SK's Westermann, Polen earn spots on first-team

The South Kitsap Wolves’ girls soccer team came within one game of reaching the state tournament, largely based on the success of their defense.

“During my tenure, the defense has been our strength,” second-year South Kitsap coach Scott Sodorff said. “Not to slight the offense, but the defense has been very strong. It’s been a hallmark for us the last two years.”

The Wolves, who finished with an 11-5-1 record, never allowed more than two goals in a match during the regular season. For that reason, a pair of South senior defenders -- Ashley Polen and Kayliegh Westerman -- have been selected to the all-Kitsap County girls soccer team.

“Those two, talk about dominate,” Sodorff said. “They’ve been a big part of the defense since their freshmen years. They’ve been there to shutdown other teams for all four years they’ve been South Kitsap Wolves.”

The all-county team, made up of eligible players from schools in Kitsap County, was voted on by the sports editors and writers of the Kitsap Newspaper Group, including the Port Orchard Independent, Bainbridge Review, Bremerton Patriot, Central Kitsap Reporter and North Kitsap Herald.

2007 All-Kitsap County Girls Soccer Team

F — Siara Byers, North Kitsap, sophomore — Byers was one of the fastest forwards in the Narrows League. She finished with a team-high 16 goals for the Vikings despite being double- and tripled-teamed by opponents throughout the season. In the Vikings final game of the season Central Kitsap surrounded Byers nearly every time she touched the ball.

F — Brandi Hamre, Central Kitsap, senior — Few Kitsap players possess the powerful shot Hamre hammered her opponents with this season. Hamre, one of the West Sound’s top goal scorers since her sophomore season with CK (she started as a freshman), Hamre set career bests for herself this season with 26 goals, accounting for more than half of the Cougars’ goal scoring this fall. Hamre, who will play for Seattle Pacific University next year, also had nine assists and finished her career with 65 goals and 28 assists.

F — Jacki Hill, Bremerton, senior — Hill created a match-up problem for every team she faced. Her state-track championship speed also is a bonus on the soccer field. Despite routinely having two defenders marking her throughout matches, she still scored 16 goals and made five assists. She ended her high school career tied for the school record in goals with 45.

MF — Hannah Anderson, Central Kitsap, sophomore — Anderson improved immensely in her second season on varsity and was a strong second offensive option to Hamre, as she scored 13 goals and dished out 10 assists this season.

MF — Sierra Cook, Klahowya, senior — Previously a cross-country standout, Cook decided to play soccer this year and scored 20 goals while adding eight assists. She helped Klahowya advance to state for the first time since 2001.

MF — Liz Curry, Olympic, senior — Despite playing several positions, Curry was the Trojans’ best player no matter where she lined up. She paced Olympic with 15 goals and 12 assists as the Trojans advanced to state for the first time in seven years. Curry, who will play at the University of New Mexico next year, dropped back to sweeper after an injury and ejection in the Trojans’ 1-0 playoff loss against Lakeside.

MF — Stephanie Skelly, North Kitsap, senior — Skelly not only was one of the Vikings’ top scorers with 12 goals, she also was one of their most unselfish players. Recognized as the fastest player on the team, Skelly also had the vision to set up teammates for goals as she finished with a team-best seven assists.

D — Jordan King, Central Kitsap, senior — After missing last season with an injury, King returned as the Cougars’ top defender. She not only was a strong marker -- she routinely was assigned the opponent’s best offensive player -- King also helped the CK offense with three goals and two assists.

D — Ashley Polen, South Kitsap — Polen finished with five goals and two assists despite missing some time with injury. Along with Westermann and Alyssa Nystrom, she helped the Wolves slow down the league’s top-scoring offense in a 3-1 win Sept. 27 against Olympia. “Her knowledge is what sets her apart,” Sodorff said. “She does such a good job of knowing her responsibilities and making sure everyone does what they’re supposed to.”

D — Kayliegh Westerman, South Kitsap — Led the Wolves defense that allowed just 10 goals during the regular season — the third fewest among 11 teams in the Narrows League.

“Kaileigh is really outgoing and hard working,” coach Scott Sodorff said. “There’s no one who’s going to give more effort than her.”

GK — Pepper Fanua, Olympic, senior — Fanua was responsible for 10 shutouts this season, including the Olympic League’s second-place team, Klahowya, and North Kitsap, which finished fourth among 11 teams in the Narrows League with 41 goals. Fanua, who made a habit of punching out corners and charging anyone who dared attempt to take her one-on-one, led a Trojans’ team that allowed just eight goals this season.

Coach of the Year — Steve Haggerty, Olympic — Haggerty long has been regarded as one of the top coaches in the area. But 2007 was a special season for Olympic as the Trojans advanced back to the state tournament for the first time since 2000. Haggerty’s Trojans allowed just eight goals this year while scoring 61 of their own. Oly finished 14-2-0 overall, winning the Olympic League title for the second consecutive season while also going undefeated in league for the second year.

