2010 girls soccer preview: Carson looks for deep run

Carson fell just short of its goal of reaching the state tournament last year, but with nine returning players the Senators have reloaded and are ready for another successful

season.

Coach Randy Roser's Senators went 13-2-4 last season and lost in the second round of the zone playoffs.

Heading the list of returnees is fullback-midfielder Natalie Stevens, goalie Emmy Heller, goalie-midfielder Kenzie Tillett, forward Kate Schulz, midfielder Arran Rumbaugh, midfielder Eliza Matley, midfielder Kaitlyn Holmes, fullback Ali Cowan and fullback Brianna McCord.

Top newcomers are Brenda Torres, a forward, senior Monica Chavez and sophomore Michelle Sandage.

"I don't have any concerns," Roser said. "The chemistry on this team is one of the best ever. If we're lacking in talent, we'll make up for it with team chemistry.

"It will be interesting to see what happens when we play a good team. Every time these girls step on the field they give it everything they have."

One of the most pressing issues Roser faces is what to do in goal. He believes that Heller and Tillett are the two best keepers in Northern Nevada.

"Tillett could be all-league keeper or all-league field player," Roser said. "Emmy had a good spring. I worked with her a lot. It would allow us to use Tillett in the midfield.

"Emmy worked with coach (Jason) Koop every week. It was a matter of her getting confidence and knowing her players. She was telling players where they needed to be."

Carson's defense took a hit when Nikki Updegrove suffered a season-ending knee injury over the summer.

"That's tough," Roser said. "She was the No. 1 defender in the north. We'll find someone to take Nikki's place. Her understanding of the game made her the player she was."

Updegrove's injury leaves Natalie Stevens as the best backline player on the team. Brianna McCord, Allison Cowan and Michelle Sandage are candidates to join her at fullback. McCord missed part of last season for academic reasons.

"You may see her more in the midfield this year," Roser said, but he also added if the season started tomorrow that Stevens would be at fullback again. "She just doesn't do anything wrong.

"Brianna is looking great right now. Many people may not remember her. She's very fast.

Sophomore Rumbaugh, Matley and Holmes are candidates to join Tillett in the midfield if Heller can handle the keeper duties to Roser's satisfaction. Matley was a first team all-Sierra selection.

"She (Matley) is looking really good," Roser said. "Arran seems to be everywhere when she's out there. The one big thing about this team is that we have people that we can use in different places."

Schulz and Torres are expected to start up front. Torres played on the JV squad last year, while Schulz was in a reserve varsity role.

"Kate is just a big (tall), strong girl," Roser said. "She's one of the girls people will be surprised about when they see her."

Dayton

The Dust Devils return 10 players from a team that went 7-4-1 in Northern 3A play and 7-9-1 overall.

Wins will be tougher for the Dust Devils this year thanks to the recent NIAA realignment which moved South Tahoe into 3A.

"We will have a much rougher league this year," coach Jared Miklich said. "Ninety percent of our players don't have the experience or opportunities that many players from the lake teams benefit from. Proper conditioning and getting the girls physically ready and in shape for the season also is a concern.

"We have a good keeper (Natasha Wells) protecting the goal. Most of our starters are returning, so hopefully we can build on the chemistry that they started last year."

Wells was the defensive MVP of the league. She recorded 150 saves during the season.

Protecting Wells will be junior D.J. Ply, sophomore Savannah Parsons and senior Magdalena Landa, who sat out last season.

The top offensive player returning is forward Maribel Ledezma, who scored 13 goals and added eight assists en route to first-team all-3A honors. Joining her up front is senior Susie Melgarejo, who scored five goals last year.

Midfielder Amber Brooks, another first-team 3A selection, scored six goals and added six assists. Her midfield teammates are sophomore Devon Cates and junior Serena Pistilli, scored four and three goals, respectively.

Senior Heather Knudson, who plays various positions, is back after scoring four goals and dishing off two assists.

Midfielder Samantha Langer also returns. She was injured in the first half of the season and finished with two goals and five assists.