Analy returns 11 players to talented squad
Dominant has been the best way to describe the Analy girls soccer program under head coach Brittney Briones during the past three years, a run that has produced three league titles and yearly trips to the North Coast Section playoffs.
The defending champion Lady Tigers are showing no signs of slowing down this year in the inaugural winter campaign, returning a strong nucleus of 11 varsity players that are ready to continue their winning ways.
“Our goals will remain the same as any other season before–we want to compete for an SCL and NCS title,” Briones said. “That’s our goal every year, especially since this is probably the last year of the SCL (before realignment of high school sports league next fall). “We want to continue to learn from each other and grow as individuals and players.”
Among the key returnees for the Tigers are talented junior defender Tannin Klunis, versatile junior midfielder Isabelle Housman, sophomore midfielder Lily Ziemer, junior defender Megan Lucas, senior forward Emily Gristch, senior midfielder Claire Brown, senior midfielder Sydney Hargrave.
Expected to make a big impact this season are seniors Kiara Heacock, Jennah Copeland, juniors Riley Yates, Elena Hernandez, Thora Butler and Zaida Jenkins, sophomores Kaija Bazzano, Jaden Grude, Macee Wacholz, and freshmen Deja Burry, Isabella Gilbraith, Maisy Butler, Prisa Niedermair and Rachel Harris.
The 2017/18 season figures to be an adjustment for teams used to competing in a fall schedule, with the elements possibly dictating game pace and flow as both the boys and girls soccer schedules shift to a winter sport.
“Moving to winter does not greatly change our strategy,” Briones said. “The ball will move quicker and will be slicker, but we will adapt to that and continue to practice in those conditions. While it may make the game a little less clean, quicker and mistakes more likely to happen, I’m confident our players will rise to the challenge.”
Also new to the league this year is the addition of Sonoma Academy, a team that may have a say in the race for the league crown.
“We expect to compete for the SCL title and have a tough battle for it, especially with Sonoma Academy joining the league this year and our mentally and physically tough games against Petaluma, Sonoma Valley and El Molino,” Briones noted. “Our pre-season schedule is tough this year, playing almost every team in the NBL, but that’s to help prepare us for the (league) season and hopefully playoffs.”
The Tigers opened the preseason schedule at home against Maria Carrillo on Nov. 28 (after press time), host Rancho Cotate on Monday, Dec. 4 (7 p.m.) and will visit Windsor on Wednesday, Dec. 6 (6 p.m.).
