Sage Hill girls seek a change this season

It has been six years since Amy Ray began the girls’ soccer program at Sage Hill School and a few things have changed.

Ray is no longer fielding a team with only eight players like she did her first year. The Lightning coach remembered having to forfeit games and then the trainer and her would play so there could still be a game.

There are also more club soccer players on the Lightning’s roster. In the first four years, a player with club experience was a rare commodity. Now half the team has soccer experience outside of high school competition.

The program has also become a success. The Lightning have reached the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs each of the past three seasons, a streak Sage Hill hopes to continue this season. The Lightning have advanced as far as the semifinals and quarterfinals the previous two seasons, respectively.

“It’s been fun to watch it grow and grow,” Ray said.

One thing has not changed though, Sage Hill has yet to defeat Academy League rival St. Margaret’s, getting as close as a tie in each of the past two seasons.

“We’d like to beat St. Margaret’s,” Ray said. “They’ve lost a lot of players just like us.”

The Lightning, which finished 19-4-1 last season, will put another strong team on the field despite the losses of sweeper Kelsey Rose, who was first-team All-CIF, to graduation, junior forward Kirby Anderson to a possible season-ending broken leg and junior forward Kellee Kim, who was first-team All-CIF, who chose to be a part of the school’s theater program instead of the soccer team.

What the Lightning has lost in talent, Ray said the team will build on with camaraderie.

“The new freshman and returning players, their attitudes have been so good,” Ray said. “Everyone’s positive attitude has helped the team jell. The camaraderie on this team is a good one. And we’ve got a lot of skill. Communication-wise we’re great. Sometimes you see other teams bicker at each other on the field. With us, it’s constructive. If we didn’t have that communication we wouldn’t be as good a team.”

The Lightning also have something they haven’t had in seasons past, a goalkeeper who entered high school with experience at the position. Freshman Hannah MacLeod is the keeper Ray has never had.

“This is the first year we’ve had a true goalie come in,” Ray said.

But senior midfielders Kara Percival and Emily Webb will be the most important players on the field for the Lightning. Webb was second-team All-CIF last season.

“They control the center of the field and do a great job of leading,” Ray said. “They are the main playmakers for the team. Emily the last couple of years her skill has improved. Her touch is great and she is able to think before she passes. Physically she is really aggressive and she is great in the air. Kara, she is more smooth and relaxed. She does a great job communicating with other players. She is able to settle the team down.”

Senior right midfielder Ali McLaughlin is crucial to the scheme of the offense.

“On the outside she has a lot of speed and a lot of skill,” Ray said. “We look to her to bring the ball down the right side and get a good cross or shot off. She’s one of the fastest players on the team.”

Juniors Jules McLaughlin and Carolyn Witte will make up the core of the defense, which will take on an added importance due to the loss of Rose.

“Both are really strong,” Ray said. “Size-wise they are both smaller, but both play like bigger girls. They’re physical. Carolyn is probably going to be our starting sweeper. Jules plays club and she is probably the smallest player on the team, but plays the most physical in a positive way.”

Senior Rachel Blitzer will also be an integral part of the defense.

“She played club last year for the first time,” Ray said. “Her speed will be really important when we play good teams who have fast forwards.”

Sophomore Louisa Whitaker, a transfer from Mater Dei, will be looked to for defense from the midfield position.

“She’s kind of like a bully out on the field but she has skill,” Ray said. “She has a lot of moves to trick players.”

Junior Sara Montazami and freshman Jackie Dion will be looked at for goal scoring.

“Sara, she is one of the biggest girls as far as height,” Ray said. “She’s got a great header. She is extremely physical. She has these long legs and she gets her foot on everything.”

Senior midfielder-forward Lauren Neale returns to varsity after choosing to play on the junior varsity team last season.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work and commitment to the team,” Ray said of how the team will accomplish its goals.

Sage Hill will play host to Costa Mesa today at 5 p.m.