PREP GIRLS' SOCCER PREVIEW: Meridian

Last year: 19-7, 7-6 NWC. Finished sixth in NWC. Finished second in the Class 1A Northwest District Tournament and won the 1A Bi-District Tournament title. Won the Class 1A State Championship, beating LaSalle 1-0 in the championship game.

Key players: Brittany Schindler (Sr. G), Anna Fast (Sr. D), Terri Tigert (So., D), Mariya Melnyk (Sr. F), Alex Hull (Jr., F)

Outlook: So after winning Whatcom County's first girls' soccer state title, what does Meridian do for an encore? After losing only four seniors, the Trojans are hoping for a repeat. Meridian also must replace coach Rick Maloy, who moved from the area. Jacoby takes over after being an assistant with the program, and he inherits a club with eight seniors on its. "Obviously we lost some very talented players, but this group of seniors is just amazing," Jacoby said. "They know how to get it done, and they want to do it again." Among the returners are Schindler in goal, Melnyk, who led the team with 21 goals and seven assists last year, and Hull, who scored 10 goals last year and who Jacoby said could score as many as 20 this year. The Trojans will have some big shoes to fill in the center of their lineup, though, with the graduation of Miranda Heslep and Karli Hurlbut, who combined for 26 goals and 37 assists. Jacoby said he plans to move Tigert up from stopper to the center midfield, and he expects that move will once again make Meridian a force up the middle.

ROSTER

No., Player, Yr., Pos.

GK, Brittany Schindler, Sr., G

2, Kim Tigert, So., D

3, Alicia Wolf, So., MF/F

4, Hannah Belanger, Fr., MF/F

5, Alexis Wolf, Jr., MF

6, Terri Tigert , Sr., MF/D

7, Brenda Hagen, Sr., MF/D

8, Emily Byrum, Sr., MF/F

9, Kayla Thetford, Jr., D

10, Haley Hull, Fr., MF/F

11, Randi Donahue, Fr., MF

12, Heather Edgley, Jr., MF/D

13, Mariya Melnyk, Sr., F

14, Whitney Mason, So., MF/F

15, Kaitlin Frost, Sr., D

16, Anna Fast, Sr., D

17, Jayme Newby, Sr., D

18, Kela Goodwin, Fr., MF

19, Hannah Suhadolnik, So., MF

20, Alex Hull, Jr., F

21, Ali Wasel, Fr., G

24, Kassi Travis , So., MF/F

SCHEDULE

Sept. 9, LaConner , 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 11, at Lakewood, TBA

Sept. 16, Ferndale* , 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 18, Blaine*, 4:30 p.m.

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

Sept. 24, Burlington-Edison*, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 27, at Friday Harbor, 1 p.m.

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

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

Oct. 7, at Lynden Christian (at Bender Fields)*, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 9, at Mount Vernon*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14, Mount Baker* , 4:30 p.m.

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

Oct. 21, at Anacortes*, 6 p.m.

Oct. 22, at Sehome (at Northwest Fields)*, 4 p.m.

Oct. 27, Sedro-Woolley*, 4:30 p.m.