Prep soccer previews

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on March 17, 2004 1:56 PM

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Rosewood

Coach -- Eddie Maldonado, first season

Last year -- 17-3-1, Carolina/Super Six/Eastern Plains Conference runners-up, lost in first round of Class 1-A playoffs

Gone -- Graduates Amy Farmer, Joy Dudley, Molly Kilpatrick, Caitlyn Narron and Jamie Tennant are gone; Jena Bish, Jessica Hill, Katie Dunham and Stephany LaFlamme will not be back

Back -- Stacy Ellis, Erin Thibodeuau, Stephanie Behrend amd Molly Grantham

Outlook -- Maldonado is switching positions with assistant coach Brian Brewer, and he is familiar with the team he will be leading. The team has only two seniors in Ellis and Amber Kriger, and five inportant parts of last year's team have graduated. But Thibodeau scored a lot of goals as a freshman and has been scoring goals early on and the team has some coaching consistency with the same coaches as last season still on the sidelines.

North Johnston

Coach -- Brent Walston, first season

Last season -- 11-6, lost in opening round of playoffs

Gone -- Two seniors graduated, one a starter

Back -- Martha Godwin, Jenna Gudac, Christy Johnson, Allison Hinnant

Outlook -- Walston has coached boys for 13 seasons -- many of them strong campaigns at Wilson Hunt -- but he is taking on his first girls team. He has several experienced players, including seniors Johnson at sweeper and Godwin in the midfield. Hinnant is a sophmore but experienced in goal and Gudac will see time at forward and midfield. Walston said he is "still getting to know the players and need to get to know the teams we play."

Charles B. Aycock

Coach -- John Fiddler, second season

Last season -- 9-9-1, lost in second round of playoffs

Gone -- Elizabeth Stewart graduated; Alexa Keely transferred

Back -- Jessy Lamb, Mary Beth Hooks, Paige Stewart, Christie Milleson, Angela Cecil, Rebecca Phillips, Tara Fenton, Nicole Taylor and Emily Stewart.

Outlook -- Nine starters are back and several incoming players will provide a lot of depth for the Falcons. While Fiddler sees West Carteret, Eastern Wayne and Kinston as the conference teams to beat, he said that "if we play well and can win some on the road,we should be competitive."

Eastern Wayne

Coach -- Jorg Wagner, 10th season

Last year -- 6-9-1, lost in second round of playoffs

Gone -- Marlowe Ivey is playing for Peace College; Brianne Brown is playing at N.C. Wesleyan; Lauren Pfau and Paula Parker graduated; Jessica Gillespie moved out of state

Back -- Sarah Bacon, Grace Northington, Anne Archer, Christina Fanto, Jessica Pate; Senior midfielder Kaitew Biehl is new, as are three underclass goaltenders -- sophomore Morgan Pritchett and freshmen Ashley Lish and Carol Reiner

Outlook -- The Warriors have to rebuild all over the field, using six freshmen and the two seniors, who are co-captains. Wagner said their leadership is going to be paramount to success this season. Five starters from last season are gone, but the goalkeeping and forward play have been encouraging. Wagner likes West Carteret, Charles B. Aycock and Washington as title condenters, but the defending champion Warriors could be in the mix if the younger players adapt to the varsity level of play quickly.

Spring Creek

Coach -- Michelle Cobb, third season

Last year -- 6-7-2, lost in opening round of playoffs

Gone -- Rachel Brison and Becca Kelman have graduated; five other players did not return

Back -- Jamie Lee, Rachelle Mercatoris, Christie Bradshaw and Alexandra Garner

Outlook -- The Gators lost a lot of players from last year's team and have some inexperienced underclassmen coming in that will have ot accept big roles. "The girls are going to have to learn to play tagether as a team," said Cobb.

Wayne Country Day School

Coach -- Kate Wright, third season

Last year -- 9-2-1, reached NCISAA Final Four

Gone -- Hallie Coleman, Allison Peacock, Miller Leonard, Sherri Bond

Back -- Hannah Grantham, Louise Northington, Sarah Coleman, Mimi Bridgers

Outlook -- The graduation losses included the 2003 News-Argus Player of the Year, Hallie Coleman, and three all-conference picks. But Wright likes what she has back and thinks the Lady Chargers can be competitive again. The conference is very tough with state champ Greenfield and state runner-up Rocky Mount Academy. The team is talented, with six juniors and just one senior player. The team wil lfind out what it has early on -- the first game is March 16 against defending state champion Greenfield.

Did not report -- Southern Wayne, North Lenoir.