Honorable mentions

D – Kathryn Deveraux, Bainbridge, senior — Deveraux, who scored one goal this season, consistently was solid for the Spartans this season, taking on the best the Metro League had to offer and keeping them from dominating the game.

D — Karina Hoogstede, North Kitsap, senior — Hoogstede anchored a defense that only allowed 1.44 goals per game. She marked the opposing teams best player and usually shut her opponent down. While her name didn’t show up in the scorebook all too often, her play on the field was an instrumental part of the 2007 season for the Vikings.

MF — Meghan Antoni, Kingston, junior — Meghan Antoni was “Miss Do-it-all” for the Kingston Buccaneers this season. Antoni led the team from center midfield position, scoring seven goals while tallying six assists. “Meghan was the hardest working most experienced person on the team,” Smith said. “She was a big-time leader for us. She was most marked player by other teams this year.”

GK — Ellen Boyd, Central Kitsap, senior — Boyd helped CK advance deep to districts as the Cougars allowed 20 goals in 16 games. Boyd wasn’t responsible for all those, though, as she averaged less than a goal per game. Along with Hamre and King, the upcoming graduation of Boyd will leave CK without all three of it’s co-captains next year.

MF — Allie Brown, Olympic, junior — Brown was a spark plug for the Trojans, coming up with big goals when Oly seemingly needed them most. Finishing with 10 goals and 10 assists, Brown will go a long way in helping the Trojans fill the void left by Curry and fellow seniors Kayliegh Badger, Rachel Haas and Kelsey Anchors.

D — Anna Stewart, Klahowya, senior — The Eagles, long known for being a tough, physical defensive team, allowed just 14 goals in 16 games this season in front of first-year keeper Kazandra Holliday. A virtual ball magnet, Stewart could clear anything from anywhere on the field at any time.

GK — Lakesia Nilles, King’s West, senior — A four-year starter, Nilles turned aside 98 opponents shots during the year. “She’s without a doubt the best goalee in our league,” coach Rick Nohmy said.

D — Jenn Smalley, Bremerton, senior — Smalley was one of the Knights’ catalysts all season long from the backfield. But her contributions weren’t on defense alone. Smalley also scored twice while assisting on five Knights scores.

UTIL — Katie Anderson, South Kitsap, senior — The Wolves used Anderson, who finished with two goals and two assists, just about everywhere. She played in the midfield and at forward before moving to defender when Polen was injured. “Katie Anderson has such a great attitude,” Sodorff said. “When we have a hole, she’s ready and willing at a moments notice.”

MF/F – Lucy Donohue, Bainbridge, senior — Donohue, a senior co-captain, tied for the team lead in goals with six and also contributed three assists. “Lucy and Kelsey (Thompson) I felt most confident in putting the ball in the back of the net,” Druker said.

MF — Eyla Le, North Kitsap, freshman — One of the Vikings’ smallest players, Le finished her freshman year with five assists and two goals. Le controlled the transition game, setting up Skelly and Byers for countless breakaways through the middle of the field.

F — Kayla Campbell, Kingston, freshman — Campbell led the Buccaneers with eight goals and five assists. “She was our leading goal scorer,” Smith said. “How many freshman can do it on a varsity team? She was the fastest player in the league and is a future college athlete. She’s a phenom.”

MF — Kate Berni, Central Kitsap, senior — Berni was a more-than-servicable athlete for CK the past three seasons. A scrappy mid that could also play defense, Berni contributed four assists to the CK offense this season.

D — Brielle and Amanda Kadramas, Olympic, juniors — The sisters not only share an honorable mention on the All-Kitsap County team, but also share spots as cogs of Olympic’s defense. Both Kadramas sisters mix physical play with defensive prowess to help shut down opposing offenses.

D/MF — Jenna Whetsel, Klahowya, junior — Another big reason behind Klahowya’s defensive onslaught, Whetsel spent a lot of the year at stopper, making use of the position’s name by stopping many taller, stronger girls seemingly with ease.

D — Maddie Johnson, King’s West, senior — Also a four-year starter, Johnson was a field leader for the Warriors.

D — Kelsey Johnson, Bremerton, junior — A solid defender who possesses size and speed, Johnson specializes in one-on-one match-ups, winning most of them. She also briefly moved to the forward line, hitting the game-winning goal in overtime against Sequim.

MF — Kylie Balstad, South Kitsap, senior — The Wolves lacked the experience up front they had defensively, but Balstad helped compensate for that with five goals and a team-high eight assists.

“Ability-wise, she’s our best player,” Sodorff said. “Her ball handling, vision and distribution (are outstanding).”

MF — Kelsey Anchors, Olympic, senior — Anchors, who will play softball at Oklahoma State, also was a standout soccer player. She scored six goals and had five assists for the Trojans.

D — Alyssa Nystrom, South Kitsap, junior — Another member of the Wolves’ standout defense, Nystrom also contributed offensively with a goal and three assists. “I think Alyssa was our breakout player of the year,” Sodoff said. “It was total dominance at her position. The engine never stops -- she keeps working on every play.”

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