By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
After a disappointing season a year ago, the Stevens Point Area Senior High girls soccer team is looking to bring back at least a little magic to the program which perennially contended for state tournament berths.
Under new coach Sharon Peterson, the Panthers will try to improve on last year's sixth-place finish (5-6-1) in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. Many of the girls saw SPASH's runs to Madison first-hand as ballgirls and Peterson said they want to reclaim the program's glory.
"They are a focused group. The motivation kind of comes from within themselves," Peterson said.
"I think they see 'now we're here and want to keep the tradition.' They saw that and I think it's a big motivation."
One way for the Panthers to start a turnaround is to win close games. That always didn't happen last year and Peterson said the Valley is only getting tougher.
"I think last year they were disappointed, they lost some games that could've gone either way and they want to improve on that," Peterson said.
Many of those same players on last year's team are back as eight of the team's 11 starters have varsity experience. Junior forward Megan Oswall, senior midfielder/forward Amber Lenze, junior midfielder Abbey Peterson, senior midfielder Mandi Michelkamp, senior defenseman Hayley Lazarski, junior defensemen Kim Reese and Robyn Arttus, and junior goalie Janel McCarville are returnees and are slated for in the starting lineup. Sophomore defenseman Hillary Loomis and freshmen Mary Leton (forward) and Kristy Piotrowski (midfielder/forward) are starting as well but are new to the team.
Oswall (the team's leading returning scorer in the WVC with six goals), Peterson and McCarville were all named as honorable mentions to the All-WVC team.
Off the bench, senior midfielder Abby Hebert returns. She'll be joined by senior Ann Nguyen and junior Katie Ensign at forward; junior Beth Wright at midfielder; freshman Brittney Carapezza at defenseman; sophomore Cristin Kowalski at several positions; and senior Nikki Falkowski at goalie.
SPASH will try to replace Melissa MacDonald, Gretchen Marz, Mandy Mendleski and Tracy Konopacky.
"We have a strong nucleus and they're good leaders. The younger ones on the team have skill," Peterson said. "We have kids who were sophomores last year who established roles last year.
"I think we're pretty well-rounded. They're very comfortable with each other. They communicate with each other."
Although it's her first season as head coach, Peterson didn't really have to introduce herself to the players. She said she knew most of the team from coaching in recreation leagues and she had some as students. "There wasn't any of that 'getting to know you'," she said.
In the WVC race, the Panthers will have to battle with the likes of Wisconsin Rapids, defending champion D.C. Everest, Wausau West and Rhinelander.
"It's more balanced than I think in the past. Every game is going to be a tough competition," Peterson said.
"I think the Valley's gotten stronger every year. The team, I think, will be competitive this year."