MOUNT BAKER

MOUNTAINEERS

Coach: Brenda Ellis

Last year: Finished seventh in the Class 2A Northwest Conference standings with a league record of 3-9-1. ... Did not qualify for postseason and finished 3-11-2 overall.

Players to watch: Jamie Johnson (jr., GK); Sarah Finger (sr., M); Kayla Williams (sr., D); Jessa Baisden (jr., D)

Outlook: If the saying "success is measured in numbers," holds true, the Mountaineers have reason for optimism this season. New Mount Baker soccer coach Brenda Ellis said 40 girls attended tryouts, and Baker's varsity roster is filled with upperclassmen. Among those is junior Jamie Johnson, who's developed into one of the top goalkeepers in the Northwest Conference. Sarah Finger returns up top after taking a year off to travel. She should help Mount Baker score a few more goals this season, which Ellis said has become a point of emphasis within the team. "We really want to be aggressive with the ball this year," Ellis said in a phone interview. "We have a lot of returning players and have a really strong junior class." Senior Kayla Williams gives Mount Baker a strong, veteran presence in the middle third, and Jessa Baisden is a strong defender the Mountaineers can rely on to help Johnson. Baker appears to be a team on the rise.

2012 ROSTER

No. Player Yr. Pos.

1 Jamie Johnson Jr. GK

2 Nicole Boardman Jr. M

3 Ivy Locke Jr. F/M

4 Olga Shoak Jr. M

5 Grace Douglas Jr. D/M

6 Sylvia Lynch Jr. D

7 India Hines Jr. F

8 Jensen Bertrand Fr. F/M

10 Kayla Williams Sr. D

11 Bailey Butenschoen Fr. F/M

12 Jessa Baisden Jr. D

13 Alyssa Linderman Sr. M/F

14 Ashley Stephens Jr. M

17 Lacey Postlewait So. F

18 Sarah Finger Sr. M

19 Brittany Fedenuik Jr. F/M

20 Taylor VanBrocklin Fr. M

2012 SCHEDULE

Sept. 4 at Anacortes 6 p.m.

Sept. 6 Lynden Christian 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 8 at Nooksack Valley 1 p.m.

Sept. 11 at Bellingham (Civic)* 7 p.m.

Sept. 13 at Ferndale* 4 p.m.

Sept. 18 Friday Harbor 4 p.m.

Sept. 20 at Lynden Christian* 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 25 Nooksack Valley* 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 27 Sehome* 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 2 Lynden* 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 4 at Burlington-Edison* 6 p.m.

Oct. 9 Sedro-Woolley* 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 11 at Blaine (Pipeline)* 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Squalicum (Northwest)* 4 p.m.

Oct. 18 Anacortes* 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 22 Meridian* 4:30 p.m.

*NWC game

Reach ANDREW LANG at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call ext. 862.