Girls Soccer | Small schools looking like bigger competition

Many of the area's best girls soccer players are showcased in front of the smallest crowds. Net-burning shots, ankle-breaking moves and Velcro-like touch on the ball go nearly unseen and unnoticed.

That's because they play for small schools.

But led by Seattle Academy junior Sierra Keeler, one of the state's leading scorers, soccer players from Class 2A and 1A schools are changing the perception of small-time programs. Many are earning college scholarships and leading teams that have narrowed the talent gap with the 3A and 4A schools.

"I feel strongly that with high-school soccer, especially the girls, classifications really don't matter anymore," said Dick Henderson, girls soccer coach at Archbishop Murphy of Everett.

Keeler, a forward for the 20-1 Seattle Academy Cardinals, has recorded at least one goal or assist in each of her team's games this season. She has 34 goals and 16 assists.

After honing her skills at a summer soccer camp in Bolivia — where she had to run up sand dunes and through rivers for conditioning — Keeler often wonders what it would be like to play against a 4A school.

"It would be a great test for our team. I don't know if we'd win, but we'd give them a game," said Keeler, whose father played football in college and mother was an Olympic rower from Yale.

Keeler's mother, Ginny Gilder, is one of the local women who bought the WNBA's Storm this year.

People have told Keeler, the unanimous Emerald City League MVP, that she is "a hidden talent" by playing at a small school. Her coach Rob Phillips has heard college coaches say they hope to sign Keeler before she gets more national attention.

"Almost everyone I've talked to has said they think Sierra's success will only get better at the next level," Phillips said.

The Cardinals also boast an Oregon recruit, junior defender Achijah Berry, who is recovering from a knee injury.

Seattle Academy's only loss in its march to this weekend's 1A state semifinals in Sumner was in the district championship to fellow 1A power King's of Shoreline.

The Knights have a couple of stars of their own. Senior Kendall Thoreson, the Cascade Conference MVP, committed to Northwestern, and junior Hillary Zevenbergen is receiving college interest with 21 goals this season.

King's coach Nicole Gabelein credits new opportunities at smaller schools for the trend of increasing talent.

"Our program has only been around for three years, so in the past girls would have to go play at other schools," said Gabelein, a King's alum who played soccer for Henderson at Cascade of Everett.

Henderson, who says he has his most talented team this year at Archbishop Murphy, offered another hypothesis: more players at smaller private schools in Western Washington play high-level club soccer.

Led by Washington recruit Lindsey Bos, Archbishop Murphy has already clinched an eighth straight trophy with another 2A semifinal appearance.

The Wildcats also have college recruits in Melissa von der Hofen (Eastern Washington), Brittany Allen (Portland State) and others with offers yet to make a commitment. Sophomore Caroline Brawner is in the U.S. national team player pool for her age bracket.

When asked about the thought of moving up to a bigger league, like the Metro League, Henderson said, "I think we could compete at that level."

Every small school in the area, it seems, has a great soccer player or two.

Perhaps the area's best player, Lucretia Lee of Cedar Park Christian in Bothell, hasn't been able to play high-school soccer due to a knee injury. She has a scholarship offer from UCLA.

The Bush School tandem of Chloe Cross and Maggie Graham have combined for 48 goals, 22 assists and are top club players.

"The talent pool in this area for girls soccer the last five to six years has been absolutely incredible," Phillips said.

And don't forget to look at the small schools to find it.