Seniors enter final season together

Still sweating from a grueling conditioning exercise in the direct sun, the Lakewood soccer team groaned when their assistant coach informed them theyd be running the next day absent their head coach.
Lakewood girls coach Jeremiah Wohlgemuth said he enjoys the good cop-bad cop dynamic he has with assistant coach Vaughn Vandelac. For one thing, hes the good cop. For another, he says, neither he nor Vandelac really have to be the bad cop with this group of athletes.
It has been nice to be able to sit back a little and they know what to do, Wohlgemuth said. Weve just had zero problems from these girls.
Wohlgemuth added that the coaches and the Cougars squad have a particular regard for each other. Its Wohlgemuths fourth season as head coach, and many of the girls have been on his varsity squad since their freshman year.
As a result, this senior-laden squad Wohlgemuth estimated 13 seniors on this falls roster has a lot of experience playing varsity and a lot of experience playing together. After winning the programs first-ever playoff game last year, Wohlgemuths expectations for this team are high.
My goal for this team? To finish top three in the league, he said. We had the talent to go to state last year.
With years of practice under their belts, the team has a lot of things going for them. The coach ticks off their advantages.
Were moving away from things weve always worked on, like throw-ins, to tactics, Wohlgemuth said.
The positions are kind of solidified, but were pretty versatile, he added. Id say 75 percent of the squad can play two positions, maybe three.
And it goes almost without saying that girls who have spent their high school careers playing together have an understanding of each other. They are good friends with good chemistry, according to their coach.
A quartet of seniors hopes to lead the Lakewood faithful to the promised land of the postseason.
Jeneca Hoidal lettered in soccer in each of her three previous seasons and midfielder Courtney Prosser returns as the teams free kick specialist. Once again, Emily Steinborn will tend the Cougar net and striker Hayley Bustad hopes to capitalize on a junior campaign in which she tied the Lakewood High School record for goals scored in a season.
She should take over records for career goals and goals in a season, Wohlgemuth said.
With the pieces in place for a solid season, Lakewood kicks off with a pair of non-conference games before starting their league schedule Sept. 11 against Sultan. The Cougars will get a chance to truly test their mettle against the best of the Cascade Conference when they meet Kings Sept. 13 and conference champs Cedarcrest Sept. 18 in home matches.
This senior-heavy Cougar team has the talent. This will be their defining season.