By Matt Phelps

The Mercer Island High School girls soccer team has been a state contender over the past three years. In 2003, the team made it all the way to the state title game.

The core of those teams has moved on with the loss of eight players who graduated. Although the team will look a bit different on defense, the hunger for a state title is still there.

“We have a ton of kids with a ton of experience,” said Mercer Island High School girls soccer head coach Bryan Mazza. “They feel that it is finally their time to show what they can do.”

Senior midfielder Nance Hill is one of those players whose time to shine has come.

“We are going to surprise some people,” said Hill, who was named to the second team all KingCo last season. “We have goals and we have really high standards.”

The team has had some of the best defense in the state over the last few seasons. Kathryn Meagley’s shutout streak of 600 minutes last year was a big part of the success that the team enjoyed. But this year will be different with the loss of four key defenders in front of the keeper.

“It is not going to change my mental game,” said Meagley. “I just need to help the defense more by communicating with them.”

The new defense may make other teams overlook Mercer Island and Mazza knows a good start is key: “(Meagley) understands that this is a different group and she understands the responsibility she will have to talk and direct more. After three or four games we should be just fine.”

Learning each other’s reactions to different situations quickly may mean the difference between challenging for the 3A KingCo title and just a playoff spot.

“These kids understand how long the season is and how important it is to win every game,” said Mazza. “And a lot of these players know how to win down the stretch.”

One team that will stand everyone’s way will be Issaquah. The defending state champions took the 3A KingCo title from the Islanders by just one game last year, despite losing twice to Mercer Island in head-to-head games.

“We have to take it away from them,” said Mazza. “They are the defending champs and they earned that.”

One advantage that the program has now over past years is that the talent is spread throughout the grade levels.

Hill is the biggest leader on the team.

“We have clear leadership this year,” said Mazza. “Last year, with so many seniors, it was more of a group leadership thing.”

Junior forward Lauren Govier and junior midfielder Liza Stillman are also returning starters for the team.

“We know how hard to work,” said Meagley. “We know where we want to go and we are going to do our best to get there this year.”

Players like sophomore midfielder Alix Michael and junior Monique Schreiber will make the Islanders strong next year, too. The offense will be one year older, and one year smarter as well.

Mazza said that he looks for great things from Michael this year. She was named to the second team all KingCo last year and was third in scoring in the league as a freshman.

“I think she understands the game better,” said Mazza. “We have a really smart group of players that just make good decisions.”

The team will have to rely on those good decisions, as they will be their main asset.

“We have speed and strength in places but the overall feeling of the team is that they make smart decisions,” said Mazza. “With this team the biggest difference from the past is that they have no one telling them how to do it. The have the room to do it their way.”

But doing it their way will still have to be done in 3A KingCo, one of the toughest leagues in the state.

“I can’t wait to come out and show them how good we are,” said Hill. “We need to focus on our game and play hard every time we come out. We may play a little harder against Issaquah, but will play hard every game.”

Head coach: Bryan Mazza (sixth year at MIHS and ninth overall, 57-18-13 at MIHS)

Assistant coaches: Niel Chasan, Mark Feibig and Reed Atkin.

Last year’s record and accomplishments: 12-2-1 in regular-season and 14-4-2 overall. Second in 3A KingCo and made it to the state quarterfinals.

Key Players lost: Brynn Regan — Defender; Kelly McLeod — Defender; Lynne Tempest — Defender; Liz Oldenburg — Defender; Madeleine O’Meara – Midfielder; Jennifer Doane – Midfielder; Monica Alfieri -goalie, Brooke Bourguignon, Kelly Houtchens and Kate Elston – Forward.

Key athletes this season: Nance Hill (Sr) -Midfielder; Alix Michael (Sp) – Forward; Liza Stillman (Jr) -Midfielder; Monique Schreiber (Jr) -Defender; Kathryn Meagley (Jr) – Goalie; Lauren Govier (Jr) – Forward; Betsy Dain-Owens (Sr) – Defender; Sara Ramsay (Jr) – Midfielder and Ali Caditz (Jr) – Midfielder.

Key new comers: Christina Neary (Sp) – Goalie; Tiffani Louie (Sp) – Goalie; Laura Vogel (Jr) – Defender; Meghan Flaherty (Jr) – Defender; Raquel Isherwood (Sr) – Defender; Jen Harrison (Jr) – Midfielder; Megan Harrison (Sp) – Midfielder and Allison Ulie (Sp) – Forward.

Strength: Good experience in key positions.

Weakness: Experience playing together on defense.

Keys for a good season: Come together fast.