Gladstone High School's girls soccer team has graduated some key players off of last year's team. But that doesn't mean the Gladiators won't be competitive in the Tri-Valley Conference and in the state this season.
The Gladiators developed into a state powerhouse during the tenure of retired head coach Steve Thomas, who was head coach at the school for 16 seasons — 1998-2013. Thomas' teams won seven league titles and three state championships; and they made it at least as far as the quarterfinals eight times.
Greg Hess, who had assisted Thomas since 2003, took over as head coach last year and the program continued successful, with the varsity going 14-4-1 and giving 2014 state champion Valley Catholic a run for its money in last year's semifinals, while the Gladiator jayvee went 11-1-1.
The Gladiators have lost some key players to graduation, including Riley Webster, Molly Webster and Mikaela Simac.
Riley Webster last season led Gladstone in scoring and was Tri-Valley Conference "Co-Offensive Player of the Year," along with Corbett midfielder Christina Krieger, who returns this year as a senior.
Webster had starred in-goal for the Gladiators for four seasons, while Simac had been the defensive anchor.
Still, Hess likes this year's team.
Molalla returns nine players who received league all-star recognition from last year's team that went 10-0-0 in the TVL.
Although they are missing some of last year's top players, the Gladiators also have experience.
Players returning with varsity experience include: seniors Kat Kerr (defense), Jessica Petersen (defense), Allie Seymour (midfield), Allie Nordby (midfield) and Ali Petruzzi (forward); and juniors Hailey Harlan (midfield), Rielee Jaekel (midfield) and Mackenzy Peterson (defense).
Jaekel was a first-team all-conference selection last season.
Rounding out this year's varsity roster are: senior Ashley Henry (forward); juniors Daisy Thompson (forward) and Sierra Smith (defense); sophomores Jacia Pena (defense), Halee McClaflin (defense), Grace Campbell (midfield/defense), Cameron Cronin (defense/midfield) and Renee Baker (midfield); and freshman Jaden Barnum (forward).
The Gladiators have demonstrated that they have a lot of offensive weapons in early preseason play.
Nordby, Campbell and Barnum scored goals in Gladstone's season opener, a 3-0 shutout of Sisters.
Campbell moves up from last year's successful jayvee team; Barnum comes from the successful Thelo youth program.
Hess had his Gladiators with a 20-4 advantage in shots on-frame in the Sisters game.
Four players scored for Gladstone in a 5-0 rout of North Marion. Seymour found the net twice, while Petruzzi, Jaekel and Nordby scored single tallies.
Hess had his Gladiators with a 20-5 advantage in shots on-frame.
Nordby scored in a 2-1 loss to Scappoose and in a 1-1 standoff with Philomath.. Scappoose lost in the semifinals last year, while Philomath lost to Corbett 3-2 in the first round of the state playoffs last year, after dropping Gladstone 1-0 in preseason.
Gladstone team captains — Stirling, Kerr, Seymour and Jaekel — have high aspirations again this year.
Gladstone (2-1-1) begins TVC league play next Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Estacada (1-2-1). The Gladiators entertain Crook County (2-1-0) on Sept. 24.
Heading into this week's games, Molalla (4-0-0) was ranked the top Class 4A girls soccer team in the state. Gladstone and Corbett (4-0-0) were ranked sixth and ninth respectively.