PREP GIRLS' SOCCER PREVIEW: Bellingham

Last year: 15-4, 11-2 NWC. Finished second in NWC. Eliminated from Class 2A Northwest District Tournament.

Key players: Sierra Rivers (Sr. MF), Shannon Gowan (Sr., MF), Brooke Steinberg (Jr., MF), Kim Cooper (So., F), Linden Figgie (Sr, D), Emma Anderson (Sr., D)

Outlook: It's been more than 10 months since a disputed penalty kick late in a winner-to-state game of the Northwest District Tournament ended Bellingham season short of the state playoffs, but the Red Raiders are still feeling the effects of the 1-0 loss to Cedarcrest. "The seniors (this year) feel they let the season end on a tough call," Wright said in a phone interview. "They're motivated to get back there and change things ... They've decided they're not going to let that happen again. They are approaching it the right way." Bellingham certainly has enough seniors who remember that loss, with eight on its roster. "They're a great group of kids," Wright said. "They're stoked to get going, and they've been practicing hard." Bellingham returns its second-leading scorer in Rivers (11 goals, five assists), and she will be relied on as the team must develop an ability to score goals. Wright said he expects the Red Raiders to be strong up the middle with Gowan (three goals, two assists) at center midfielder and Steinberg (two goals, three assists) playing as a defensive midfielder. Expect Bellingham to be one of the teams to grab the four automatic bids to the 2A district tournament this fall, but where they're seeded could play a big role in whether the Red Raiders get back to the state tournament for the fifth time in seven years and erase the memories of last year or not.

ROSTER

No., Name, Yr., Pos.

2, Emma Anderson, Sr., D

3, Shannon Gowan, Sr., MF

4, Kelly Hayden, Jr., MF

5, Jeanine Knapp, Sr., MF

6, Sierra Rivers, Sr., F

7, Grace Moore, Sr., MF

8, Linden Figgie, Sr., D

9, Kim Cooper, So., F

10, Emily West, Sr., MF

11, Brooke Steinberg, Jr., D

12, Emma Wayerski, So., D

13, Megan Mullarky, So., D

14, Sarah Peeples, Jr., MF

15, Annali Wallin, Jr., D

16, Janelle Paxton, Jr., D

17, Joy Robinette, So., F

18, Claire Leischner, Jr., MF

19, Hannah Wade, Jr., G

20, Bri Smith, Fr., D

GK, Erin Peterson, Sr., G

SCHEDULE

Sept. 9, at Cedarcrest, TBA

Sept. 11, Mount Baker (at WCC), 6 p.m.

Sept. 13, Blanchet (at Civic Stadium), noon

Sept. 16, Nooksack Valley (at Northwest Fields)*, 4 p.m.

Sept. 18, Sedro-Woolley (at Civic Stadium)*, 7 p.m.

Sept. 23, Meridian (at Civic Stadium)*, 7 p.m.

Sept. 24, at Mount Baker*, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 30, Lynden (at Civic Stadium)*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2, at Burlington-Edison*, 6 p.m.

Oct. 7, at Mount Vernon*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9, Blaine (at Northwest Fields)*, 4 p.m.

Oct. 14, at Anacortes*, 6 p.m.

Oct. 16, at Lynden Christian (at Bender Fields)*, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 21, at Squalicum (at Civic Stadium)*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 23, Ferndale (at Northwest Fields)*, 4 p.m.

Oct. 27, Sehome (at Civic Stadium)*, 7 p.m.