Girls' Soccer: Lady Tigers enjoying golden era for soccer

These are heady times at Douglas High for the Lady Tiger soccer program.

At no other time in the program's storied history has the team appeared in two consecutive regional title games, much less three.

At no other time has the team won back-to-back regional titles. Winning back-to-back state titles is something else entirely.

This group has done those things.

This junior class, a group that includes five players that have been starting since their freshman year, has won 63 games with their senior year still to come. The program's all-time winningest class was the class of 2002. They won 64 games.

The program's three winningest seasons have all come in the last three years.

This year's group had among the toughest roads to plow to get to where they ended up. They had to play through the re-formatted Northern 4A, where you see every team in the region and every game counts toward the postseason standings. And there was that little matter of the gigantic target painted on their backs after dominating the region over the prior two seasons.

But the Lady Tigers tied the school mark for wins in a season (22, equal with their performance last year) and beat everyone in the Northern 4A (with the exception of Reno, who they tied) at least once to do it.

Next year is what most programs would call a payoff year.

The Tigers are set to return 18 players (including nine regular starters and 15 who saw significant playing time) in 2011.

Eight of the team's top 10 scorers are expected back, including their top two -- Katie Dry and Tia Lyons. The duo combined for 37 goals and 29 assists this season alone.

The entire defensive unit, a group that posted state 4A records for shutouts in a season (15) and consecutive shutouts (7), should return intact.

And Douglas already started its inevitable transition for when the class of 2011 has moved on by bringing up five sophomores and a freshman this past season. All six players played key roles for the Tigers and will only improve in the coming years.

But this group will be the first to tell you that all of that -- the titles, the records, the accolades -- won't win any of the games on next year's schedule for them. That's a lesson they learned in great detail this season.

The blowback from heightened success is that everyone else's goals start including both emulating the strategies that got you where you are, and defeating you once they get there.

Also, the top Sierra League teams all played with predominantly young rosters this season, meaning Carson, Galena and Damonte will all be back stronger and more experienced.

"We're looking forward to the league continuing to gain in parity," Fitzhugh said.

Repeatedly this season, Douglas coach Lorraine Fitzhugh noted seeing better efforts head-to-head from teams than what she'd seen on film or in person while scouting.

While Douglas blew through its first eight games with little trouble, they ran into trouble first at Carson and then at home against Galena. Ironically, the Tigers had to later beat both teams in the state tournament.

Those early losses, and even a late-season tie against Reno, were gut checks for the team that proved to be valuable learning experiences for the postseason.

The Reno game was particularly troublesome, as Douglas only managed five shots on goal.

"After that, we had to get the offense to stop looking for the perfect shot," Fitzhugh said. "At practices, we started ending practice after five quality/quick shots. That got them to take more shots."

While the Tigers hit their stride in the postseason, they also had to overcome some of their greatest adversity at the same time.

Late in a 2-0 semifinal win over Damonte Ranch, defender Shannon Hubbard, who had been one of the team's most integral players all season, went down with a severe knee injury.

"When a starting defender is gone, one who played every minute in all but one game this season, it doesn't just weaken the defense but it mentally shakes up the entire team.

"Seeing Shannon take her fate bravely, we moved on knowing she would be back even stronger."

Keeper Bri Randall, Shannon Prinz, Holly Downer, Lacey Marsh and Erica Arellano all rose to the challenge in Hubbard's absence - allowing just one goal in the three remaining postseason games.

"At times we struggled clearing the ball, but they all stood up to the pressure never flinching and got some help with Bri's unforgettable saves," Fitzhugh said.

Douglas also got solid leadership from its four seniors, Alex Laing, Natalie Freitas, Sierra Bertolone-Smith and Jessica Vega.

"They'll be sorely missed," Fitzhugh said. "All 23 players were instrumental, but the seniors modeling what it means to be a part of this program helped lead us to the second state title."