Dp/Riverside Girls Kicking Opposition

Their second-leading scorer had been sidelined by injury. They have six new starters and a new coach.

But that hasn’t slowed Deer Park/ Riverside’s girls soccer march through the Frontier League.

Last week the defending league and district champions dispatched two expected challengers, West Valley by a score of 4-0 and Cheney by a 5-1 score. Today the team is at East Valley, last year’s district runnerup.

A strained thigh limited playing time for Bernice Stime, who last year scored 15 goals for Riverside.

She got her first three goals last week in three games for a team that has outscored its league foes 36-4 in five wins.

League scoring champion Katy Bowers and forward Nikki Snyder are veteran seniors and team captains who have provided stability and four goals apiece for a relatively young team.

Sophomore Tracy Koesel has become the team scoring co-leader with freshman Larissa Mueller at seven scores.

Two other frosh, Jamie Rizzuto, four goals, and Kyla Hotchkiss have moved into the starting lineup this year for first-year varsity coach Lisa Collins.

“I think they can step up and do the job the (six graduated) seniors did,” she said. “The only thing that might hurt is their immaturity. They are very aggressive and have played select or premier since they were knee high to grasshoppers.”

Collins, formerly the junior varsity coach, teaches a different style than former coach Brandt Houston. If a play didn’t produce a goal, he would have his players retreat and begin again.

“We do a lot more attacking,” said Collins, “and really try and work on plays to the finish.”

Other regulars for the team are sophomores Brooke Dornquast, Jami Baker, junior Lauri Faraschuk, seniors Amanda Davis and keeper Jennifer Higgins.

Others on the team are junior Lisa Pansie, sophomore Cassidee Hall, junior Abby Langbehn and seniors Erica Ostrom, Somer Cook, Annmarie Porter and Amanda Plummer.

Mead soccer team at Albi

Joe Albi Stadium was made over this year to accommodate soccer as well as replace a worn-out turf.

Unbeaten Mead will play the inaugural match at 4 p.m. today when the Panthers host University.

Originally the game was scheduled for Monday at Mead Junior High.

The Panthers entered the counting portion of the GSL season with a 6-0 record.

Included was a 4-1 non-league decision over the Titans.

Topsy turvy football league

After three weeks of Greater Spokane League football, expect the unexpected.

If there is one constant that would be 3-0 Mead, the league’s only unbeaten team. So far the Panthers have won by an average margin of 19 points per game.

Each week there have been upsets - if they can be called that. Included has been 2-1 Shadle Park’s win over 1-1 Gonzaga Prep and two games involving 1-2 Rogers.

Last week was North Central’s turn to surprise. The 1-1 Indians beat the Pirates, who were fresh off a shutout victory over Lewis and Clark, which shares second with Shadle.

Statistically, the Pirates had a 197 to 147 total yardage advantage, allowing only 71 rushing yards and 76 passing.

But they had five turnovers to NC’s one, including a fumble forced by Brandon Harmer that produced the Indians’ winning touchdown.

As one GSL coach remarked, “Everything is so even you have to win the turnover ratio or there’s no one in league that won’t beat you.”

Next up for the Indians is LC at Albi tonight at 6:30. Mead and Rogers play Friday at 5:45 p.m.

Panthers two-time rival

Ranked second and third in state again, both Mead’s and University’s cross country teams annually have been among the Greater Spokane League’s best girls programs.

Last week the teams met twice in four days, in their league opener and at the Curtis Invitational in Tacoma.

Both times the results were identical, Mead winning threepoint victories.

By time, however, the Panthers gained ground. Heidi Bartholomew moved ahead of the Titans’ top finisher.

Rachae Probst (her name was inadvertently listed as Heidi in the pre-season preview story) and Cami McVay were the Panther numbers three and four runners in the meet.

They placed in front of teammate Kelley Mattingly, whose finish last Wednesday had been instrumental in the league win over U-Hi.

, DataTimes