Homestead replaces Whitefish Bay as team to beat

The Journal Sentinel staff

Being the pre-season favorite is not always comfortable.

With that label come high expectations and some pressure to perform.

On the flip side, when those expectations are met, nothing is sweeter. Just ask the Whitefish Bay girls soccer team.

A year ago, the Blue Dukes came into the season as the team to beat. And when the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament rolled around, they didn't disappoint, winning the title.

Whitefish Bay coach Mark Botterill learned from these experiences and thinks one team in the area should be ready to deal with his team: Mequon Homestead.

"They seem like they're two divisions higher than everybody in terms of talent," Botterill said of Homestead, which beat Bay, 3-1, Thursday night. "Last year, we felt the burden of expectation and that was a yoke around our necks.

"This year the yoke is passed on to Homestead. They have outstanding players in all areas of the field."

Leg 1 ends here The Highlanders aren't exactly unfamiliar with the situation, however, having won the title in 1992.

Add that recent experience with an all-state player such as Lindsay Holter, Jackie Cooper and a host of others, and Homestead is all of sudden quite strong.

"I think things will start with Homestead," said Brookfield Central coach Rich Dorn, "and then you will have all the rest fighting for it behind them."

Homestead coach Kathy Connelly, however, isn't worried about the hype.

"I've always told the players that it doesn't matter where you're ranked, it matters where you finish," she said. "It's going to come down to who plays the best as a team.

"It doesn't matter if Homestead has the best 11 individuals on the field if they don't play as a team.

"We're excited to have the talent, don't get me wrong. But there's a lot of work to do."

As for the defending champion, Whitefish Bay is not the same team it was a year ago.

A total of 12 seniors have moved on, perhaps the most critical being defender Nahid Asfari.

"I think the beginning of the Leg 2 ends here season could be tough, because everyone will be looking to beat the defending champion," Botterill said. "When you lose the entire defense, it's going to take some time.

"We have some talented players, but it will take them time to acquire the seasoning that comes with playing."

But junior Ansley Lavers is back, and that's a good thing for the Blue Dukes. Lavers, a forward, scored two of Whitefish Bay's four goals in the 4-1 victory over Cedarburg in the WIAA championship game.

As for Cedarburg, it lost star player Lisa Kryzkowski to graduation. Any player who scores 45 goals in her senior season is impossible to replace quickly. But the Bulldogs have Abby Ryan back, and coach Hayden Knight always seems to have his team ready once the season is in full swing. Keep an eye on them.

Among the other schools that should be highly competitive in the WIAA are Wauwatosa East, Brookfield Central, Brookfield East, Arrowhead and West Allis Hale, which took Arrowhead to overtime last week before losing, 1-0.

The private schools feature three teams that should stand out: defending Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Associ Leg 3 ends here ation champion Milwaukee Pius XI, Milwaukee Divine Savior Holy Angels and Waukesha Catholic Memorial.

Pius has junior standout Jenny Heft back, as well as senior Bridget Kenny, who scored the lone goal in the Popes' 1-0 victory over Divine Savior in the championship game last season.

The Dashers have junior Kelly Roethe back in the midfield and expect her to lead the attack.

"There are a lot of good players that I could mention, but I think she'll be the key for us," said Divine Savior assistant coach Rory Vees, who is standing in for coach Dan Stadler while Stadler is out of town on business.

Divine Savior started the season off well, winning its first game March 31 over Memorial, 4-1.

"I'm not sure that score is indicative of what Memorial is going to be like this season," Vees said. "I mean, I think we're going to see more from them.

"But I do think we're going to be that good."

The Crusaders have several key players returning, including goal-scoring forward Carrie Watts.

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