Local girls soccer players headed to Lassen College

Lassen College women's soccer coach Ben Wade went 23-4 last season and won the Golden Valley Conference in large part because of Douglas High's Amber Gwinn.

Next season Wade wants to improve on that mark. So he came back to the area and received six more commitments. Douglas High's Molly Hernandez and Britney Christen, two players who helped the Tigers to the 2002 Northern 4A championship, both have committed to Lassen.

Wade also received a commitment from Reed High's Jilli Harris, who has been one of the area's most potent strikers the last two seasons. Harris' teammate, Teresa Grillo, will also play for Lassen. Spanish Springs' Johvanna Hellwig and Megan Clowers have also committed, as has Las Vegas Centennial High star Kasey Kirkegard. She captained the Bulldogs to the Southern Nevada championship this spring.

"Next year we have a good flow of Nevada kids coming, I would imagine because of our high profile from last year," Wade said.

He also got commitments from Heather Gravett and Deb Carey from England, as well as Canadian midfielder Missy Harington. This year's recruiting class will join an already talented returning sophomore class. Gwinn, of course, headlines the returners.

The forward scored 24 goals and had 19 assists during her freshman season. Lassen's 2002 season, its first ever, ended with a 3-1 loss to Sierra College in the Northern California semifinals. Also expected to return is Carson High's Erin Stieber, who didn't play last season because of an ACL injury. Wade is hoping the combination of Gwinn and Stieber in the midfield will bolster an already solid attack. Winnemucca's Tia Pilikian is also expected to return as Lassen's starting goalkeeper.