By CASEY OLSON, The Mirror
It was a magical season for the Todd Beamer High School girls soccer team.
The Titans rolled to their second straight undefeated record in the South Puget Sound League South Division before losing in the Class 4A state championship game in a penalty-kick shootout to Eastlake, 2-1.
And leading the way for Beamer were sophomore forward Holland Crook and senior midfielder Jordan Salisbury. The pair’s exploits on the soccer field this season earned Crook and Salisbury the Mirror’s 2007 girls soccer co-players of the year.
Crook was definitely the more flashy of the two. But that is mainly because she is more adept at putting the ball in the back of the net.
The sophomore led the Titans in scoring with 19 goals and is the daughter of former professional soccer player Bill Crook, who played for the Tacoma Stars.
But Crook’s eye-popping sophomore season didn’t come out of nowhere. As a freshman for the Titans, Crook was the team’s leading scorer with nine goals and eight assists in eight matches before tearing the meniscus in her left knee. The injury ended her first high school season.
But she came out smoking during the first month of action this year. During a stretch in September, Crook tallied four consecutive hat tricks and had 13 goals in the Titans first six games.
Salisbury wasn’t as flashy as Crook, but just went out on the field and got the job done.
The senior tallied 11 goals, but plenty of them came in huge situations. Salisbury scored game-winners during 1-0, loser-out victories over Jefferson in the West Central District Tournament and a 1-0 win over Woodinville in the Class 4A state semifinals. Salisbury also tallied the first goal in a 2-1 win over Heritage in the state quarterfinals.
Salisbury has already signed a letter of intent to play in the fall at Seattle University.
Goalkeeper
Maia Kurnik, Beamer
The Beamer senior took over the goalkeeping duties from the talented Nikki Mills, who is currently playing at St. Martin’s University, and excelled. Kurnik led a Titan defense that allowed only seven goals the entire year and tallied 16 shutouts during their 20-win season.
Kurnik also came up huge during a penalty-kick shootout win over Kentwood in the state quarterfinals when she stopped two Conqueror shots.
Defense
Jacqie Evenson, Federal Way
The Federal Way junior is one of the top athletes in the district. As a sophomore, Evenson also was All-City in basketball and competed at the Class 4A state track and field meet. Evenson was a solid defender and also scored three goals and dished out four assists, including two goals and two assists during a 14-0 win over Kent-Meridian on Oct. 2.
Kaitlin Thomas, Jefferson
The Raider senior was the heart and soul of the Jefferson defense all season and was named to the SPSL North’s first team. Thomas helped the Raiders pitch 12 shutouts and finish third in the SPSL North. Thomas had one goal on the season.
Jenna Peterson, Decatur
The Decatur captain helped the Gators reach the postseason again this season from her sweeper position. Peterson is one of the fastest players in the area and tallied one goal and one assist during the season. The Decatur defense had seven shutouts during the year and Peterson was a first-team, All-SPSL North selection.
Jessica Niewoehner, Beamer
The first-team, All-SPSL South defender helped the Titans finish unbeaten for the second season in a row in league play. Niewoehner had one goal and one assist during the year.
Midfield
Nicole Peterson, Beamer
The Titan senior proved to be one of the best all-around players in the area again this year. Peterson played all over the field and tallied seven goals and five assists while playing up front. She was also one of the best defenders in the league when the Titans were protecting a lead. She was also responsible for taking a bulk of the free kicks for Beamer. Peterson will play next year at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. The Division I school plays in the prestigious Big East Conference.
Sara Byrne, Jefferson
The first-team midfielder finished second on the Raiders’ roster with five goals and helped Jefferson finish third in the SPSL North with an 8-1-5 record. The Raiders beat Puyallup at the SPSL Tournament before losing to Beamer 1-0 at the West Central District Tournament.
Brittany Orr, Beamer
The senior was a big-time threat every time she had the ball on her foot. Orr finished with 15 goals and seven assists and had four games with multiple goals, including a hat trick during a 4-1 win over Puyallup on Oct. 2. Orr also had the game-winning shot during a penalty-kick shootout win over Kentwood in the state quarterfinals.
Kaitlyn Keyes, Federal Way
The senior midfielder finished the 2007 season with six goals and two assists for the 5-8-3 Eagles. Keyes was named to the SPSL North’s first team and tallied two goals in a win over Kent-Meridian on Oct. 2.
Forward
Amy Pate, Jefferson
The first-teamer led the Raiders in goals this season with eight. Pate’s best scoring game came on Sept. 18 when she tallied a hat trick against Kent-Meridian. Pate also had a goal during a 2-0 win over Puyallup at the SPSL Tournament.
Megan Miller, Beamer
Miller was a big-time playmaker for the state runner-up Titans. The forward was third on Beamer in points with nine goals and a team-leading 10 assists. Miller had two goals each during wins over Curtis and Emerald Ridge and had either a goal or an assist in 13 of Beamer’s 22 games.
