Girls soccer preview: Ranking the top teams, challengers and dark horses in 5A, 4A SIC
Boise and Bishop Kelly, two perennial powers in girls soccer, added to their trophy hauls last fall, sweeping the 5A and 4A district and state championships with dominant postseason runs.
That carried into this season, where they finished as the clear favorites in the preseason polls for the 5A and 4A Southern Idaho Conferences, voted on by coaches and conducted by the Idaho Statesman.
So what are their chances of repeating? And who are the potential challengers? We broke down all 20 teams in the Treasure Valley.
5A SIC
1. BOISE
Last season: 19-1-0, 11-1-0 5A SIC
Coach: Nicole Arsenault, fourth season
Players to watch: Sammy Smith, sr., M/F; Maizy Kluskdal, jr., D; Kunie Hirai, jr., F; Mia Barron, sr., M
Outlook: The reigning district and state champs return as the heavy favorite, and it’s not hard to see why. Smith provides the Brave with a generational talent, one already committed to Stanford and who played for the U.S. at the U-17 World Cup last fall. But Boise won those district and state titles without her, and it returns many of those same players. Kluskdal, Hirai and Barron are all back after making the all-state first team. Kluskdal leads the defense as a three-year starting center back. And Hirai (17 goals) and Barron (five goals, nine assists) highlight a prolific offense full of college talent.
2. ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Last season: 15-5-1, 11-1-0 5A SIC
Coach: Donal Kaehler, 16th season
Players to watch: Ari Siwek, sr., F; Carli Messmer, sr., M; Aliyah Crockett, sr., D
Outlook: Offseason injuries robbed the powerhouse of three key returners, including the 5A SIC’s leading goal scorer in Campbell Wilson (24 goals, eight assists). But the Grizzlies still return seven starters, including nearly everyone on defense and in the central midfield, leaving a strong foundation. Siwek (five goals, nine assists) steps into a leading role after making the all-state second team a year ago. But between Wilson’s injury and Kaitlyn Slocum’s graduation, Rocky Mountain lost 61% of its goals from last season. So others will need to step in and take advantage of the opportunity.
3. TIMBERLINE
Last season: 11-6-4, 5-3-4 5A SIC
Coach: Jarreth Chan, third season
Players to watch: Elli Lewis, sr., F; Ashlyn Sandow, sr., M; Emma Widmor, sr., M; Alexis Salisbury, fr., GK
Outlook: The Wolves lost a pair of all-state players to graduation, but they return plenty of offensive firepower to push their way to the top of the 5A SIC. Sandow (12 goals, seven assists) and Widmor (four goals, four assists) control the midfield as a pair of Montana commits, while Lewis (eight goals, 10 assists) returns at the top of the formation as a devastating force in one-on-one situations. Timberline fields only eight upperclassmen, so it will need young players to step into several key roles.
4. EAGLE
Last season: 14-4-2, 9-2-1 5A SIC
Coach: Tristen Spooner, second season
Players to watch: Katherine Southard, sr., GK; Naomi Hilbig, jr., M/F; Aubriana Smith, sr., D; Briana Davis, jr., D
Outlook: Five starters return for the reigning state consolation champs. That includes a lockdown goalie in Southard, a second-team all-state selection, and Hilbig (seven goals, 15 assists), the straw that stirs the Mustangs’ drink. She leads a front line loaded with speed, but she also remains an eraser defensively and will drop into the midfield to distribute. The Mustangs may remain young at several key positions. But expect them to challenge atop the 5A SIC again.
5. OWYHEE
Last season: 9-6-4, 6-3-3 5A SIC
Coach: Madison Brown, first season
Players to watch: Megan Haws, sr., D; Ashlyn Fuss, jr., GK; Ashley Wright, jr., W/F
Outlook: The Storm went from five to nine wins last fall and reached the state play-in game. Now in Year 3 of the program, Owyhee returns eight starters for a new coach. Haws leads the group as a rock at center back, one who made the all-conference second team and scored three times off free kicks. The Storm added Naomi Kessler, an Idaho commit, to the roster. But taking that last step and making it to state remains the toughest hurdle for an up-and-coming program.
6. MOUNTAIN VIEW
Last season: 8-7-3, 4-5-3 5A SIC
Coach: Gene Corson, first season
Players to watch: Ava Poyser, sr., D; Brianna Abo, sr., M/F; Matea Willoughby, sr., D
Outlook: A youth movement led the Mavericks to miss state each of the past two seasons. But after starting seven to eight freshmen and sophomores the past two years, Mountain View now returns eight starters looking to restore it to contention. Poyser, a first-team all-conference center back, and Willoughby return to steady an already stout defense. Getting back to state will require more lethal finishing though. Abo (nine goals) led the Mavs in scoring last year, but she will need to help to keep defenses honest.
