SHS girls soccer 2017 season preview:
Head coach: Derek Vander Velde (second year)
2016 record: 7-5 in the Olympic League, 11-8 overall
Returners: Claire Henninger (sr.), Adare McMinn (sr.), Yana Hoesel (jr.), Nathalie Torres (jr.), Kristina Mingoy (so.), Eden Johnson (so.), Jessica Dietzman (so.), Daisy Ryan (so.), Hope Glasser (so.), Gabby Happe (so.), Jillian Hutchison (fr.)
Newcomers: Mikayla Geniesse (so.), Olivia Hare (fr.), Natalya James (fr.), Mary McAleer (fr.), Abby Shroeder (fr.), Alexis Smith (so.), Miranda Williams (jr.)
Last season was a big year for Sequim’s girl soccer squad.
The Wolves won 11 games, the most in school history, and they won the program’s first ever postseason game on Oct. 29, 2016 — a 1-0 win over Steilacoom.
They also came close to the school’s first state berth days later on Nov. 3 against rival Port Angeles, but the Wolves lost 2-1 in a shootout with the Roughriders, who sank three penalty kicks to Sequim’s two.
Despite the accolades — including multiple individual All-Olympic League awards and league Coach of the Year for Sequim’s Derek Vander Velde — the SHS coach said a .500 record for the girls is realistic.
It’s the same prediction he made in 2016.
“It’s a rebuilding year for us,” Vander Velde said. “We graduated our entire backline.”
That includes All-Olympic League defender Erin Vig and Chloie Sparks, so the Wolves are relying on two-time, All-Olympic League first team goalie Claire Henninger to help continue a winning mindset form the backfield.
“It’s a building process as we push these girls to play differently,” he said.
“Instead of just thinking defense, we want them attacking,” Vander Velde said. “We’re asking players who played defense their whole lives to try offense and pushing them to try something new for the benefit of the team.”
Henninger, who posted nine shutouts last season, has been Sequim’s goalie since a few games into her freshman year and excelled despite five- and three-win seasons in 2014 and 2015.
“I’m looking to go far above last year,” she said. “I want to leave my mark on this program and step up my leadership by being more of that voice that the other girls listen to and respect.”
Henninger said she’s been busy going to soccer camps this summer and is looking to play in college.
“I want to instill a mentality to take it seriously because for some of us it’s our last year and we want people to focus,” she said. “It’s sort of like the saying you want to leave the program better than you found it.”
On the offensive end, the Wolves see senior midfielder Adare McMinn and sophomore forward Jessica Dietzman back on the field. Both earned all-league second team honors.
They’ll look to contribute to an offense that scored at least two goals five times in 2016.
Following the disappointing, season-ending loss to Port Angeles, players and coaches both said the Wolves surprised opponents throughout the season after years of tough losses.
Vander Velde said after opening the 2016 season with a 4-0 loss to Archbishop Murphy (who went on to take third place at the 2A state tournament), no one on the Sequim squad felt they’d later be in a position to go to state.
“I think it’s possible,” Henninger said about replicating that success this season. “I’d love to see it happen and go further.”
Vander Velde thinks the girls can definitely go farther than his .500 prediction, too.
“I know they can do better than that, but it’s baby steps when working with so many underclassmen,” he said.
“We’re looking to push them to a level they’re not used to but what I know about this team is they want to learn and push themselves.”
Like last season, the Wolves open against Archbishop Murphy, this time at home on Thursday, Sept. 7. Sequim gets a home match against Chimacum on Saturday, Sept. 9. The Wolves get their first Olympic League action against the Olympic Trojans in Silverdale on Sept. 12.
Midfielder Nathalie Torres drives a kick by Wolves’ Head Coach Derek Vander Velde in a recent practice. Vander Velde said this year is a rebuilding year but he knows the team wants to learn and push themselves. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
Kristina Mingoy, right, drives past teammate Daisy Ryan in a recent practice. Both girls helped Sequim win 11 games last season, its most ever in the program’s history. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
Derek Vander Velde, Sequim girls soccer head coach, seen talking to players at a recent practice, said this season he is pushing new players on the varsity squad to “try something new for the benefit of the team.” Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
