When asked about their 2000 season, two local high school girls soccer coaches - Warsaw's Brent Wildman and Wawasee's Rick Shipley - said their respective teams were doing things better than they ever have before.

"We had a weak season last year, but now we're moving the ball better than we ever have before," Shipley said.

The Warriors finished the 1999 campaign with a 2-12-2 overall record and a 0-4-2 mark in the Northern Lakes Conference.

Gone from last year's Warrior squad is Katie Brown, who was the team's assist leader for three years and is now playing at Huntington College, Abbey Webb and Alex Heckaman, both juniors.

Webb will miss this season with a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament, while Heckaman moved from the area.

Shipley says his top players this year could be seniors Dana Carr and Stacy Shipley and junior Dusty Krull.

The Wawasee varsity team is made up of two seniors, eight juniors and four sophomores.

"Somebody needs to step up and score, something they've never had to do before," Shipley said. "This is the first time the girls have played indoor soccer or on a travel team (in the summer). I think we're gonna surprise some people this year."

The Warriors open their season Thursday at East Noble.

Warsaw, which finished the 1999 season with an 8-5-4 record and a third-place finish in the NLC, is without two stars from last year's team - second team All-State player Jodi Wildman and Jenna Rooney.

Returning for the Tigers, who only have three seniors on the team, are Chelsea Boyd, Kari Wildman, Meghann Faas, Kris Kurosky, Liz Wiggins, Shelby Nicol, Claire Becket, Lauren Witzky, Courtney Brubaker and Katie Hamilton.

Kurosky, Brubaker and Hamilton are the seniors.

"We have a very deep team," Wildman, the only coach Warsaw's had in the program's six-year existance. "We're building not only for this year but for next year. Our freshmen are very strong and we're more skilled than ever before. Although we're young, we're very talented."

To go with the three seniors, Warsaw's varsity team has nine juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen. A total of 21. A total that Wildman said was "a very large varsity group."

A year ago the Tigers finished third in the NLC, something that should have never happened.

Warsaw was leading the conference and was beating Northridge 1-0. According to Wildman, it became dark but the referees didn't call the game. Northridge scored and finished with a tie.

Then the Tigers tied another conference team. As Wildman said "we went from first to third with two ties."

This year Wildman says there are four teams that can contend for the conference crown, and Warsaw is one of them.

"Plymouth is very physical," Wildman said. "Northridge is solid, and Concord is always strong with the talent pool they get from Elkhart. Along with Warsaw, those are four teams that could be strong in the conference."

Warsaw opens its season Thursday by hosting Elkhart Central at the CCAC.

NORTHWOOD

Coach/years: Jill Demitruk/fourth

1999 record: 7-7-2/0-4-2 NLC

Key losses: Carrie Haney, Katie Sonner, Jessica Speed

Key returners: Tara Collins, Jamie Brock

NorthWood Athletic Director Todd Sheetz: "We're a very young team, a small team. We only have 14 girls out. We cancelled our JV season. Last year we were happy being around .500. This year may be a challenge."

WARSAW

Coach/years: Brent Wildman/sixth

1999 record: 8-5-4/NLC not available

Key losses: Jodi Wildman, Jenna Rooney

Key returners: Chelsea Boyd, Kari Wildman, Meghann Faas, Kris Kurosky, Liz Wiggins, Shelby Nicol, Claire Beckett, Lauren Witzky, Courtney Brubaker, Katie Hamilton

First game: Aug. 17 at Elkhart Central

Wildman: "Our freshmen are very good. We have a very large freshman class and a small group of seniors."

WAWASEE

Coach/years: Rick Shipley/fourth

1999 record: 2-12-2

Key losses: Abbey Webb, Katie Brown, Alex Heckaman

Key returners: Dana Carr, Stacy Shipley, Dusty Krull

First game: Aug. 17 at East Noble

Shipley: "I think Concord and Northridge will be strong in the conference this year. Plymouth lost a few girls. We're kind of on the upswing, and next year will only lose two girls." [[In-content Ad]]