Douglas High girls soccer
A look at 2021 Douglas High varsity girls’ soccer team. Pictured in front, from left to right, are Beatrice Henry-Greard, Sky Rasmussen, Kylee Lash Mackenzie Compton and Seara MacPherson. In the middle, from left, are Aleeah Weaver, Johanna Ruelas, Olivia Rodina, Kylie Martin, Bailey Rozier, Amara Brown and Hannah Schaeffer In the back, from left, head coach Andrew Robles, Zoe Baligad, Shalia Moe, Camden Miller, Ava Coons, Helene Henry-Greard, Campbell Dedmon, Melanie Telles and assistant coach Janelle Martin.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
Douglas High girls’ soccer coach Andrew Robles has never been shy about his expectations.
Entering his third season as head coach, Robles and the Tigers have played in back-to-back regional finals in his first two seasons and he fully anticipates being back in the regional finals this season.
“There’s a lot of expectations, but we know there are expectations. So, this is nothing new.” Robles added.
However, not being able to practice outside will put Douglas in a tougher spot when they’re able to get back out on a full field.
“We’re ready fitness-wise. … The air quality has not allowed us to do anything outside,” said Robles. “There are definitely teams we have to keep an eye out for.”
Galena doesn’t have last spring’s Gatorade Player of the Year in Isabella Flocchini, but Robles anticipates the Grizzlies to still be in the mix at the top of the region.
For the rest of the teams, it’s a bit of a toss-up between graduating seniors and the lack of contests in the season’s early going.
A benefit this fall is the entire region will get to face everyone twice, compared to last fall where one meeting decided the regular-season series.
“We just need to get a game or two under our belt and let the nerves get out of the way,” Robles said. “We’ve done this before and it’s our year.”
Breaking down the roster
Douglas will be without four seniors – Kennedy Cole, Madi VonAhsen, Hannah Shaw and Kamryn Harper – three of whom made the all-region teams at the end of last spring.
Douglas will be heavy with upperclassmen this season, boasting nine seniors and four juniors on the varsity roster.
“This senior class has been in our program and playing style for three years,” Robles said. “Their JV season, a lot of them went undefeated.”
Douglas’ leading scorers from last season in Helene Henry-Greard and Campbell Dedmon both return to the turf this spring.
Henry-Greard posted six goals while Dedmon had four.
Rising junior Seara MacPherson scored three times last season and will be back on the field this season for the Tigers.
Seniors Bailey Rozier, Henry-Greard, Dedmon and goalkeeper Kylie Martin are the captains for the Tigers this season.
“She’s very vocal in the back,” said Robles of his keeper. “She’s made varsity since her freshman year.”
Martin is a junior this season, but has been an active part of the varsity team since she first step foot on the high school grounds.
Camden Miller and Kylee Lash are also back as juniors this season.
Along with the wealth of upperclassmen, Robles and the Tigers have a couple of younger players that saw time last spring.
Ava Coons and Aleeah Weaver tallied five goals combined as freshman last season and Robles fully expects them to continue making waves around the region.
“Not only do we have a strong 11 that knows what it takes to make it far, but we also have depth,” said Robles. “I’m excited about this season.”
Douglas anticipates kicking off its season Friday night at Spanish Springs after the Cougars fell 4-0 to Carson earlier this week.
On Saturday, September 11, Douglas will get its first look at Galena.
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