
Last season: 11-7-1, 7-4-0 5A SIC
Coach: Alyssa Wolf, 13th season
Players to watch: Payton Oelkers, sr., M; Brianna Abo, jr., F; Ava Poyser, jr., D; Jada Ojukwu, so., GK
After a rare season watching the state tournament from home, the Mavericks return eight starters to contend again. Oelkers, an Idaho commit, headlines the group as a lethal distributor from the midfield and the team’s leading returner in goals (four) and assists (five).
Who stands on the finishing end remains a puzzle, though. Sophia Avalos (13 goals) will miss the season with an injury. Abo stands as the top finishing option after netting four goals last year with her speed and aggressiveness.
5. CENTENNIAL PATRIOTS
Last season: 12-9-1, 5-5-1 5A SIC
Coach: Steven Snider, eighth season
Players to watch: Asia Lawyer, sr., F; Sam Alis, sr., D; Kaiya Pardue, sr., GK; Maddie Gonzales, sr., W
After a trip to state last year, Snider said the Patriots enter the season more seasoned and more confident, with seven returning starters back.
Much of that confidence stems from Lawyer, a Boise State commit, at the top of the formation. Her raw speed and goal-scoring prowess always stand out. But she’ll also track back and do the unheralded defensive work most goal scorers won’t.
That bolsters a defense led by Alis, a center back always one step ahead of opponents.
6. OWYHEE STORM
Last season: 5-10-1, 3-7-1 5A SIC
Coach: Raimee Ranstrom, second season
Players to watch: Lillian Denhardt, fr., F; Megan Haws, jr., D; Ashlyn Fuss, so., GK
The Storm took their lumps as a first-year program last fall, failing to qualify for district. But an infusion of new talent has Owyhee poised to make a leap up the conference standings.
Ranstrom said to expect a big season from Denhardt, a freshman and central forward with a sixth sense for the net. Fuss also provides another fresh face in goal, and Haws returns after injuries limited her last year to lead the back line.
Owyhee still remains young. But Ranstrom said it has much better chemistry and organization this fall.
7. EAGLE MUSTANGS
Last season: 12-9-2, 6-3-2 5A SIC
Coach: Tristen Spooner, first season
Players to watch: Grace Nelson, sr., M/F; Naomi Hilbig, so., M; Leah Barnes, sr., M; Katherine Southard, jr., GK
Last year’s state qualifier brings back six starters and plenty of offensive firepower to contend for another trip to state.
Nelson and Hilbig both netted eight goals for the Mustangs last year, tied for second on the team. And after playing JV last year, Sophie Patterson broke out with her club team this summer, scoring a game-winning penalty kick and a game-winning goal in back-to-back knockout games at Far West.
But after losing 11 seniors, Spooner cautioned it will take time to install a cohesive defensive structure.
8. KUNA KAVEMEN
Last season: 8-8-2, 6-4-1 5A SIC
Coach: Dave Rider, first season
Players to watch: Jaylene Womack, jr., F; Rylee Peters, sr., M; Jadalynn Ramos, so., M; Mel Johnson, jr., GK
The Kavemen continue to prove they belong at the 5A level, posting back-to-back .500 seasons. Now they return nine starters as they try to climb up the SIC standings.
Kuna should remain strong offensively, Rider said. Womack earned second-team all-conference honors a year ago after posting 11 goals and nine assists. Rider said to look out for a dynamic freshman class. But he added the Kavemen need to work on their depth so there’s no dropoff when they go to their bench.
9. MIDDLETON VIKINGS
Last season: 10-6-3, 9-2-3 4A SIC
Coach: Melinda Bodine Stevens, fourth season
Players to watch: Grace Moore, sr., M; Zoey Takeuchi, jr., D; Addie McCallister, so., M; Jessica Ramirez, jr., M
The Vikings went young last season, starting just two seniors. That led to some growing pains. But it also means nine starters return as Middleton makes the jump to 5A for the first time.
Three of those nine earned first-team all-conference honors in the 4A SIC, including Moore, Takeuchi and McCallister. McCallister made a splash as a freshman, racking up 12 goals. The trio will ensure the Vikings remain strong up the middle.
But no matter the classification, Bodine Stevens said the goal remains the same: Make it to state.
10. BORAH LIONS
Last season: 1-12-3, 0-8-3 5A SIC
Coach: Jeff Schatz, first season
Players to watch: Molly McCabe, sr., GK; Ellie Schatz, jr., F; Grace Schafer, jr., M; Cate Byers, sr., D
The Lions have posted three straight losing seasons. But with eight returning starters and the addition of several key players, Borah has many of the tools needed to jump back into contention.
McCabe, a Boise State commit, serves as the backbone as a four-year starter in net. The Lions also bring back their leading scorer in Schatz (three goals). She’ll have more weapons around her, including Schafer, who returns from a knee injury, and Satori Zimmerman, a Columbia Basin commit and Capital transfer.
11. CAPITAL EAGLES
Last season: 3-12-2, 0-9-2 5A SIC
Coach: Lauren Croy, third season
Players to watch: Gabi Mauzerall, sr., M; Chloe Edmunds, jr., D; Campbell Reed, jr., D
After posting three victories last fall, its most since 2017, Capital looks to build on that success. And they’ll have 10 returning starters to turn to as they seek to earn respect in the 5A SIC.
The majority of those 10 are playing together for their third straight year, helping their familiarity with each other and their chemistry. Mauzerall (four goals, four assists) leads the group as a four-year starter. And Croy said the Eagles have improved defensively, allowing them to control more of the game instead of sitting back and reacting.
12. MERIDIAN WARRIORS
Last season: 2-10-4, 0-8-3 5A SIC
Coach: Derek Wimpee, third season
Players to watch: Carmyn Acarregui, jr., GK; Hallie Corder, fr., M; Hannah Smith, so., F
The long-struggling program hits the reset button with just three returning starters. Wimpee said Meridian should have a strong back line. But with so many new faces, the Warriors are still figuring out how all the pieces fit in camp.
Acarregui takes over in net after splitting the position last season. Corder adds leadership as a freshman who played at the ECNL club level. And Smith provides a small but speedy option up top after transferring from Rocky Mountain.
13. NAMPA BULLDOGS
Last season: 2-14-2, 2-10-2 4A SIC
Coach: Cassandra Carr, first season
Players to watch: Noelle Overstreet, sr., D/F; Danika Hartman, sr., F; Tyler Roorda, sr., GK/D
After going 7-52-5 during four seasons at the 4A level, the Bulldogs return to the state’s highest classification. But with six returning starters, including their top two scorers, Nampa enters the fall looking to change the program’s trajectory.
Hartman (eight goals) and Overstreet (five goals) give Nampa two reliable scorers. Carr said the team will rely on a strong defense, which Overstreet will also play a part in as a two-way threat. But finding a solution at goalkeeper remains one of the top priorities after losing a three-year starter to graduation.
This story was originally published August 16, 2022 at 2:26 PM.