Sports editor Casey Olson: 925-5565, sports@fedwaymirror.com
SPSL 4A North
Co-MVPs — Abby Brauer, Kentwood; Brooke Yokers, Kentridge
Coach of year — Aaron Radford, Kentwood
FIRST TEAM
F Kristen Drobny, Sr., Kentwood; F Jenny Moore, Sr., Kentwood; F Kristina Snaring, Sr., Tahoma; F Amy Pate, Sr., Jefferson; MF Kaitlyn Keyes, Sr., Federal Way; MF Abby Brauer, Sr., Kentwood; MF Jolene Crook-Meyers, Jr., Kentwood; MF Kiana Kraft, Fr., Kentwood; MF Morgan Wood, Sr., Tahoma; MF Sara Byrne, Sr., Jefferson; D Jenna Peterson, Sr., Decatur; D Jacqie Evenson, Jr., Federal Way; D Kim Dimick, Sr., Kentridge; D Rachel Bindl, So., Kentwood; D Amber Drumm, Sr., Tahoma; D Kaitlin Thomas, Sr., Jefferson, G Brook Yokers, Sr., Kentridge.
SECOND TEAM
F Laura Bressler, Sr., Decatur; F Sarah Isaac, Sr., Decatur; F Kendal Feider, So., Federal Way; F Stephanie Cummins, Sr., Kentridge; MF Ambree Forsell, Jr., Kentlake; MF Kayla Berg, So., Kentridge; MF Megan Barta, Sr., Kentridge; MF Jessica Bridges, Sr., Tahoma; MF Kelsey Learned, Jr., Jefferson; MF Mallory Murray, Sr., Jefferson; D Alleah Pac, Jr., Federal Way; D Kylee Abbott, Jr., Kentridge; D Jenae Perman, Jr., Kentridge; D Tarah Duty, So., Tahoma; D Sasha Nevin, So., Jefferson, G Courtney Johnson, Fr., Kentwood.
HONORABLE MENTION
Kentlake — Katherine Miccile, Sarah Crow, Brooke Emtman, Lexi Bolton. Tahoma — Chandra Horne. Kentridge — Casey Krier. Decatur — Rachel Markey, Cristina Valenzuela, Carissa Frazier. Federal Way — Haley Ward. Kent-Meridian — Breanna Roos, Leigh Barry, Ferin Barry, Kelsey Coughlin.
SPSL 4A South
Co-MVPs — Jordan Salisbury and Holland Crook, Beamer
Coach of year — Steve Johnson, Graham-Kapowsin
FIRST TEAM
F Holland Crook, So., Beamer; D Jordan Salisbury, Sr., Beamer; F Malia Grajeda, Sr., Curtis; F Audrey Sullivan, So., Emerald Ridge; F Midori Moorehead, So., Puyallup; F Haley Olson, Sr., Rogers; F Megan Miller, Jr., Beamer; MF Emily Billings, Sr., Curtis; MF Kelsy Villegas, Jr., Graham-Kapowsin; MF Kylee Villegas, Sr., Graham-Kapowsin; MF Ciara Peterson, Sr., Rogers; MF Nicole Petersen, Sr., Beamer; MF Brittany Orr, Sr., Beamer; D Alison Johnson, Sr., Curtis; D Jessika Carlstrom, Jr., Curtis; D Sarah Pierce, Sr., Graham-Kapowsin; D Jessica Niewoehner, So., Beamer; D Mary Wheeler, Jr., Puyallup; GK Jamie Walker, Jr., Graham-Kapowsin.
SECOND TEAM
F Nikki Johnson, Jr., Puyallup; F Janna VanderMeulen, Sr., Rogers; MF Andrea Eardahl, Sr., Bethel; MF Jacki Gillis, Jr., Curtis; MF Lauryn Helmers, Jr., Emerald Ridge; MF Brittany Jewett, Jr., Emerald Ridge; MF Kailee Jensen, So., Emerald Ridge; MF Leigh Baldridge, Jr., Puyallup; MF Alisha Timm, Sr., Puyallup; D Meghan Clary, Sr., Graham-Kapowsin; D Jessica Wetzel, Sr., Puyallup; D Nicole Morrow, Jr., Rogers; D Stephanie Cross, So., Rogers; D Megan Williams, Sr., Rogers; D Chelsea Campadore, Jr., Rogers; GK Roya Mojarab, Sr., Curtis; GK Bailey Williams, Sr., Rogers.
HONORABLE MENTION
Curtis — Lucy Lybbert, Arielle Williams. Bethel — Marybeth Hadman, Elizabeth Schibly, Kendra Phillips, Cindi Stowell, Whitney Nelson. Graham-Kapowsin — Brooke Robbins, Rose Fulgham, Melissa Ramos. Puyallup — Chelsey Stotler, Angela Austin, Ivory Harvey. Spanaway Lake — Alicia Wagner, Tenesha McFadden, Brittany Payne. Emerald Ridge — Kayla Stueckle, Lindsay Thompson, Angela Pashon. Beamer — Kaylee Huie, Maia Kurnik.