7. CENTENNIAL
Last season: 14-5-3, 8-2-2 5A SIC
Coach: Alyssa Wolf, first season
Players to watch: Isabelle Wright, jr., M; Jada Miller, jr.; F
Outlook: The Patriots made an underdog run to the state championship last fall. But with first-team all-state striker Asia Lawyer graduating, Centennial starts the year counted out again. Wolf comes to the program after leading Mountain View for the past 13 years. She inherits a midfield led by another up-and-coming prospect in Wright, a key cog on the Idaho Rush U-15 girls squad’s Far West title and back-to-back national semifinal appearances.
8. MIDDLETON
Last season: 7-8-2, 5-5-2 5A SIC
Coach: Melinda Bodine Stevens, fifth season
Players to watch: Zoey Takeuchi, sr., D; Addie McCallister, jr., M; Elsie Wyatt, jr., W/F
Outlook: The Vikings remained competitive in their first season in 5A and qualified for district. Now Middleton returns six starters, including several with multiple years of experience, looking to battle for a state berth. Takeuchi leads the group as a four-year starter and second-team all-conference pick at center back. Middleton’s leading scorer, Wyatt (eight goals), and leader in assists, McCallister, both return for their third season in the starting lineup. All that experience should pay dividends in the 5A SIC. But Middleton must replace two key center midfielders who directed the team.
9. KUNA
Last season: 5-8-2, 3-7-2 5A SIC
Coach: Dave Rider, second season
Players to watch: Jaylene Womack, sr., F; Liz Pinkerton, sr., M; Jadalynn Ramos, jr., M; Angel Matteucci, sr., D
Outlook: The Kavemen’s season ended early last fall after falling in a district play-in game. But Kuna returns 10 starters and its top two goal scorers looking for a deep postseason run this fall. Womack, a Western Oregon commit who scored 12 goals, and Ramos, a set-piece specialist who had 11 goals, headline a more mature group that enters the season with plenty of chemistry, Rider said. But Kuna is installing some new tactics that will take time to learn.
10. BORAH
Last season: 4-10-1, 3-8-1 5A SIC
Coach: Jeff Schatz, second season
Players to watch: Ellie Schatz, sr., M/F; Kaiya Farr, sr., D; Katie McCabe, jr., M
Outlook: The Lions bring back seven starters, including their entire defensive line, looking to right the ship after four straight losing seasons. Borah also gets a boost in the form of midfielder Grace Schafer, who missed the past two seasons with knee injuries. Schatz stands at the top of the formation as the Lions’ leading scorer two of the past three years. But she’ll need more options to develop around her, and Borah must replace Molly McCabe, a four-year starting goalkeeper now suiting up for Boise State.
11. CAPITAL
Last season: 3-10-2, 2-9-1 5A SIC
Coach: Lauren Croy, fourth season
Players to watch: Chloe Edmunds, sr., D; Campbell Reed, sr., D; Ellie Mauzerall, jr., M
Outlook: Another three-win season has the Eagles inching back up the standings, and Capital returns seven starters looking to continue the climb. A core group of six seniors enters their third year in the program as the chief engineers of the rebuild. That includes Edmunds and Reed at outside backs, the cornerstones of an improving defense. But Capital still remains young and turnout at tryouts was low, so the Eagles will need to stay fit to log heavy minutes.
12. MERIDIAN
Last season: 0-14-1, 0-11-1 5A SIC
Coach: Derek Wimpee, fourth season
Players to watch: Hallie Corder, so., M; Carmyn Acarregui, sr., GK; Shelby Poland, jr., M
Outlook: The Warriors took their lumps last season as a team built around freshmen and sophomores. But with nearly everyone returning, Meridian looks to start climbing out of the cellar. Corder was a freshman captain, and Poland enters her third year in the starting lineup. That leaves the Warriors midfield and offense better connected, Wimpee said. But Meridian is rebuilding on defense and installing some new faces there, which could create more growing pains.
13. NAMPA
Last season: 1-14-0, 1-11-0
Coach: Cassandra Carr, second season
Players to watch: Jordan Stradling, sr., D; Ruthanne Fischer, so., M; McKenna Schaffer, fr., F
Outlook: The Bulldogs were in trouble in their first season back at the 5A level, scoring their only win against Meridian. Nampa hits the reset button this fall with just two returning starters and a host of new faces to the varsity program. Stradling provides a steady hand as the anchor of the defense, and Fischer returns after serving as a freshman captain last year. Carr said she’s impressed with Nampa’s work ethic so far, but its communication will need to improve to add more notches in the win column.
