Teams will compete in Oak and Redwood Divisions
The high school girls soccer season is set to get underway this month, bringing with it plenty of excitement and anticipation for players and coaches.
The local landscape will have a different look and feel this year following comprehensive league realignment, a configuration that has Analy and El Molino occupying different North Bay League divisions.
The Lady Tigers, who hung the last five Sonoma County League pennants, will play in the tough NBL Oak Division along with local juggernauts Montgomery, Maria Carrillo, Windsor, Cardinal Newman and Ukiah, while the Lions compete in the Redwood Division with Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Elsie Allen, Rancho Cotate and Piner.
Veteran Analy coach Brittney Briones returns following a tremendous 2017-18 campaign that produced an 18-3-3 record and a trip to the North Coast Section championship final.
The Tigers figure to hold their own against the area’s best teams again this season, returning a solid core of veterans to a multi-talented squad.
Although an official varsity roster is not yet in place, key returnees for the team include the entire defensive back line of goalie Kaija Bazzano, Megan Lucas, Macee Wacholz and Tannin Klunis. Also back is midfielder Lilli Ziemer, one of the top players in the league.
“These players were the heart and rock of our team, and we feel very fortunate to have them all back this year,” Briones said, referring to her back line. “Lilli has great vision and is able to provide our forwards with great balls through.”
Overall, it should be an interesting season for an Analy squad that was rarely challenged in the SCL for the past few years, with each of the games on this year’s schedule figuring to have an almost playoff-like atmosphere.
“Bob (Ryan) and I are excited by what we’ve seen so far in practice and are looking forward to playing in the Oak Division,” Briones said. “Our goal this season is to play hard, grow, learn and win. The girls are really looking forward to this new season with the realignment. We know the teams might be tougher, but we look forward to the challenge and see where we stand,” she added.
Lions ready to roar
The upcoming winter campaign should include a level playing field for El Molino under returning head coach Emily Farrant, a luxury the team hasn’t enjoyed in years. The Lions should be a serious contender for the league title, should things fall into place this season.
El Molino is coming off a solid 2017-18 season that included a 7-13 overall record, which earned the team another NCS playoff berth. The sky could be the limit this year.
“We expect to compete and be competitive with all the teams in our league,” Farrant said. “Every year the team has risen to the occasion and battled against difficult teams. This year is no exception. We’ll be playing some very good teams, and we plan on being a force.”
The Lions will be led by eight varsity returnees, including seniors Lily Dittman, Chloe Kliegl and Bridget Nicleas.
“We’re looking forward to having three strong senior returnees as our leaders this year,” Farrant noted. “Bridget has been our standout keeper from the start, while Chloe keeps our back line strong and Lily has an eye for the goal.”
Also returning to the team is a solid nucleus of experienced players in Kiara Garcia, Payton Tamayo, Carma Wilson, Elizabeth Lovera and Savannah Hebert.
