Fall sports preview: Strong mix fuels SHS girls soccer squad’s hopes in 2022

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, September 14, 2022

The numbers at Sequim High’s girls soccer preseason practices were not great: with some possible returners opting out and others injured, SHS coaches were considering going with a varsity only team.

But thanks to a few late additions and a surge in a strong ninth-grade class, coach Ken Garling and company have enough Wolves to field a solid 15 varsity players and a JV squad this fall.

And while those early roster totals may have been a bit sketchy, Sequim returns several players from a 2021 team that racked up impressive numbers, out-scoring foes 50-14 in the regular season.

“We’ve got a lot of solid returners,” Garling said. “And they all get along well. They work hard together, emphasize team and atmosphere.

“The biggest thing is, they have patience. They communicate well and trust the process. A lot of them played club [soccer]. It’s going to be fun watching them.”

Back is all-Olympic League first team forward Taryn Johnson, who peppered opposing goalies with a team-high 24 goals in 2021 and added eight assists (second). She racked up six hat tricks in 2021.

“It’s her speed and technical abilities [that make her a great player],” Garling said of Johnson.

“She’s solid on the ball and maybe even more so off the ball. She can create space for herself.”

Garling said he’s looking to Johnson, junior Kaia Lestage and seniors Alexandria Salas and Alliyah Weber as on-the-field leaders.

If opponents focus on Johnson, that opens up opportunities for Gomez, Weber and others, Garling said.

“Then its, pick your poison,” he said. “[Johnson] is a great teammate; just her presence makes everybody better.”

Garling said he’s got high expectations for Gomez, who had four scores and three assists last fall.

“I’d like to see this be her breakout year,” he said of Gomez.

Also back is sophomore Ivy Barrett, an all-Olympic League second-teamer, and junior Teagen Moore, who had four goals in 2021.

The Sequim coach said he’s asking his players to be a bit flexible in terms of playing positions they may not be used to.

Last fall, the Wolves earned a 10-4 Olympic League mark, splitting season series with state qualifiers Port Angeles and North Kitsap, and went 1-2 at districts, missing a state 2A tourney berth by one game.

“It was a challenge, but it was also fun” Garling said of 2021, his first year leading the Wolves’ varsity team. “We’re hoping that momentum can carry over from one season to the next.”

The Wolves lost a key figure from its 2021 in four-year varsity star Hannah Wagner, now playing for Peninsula College’s Pirates. Wagner, a first team all-Olympic League player tallied 19 goals and a team-high 12 assists. Sequim also lost to graduation starting goalkeeper Addie Smith, who had four shutouts this past fall.

“Last year was pretty phenomenal; Hannah was a big part of that,” Garling said.

But having Wagner around in some preseason practices and on the Peninsula — the all-Olympic League first-teamer plays for the highly-ranked Peninsula college team — is a bonus for his players.

“They can see this journey, from club to high school to a successful junior college program,” Garling said.

He said he expects traditional Olympic League powers Port Angeles, North Kitsap and Bainbridge will be tough once again in 2022.

“We want to win our league, make the playoffs and … have an opportunity to get to state,” Garling said.

Sequim opened the season at North Mason on Sept. 13 (results were not available at press time).

The Wolves are at Port Angeles on Thursday, Sept. 15, and host Olympic on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

Fall sports preview:

SHS girls soccer

Head coach: Ken Garling (second year)

Assistants: David Breckenridge, Vianey Cadenas

2021 record: 10-4 in Olympic League, 1-2 at districts; 11-6 overall

Key returning players: Kaia Lestage (jr.), Jennyfer Gomez (jr.), Taryn Johnson (jr.), Alliyah Weber (sr.), Alex Salas (sr.) Teagen Moore (jr.), Ivy Barrett (so.), Mikiah Winter (jr.)

Newcomers: Jenna Mason (sr.), Eve Breithaupt (jr.), Kalli Grove (so.), Libby Turella (so.), Raimey Brewer (fr.), Kiley Winter (fr.), Ava Ritter (fr.)

2022 SHS girls soccer schedule

Date Opponent Time

Sept. 13 at North Mason 6:45 p.m.

Sept. 15 at Port Angeles 6:45 p.m.

Sept. 20 Olympic 6:45 p.m.

Sept. 22 at North Kitsap 6:45 p.m.

Sept. 27 at Bainbridge 6:45 p.m.

Sept. 30 Bremerton 6:45 p.m.

Oct. 4 at Kingston 6:45 p.m.

Oct. 6 North Mason 6:45 p.m.

Oct. 11 Port Angeles 6:45 p.m.

Oct. 13 at Olympic 6:45 p.m.

Oct. 18 North Kitsap 6:45 p.m.

Oct. 20 Bainbridge 6:45 p.m.

Oct. 25 at Bremerton 6:45 p.m.

Oct. 27 Kingston 6:45 p.m.

Note: Junior varsity games are at 5 p.m. or 5:15 p.m.