4A SIC
1. BISHOP KELLY
Last season: 17-2-1, 12-0-0 4A SIC
Coach: Dawn Hill, third season
Players to watch: Sophie Schmautz, sr., F; Gracie Rhodes, sr., M; Taylor Deitzel, jr., M/F
Outlook: The reigning state champs and 14-time defending district champs start the season in familiar territory as the 4A SIC favorite. The Knights bring back Sophie Schmautz, the reigning league and state player of the year, to headline a loaded attack. The Boise State commit poured in 26 goals a year ago, but she’s not alone. Deitzel (11 goals) and Gracie Rhoads (10 goals), another first-team all-state pick, also return, leaving the Knights with their top three goal scorers back for another season. Bishop Kelly’s defense will welcome several new players thanks to graduation losses, and it will take time for that group to gel, Hill said. But a loaded offense like BK’s ought to carry the Knights until that defense solidifies.
2. VALLIVUE
Last season: 13-7-1, 9-2-1 4A SIC
Coach: Mariah Castillo, third season
Players to watch: Hailey Upson, jr., D; Amanda Soto, so., F; Kendal Neumeyer, sr., M
Outlook: The state consolation champs and the only 4A SIC team to seriously push Bishop Kelly last year returns six starters looking to finally end the Knights’ stranglehold. Upson (two goals, 12 assists) returns as the leader after making the all-state first team as a dangerous outside back who can join the attack. She’ll look for Alina Hernandez (18 goals, 12 assists), a Skyview transfer, and Soto (13 goals, five assists), who broke out as a freshman for second-team all-state honors. The Falcons’ defense returns largely intact, a luxury as Vallivue replaces a first-team all-conference goalkeeper.
3. SKYVIEW
Last season: 10-6-1, 8-3-1 4A SIC
Coach: Sam Lungren, third season
Players to watch: Brianna Perez, jr., M; Maddy Cantrell, so., D; Davinna Almaza, jr., F
Outlook: The Hawks enter a rebuilding season with just three returning starters, zero seniors and not enough players to field a junior varsity team. But Lungren said his team remains united and gritty. Perez leads the group as a holding midfielder who will direct traffic and bind the team together. Cantrell, a sophomore, will also step into a leadership role as the top returning player on the defensive line.
4. CALDWELL
Last season: 8-10-0, 5-7-0 4A SIC
Coach: Katelyn Benavidez-Schulte, third season
Players to watch: Chloe Sams, sr., M/F; Johanna Serrato, jr., M; Ella Walters, fr., M/F
Outlook: The Shaelyn Olsen era is over as the striker suits up for College of Idaho this fall. But while the Cougars will miss her 26 goals, they return six starters and enter their third season under Benavidez-Schulte, easing the transition. Caldwell will need to find a new offensive identity. Sams returns as the top scoring option after playing alongside Olsen, and Walters expects to make an impact as a freshman.
5. RIDGEVUE
Last season: 9-12-0, 5-7-0 4A SIC
Coach: Randy Fone, fourth season
Players to watch: Symantha Rangel, sr., F; Clarissa Castillo, sr., D; Olivia Mullen, fr., M; Sadie Miller, so., M
Outlook: The offseason was unkind to the Warhawks, who lost 11 seniors to graduation, one returner to injury and two returners to transfers. That left five players with varsity experience for Ridgevue after falling in overtime of a winner-to-state game. Castillo provides a veteran hand on the backline as a three-year starter, and Rangel returns as the team’s leading scorer (four goals). Fone expects Ridgevue to remain dangerous offensively with a young group. But that youth will need to grow up quickly before district.
6. COLUMBIA
Last season: 2-15-0, 2-10-0 4A SIC
Coach: Max Hulet, first season
Players to watch: Jacelyn Kenyon, sr., D; Maddie Lowe, jr., M; Kylie Jones, sr., GK/F
Outlook: Hulet inherits a squad with six returning starters, and he said the Wildcats will feature a patient style focused on quality possession. Jones stands as the most intriguing returner, one capable of serving as one of the league’s best goalkeepers and a potent striker (five goals). Lowe will run the midfield and a versatile weapon, and Kenyon returns as the backbone of the defense.
7. EMMETT
Last season: 0-16-0, 0-12-0 4A SIC
Coach: Rene Espinoza, first season
Players to watch: Madison Hibdon, sr., M; Yulisa Dominguez, so., M; Paige Griggs, fr., F; McKenna Hibdon, so., M
Outlook: The Huskies turn to a crew of freshmen and sophomores to change the fortunes of their program, which has lost 37 straight games and has one win in the past six years. That may not provide much experience to build off. But Espinoza said he inherits a hungry group in his second stint in Emmett. Madison Hibdon pairs with her younger sister McKenna to lead the midfield, and the speedy Griggs represents the future of Emmett as a freshman striker.
This story was originally published August 22, 2023 at 4:47 PM.
