With a crop of younger and first-year varsity players infused into the lineup, the Douglas girls' soccer team still found its way into the regional playoffs for the 13th consecutive year.
The Tigers were able to win the games they were supposed to and even pulled off a couple surprises late in the year as they settled into second-year coach Lorraine Fitzhugh's system.
While the team will lose standout Morgan LeFever, who broke state records for goals in a season (26) and goals in a career (56), they will return a number of solid players from the rest of its balanced scoring attack.
Allie Freitas took large strides this season, scoring seven goals and four assists and Michelle Day added five goals and one assist.
Krista Anderson, Delaney Battista, Katie Nalder, Rachel Van Roy and Meghan Emerson filled out a strong offensive unit that put up a total of 58 goals this season.
Defensively, the Tigers improved every game with its best play coming late in the year with a 298-minute scoreless streak that spanned from the second half of their last matchup with South Tahoe to the first half of the regional playoffs against Reed.
In the middle of that was an impressive 1-0 upset over Reno - a team which sported perhaps the best midfield in the league.
Leading the team defensively was sophomore Tina Dantin, Marisa Bertolone-Smith, Lisa Christen, Dany Heidt, Jessi Chitwood, Allison Andraski and goalkeeper Jamie Greer.
Douglas finished the year ranked No. 7 in the Sierra Nevada Sports Media Poll with a 10-6-4 record overall and 8-3-3 record in league play.
The Tigers pulled off two ties with South Tahoe and tied eventual league champion Carson early in the year.
They dropped a 2-0 game in the first round of the regional playoffs against eventual regional and state champion Reed.
To top it off, the Tigers went unbeaten at home with a 5-0-3 record, stretching their unbeaten streak to 10 games at home. Their last loss was to Carson in early October of 2005.
In the last three years, Douglas has won 21 games at home, tying four and losing just two.
While the Tigers say goodbye to seniors that accounted for 40 of their 58 goals on the year, they will bring in a junior varsity class that went 10-3 on the year, outscoring its opponents 64-24.
DOUGLAS GIRLS' SOCCER
Finish: Northern 4A Regional quarterfinalists; Sierra League 4th place.
Record: 10-6-4 overall, 8-3-3 Sierra League.
MVP: Morgan LeFever, M/F, sr. Finished with school, region and state 4A records for goals in a season (26) and goals in a career (56). Came back from a severe ankle injury during the spring.
Gamebreaker: LeFever. There was no more exciting player in the region this season. She played a big role in each of Douglas' close games and led the team in assists (5) as well.
Unsung hero: Lisa Christen, D, jr. Christen was arguably one of the top utility players in the league this year, playing at eight different spots during the course of the year.
Most Improved: Jamie Greer, G, jr. Greer entered the year with little varsity experience, but stepped right in and posted six shutouts on the year. She was helped, of course, by a phenomenal defense, but made some spectacular saves along the way while growing into a field leader.
Best game: South Tahoe 3, Douglas 3, Sept. 19. Odd that the Tigers' best game would be a tie, but Douglas gave the previously perfect Vikings a surprise, jumping out to a 2-1 lead at one point.
Starters lost: 7.
Returners: 5 starters, 5 reserves.
-- Joey Crandall can be reached at jcrandall@recordcourier.com or at (775) 782-5121, ext. 212.
