Girls soccer: Several teams feature experienced returners

None of the local teams won their conferences last season, but multiple schools earned a playoff spot. 

This season, more-experienced teams should challenge for league titles and make deeper postseason runs.

Despite missing the playoffs last season under first-year head coach Taylor Graham, Springfield (4-7-2) was able to improve upon the team’s 1-11-2 record in the year prior. Now in her second season, Graham looks to push this development further. 

Springfield fielded a team in 2024 with five freshmen and seven sophomores, totaling 12 underclassmen on varsity. On top of this, the Millers had only five seniors. 

Now with more experience for both the players and coach Graham, the team is in a prime position to take the next step into the playoffs. 

If Springfield gets off to a hot start – a likely outcome given their first three opponents combined for five wins last season – it could be the confidence booster it needs to get to the postseason.

Thurston

After losing to Putnam 3-2 in the first round of last season’s playoffs, the Colts head into this season with a new head coach. 

Browning Stupp has spent years coaching boys and girls soccer in Texas. Now at Thurston, he looks to bring his success to the Colts. Stupp’s record coaching girls soccer is 52-20-11. 

Thurston’s defense last season was a major strength as the team never let in more than three goals in a game all season. 

While the defense shone though, the offense struggled. Each of Thurston’s highest-scoring games (wins by 3+ goals) came against teams well under .500. Meanwhile, Thurston fell to each opponent they faced who made the playoffs. 

While the Colts can demolish lesser competition, they have trouble playing with the big dogs. If Stupp can improve the team’s offense, Thurston becomes real dangerous, real fast.

Cottage Grove

2024: 5-6-3, 3rd in Sky-Em League, No. 21 in 4A

Head coach Sarah Leonard brought Cottage Grove to the postseason play-in game in her first season with the team.

In that game, the Lions (5-6-3) fell to Hidden Valley / New Hope Christian 2-0. 

Now heading into this season, Leonard and the Lions look to build on last season. 

With 13 returning players – including seven of those being starters – the Lions are banking on team development to push them forward this year. 

One player who can help push the team ahead is the forward, Brielle Engle. Engle finished last season as the team’s top scorer, which helped her earn an all-league first team selection.

This season, she’ll be gunning for first team again while helping the Lions score more frequently. Engle will be joined by her fellow senior and all-league second team selection Autumn Leach. Leach –who plays midfield – is also strong on offense and will assist in the team’s scoring. 

This isn’t just a team for seniors, though, as Sadie Cardwell played her way onto varsity as a freshman in ’24. While playing is impressive, excelling is just outright incredible, as Cardwell found herself selected to all-league second team alongside Leach. 

While the seniors are known for their offensive prowess, Cardwell gets it done on defense. Her unmatched endurance and willingness to put her body on the line makes Cardwell a coach’s dream.

The Lions have a mix of experienced seniors – and underclassmen who are ready and willing to learn from them. If the team clicks early, it will click often, and Leonard could very well find her Lions in the mix of contenders.

Creswell 

Creswell (8-4-3) put up a solid campaign in the 2024 season before falling to Four Rivers in the first round 1-0. To build off the successes of last season, seventh-year head coach Dan Smathers must keep the team hungry after that loss. 

Creswell lost only two seniors at the end of last season – an invaluable statistic given this young team already made the playoffs. 

The Bulldogs could have up to seven seniors and nine juniors returning to their team, totaling at 16 upperclassmen. These players now have a taste of the postseason and it’s likely they’ll be back. 

That isn’t to say Creswell’s schedule is easy, though, because it’s just the opposite.

The Bulldogs face last season’s Special District 3 champs Central Linn (13-0-1) twice in 2025. Creswell plays in a tough league and it will be facing each of its league opponents twice this season as well.

If the development of this team continues and the former young players on this team take the reins to lead, the Bulldogs will be the top dogs of this league.

Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill (10-4-3) finished last season with a playoff win before getting knocked out in the second round. 

This season, the team is looking to make it further. The Billies retained 10 players from last year’s team, nine of whom were starters. 

Along with the returners, the team has seven “athletic” freshmen joining this season. 

Looking at the team on paper, Pleasant Hill is well-rounded. 

Players like Ashlynn Johnson and Kenna Caldwell-Copeland headline the defense. Johnson is the vocal leader of the defense, communicating with her team while defending the back line. Caldwell-Copeland is the anchor at goalkeeper who made all-league first team in Special District 3 last season, and all-state first team in Class 3A.

Zoe Dilts and Trinity Smead lead the offensive unit. Dilts is the main playmaker of the team, with masterful distributing ability and technical skill with the ball, she is sure to get teammates involved.

Top returners in a scrimmage last week with the boys team. JOSIE HEACOCK / THE CHRONICLE

While this is something she’s always excelled at, the Billies look to get her more shots of her own in her junior year.

Smead, on the other hand, plays with speed as the team’s striker. She’ll look to use her strength and overall athletic ability to provide goals.

Going into his fifth season as head coach, Chris Hammond looks to make this one special.

He notes the team already has great chemistry, but to win the division, they’ll have to beat stiff competition. 

Class 3A/2A/1A runner-ups Central Linn – which didn’t suffer a loss until the championship game — await the Billies in Special District 3. 

Pleasant Hill faces the Cobras twice in 2025 while also taking on Special District 3 runner-ups Sisters twice.

If the Billies can overcome a tough schedule and finish at least 2-2 in these games, they’ll have proved they can compete with anybody. 

GIRLS SOCCER 2025

COTTAGE GROVE

HEAD COACH

■ Sarah Leonard in her second year at Cottage Grove … 5-6-3 Cottage Grove and career record.

2024 SEASON

■ Recap: 5-6-3, 2-3-3 in league play …3rd in Sky-Em League … Lost Play-In to Hidden Valley / New Hope Christian 2-0 … No. 21 in Class 4A. 

TOP THREE GAMES

■vs. Junction City, Oct. 1, 6 p.m.
■at North Bend, Oct. 6,  6 p.m.
■vs. North Bend, Oct. 22, 5 p.m.

Senior night 

■vs. North Bend, Oct. 22, 5 p.m

TEAM BREAKDOWN

■ Varsity returners: 13

■ Returning starters: 7

TOP RETURNERS

■Brielle Engle, Forward, Sr.

Notes: Last season, Engle won SBLive/SI Oregon Girls Soccer Athlete of the Week early in the season and finished by earning first-team all-league honors. She led the Lions as the team’s top scorer. 

■ Autumn Leach, Midfield, Sr. 

Notes: Leach is returning this year after earning second-team all-league last season. Her offensive skills make her a strong center midfielder who can put the ball in the back of the net.

 ■ Sadie Cardwell, Defender, So.

Notes: Last season, Cardwell earned a starting varsity spot as a 9th-grader and finished the season earning second-team all-league. Cardwell gets her body on the ball, making her an excellent defensive player.

TEAM STRENGTHS

■Excellent goal scorers throughout our midfield and forwards. Brielle Engle, Autumn Leach, and Addison Voelkel are all players a team can count on to put the ball in the back of the net. 

■Senior leadership is outstanding. The seniors are all in on creating a team environment that is supportive and inclusive. 

■Incoming 9th-graders are eager to earn their spot. They’ve jumped in seamlessly to practices.  

Coach Leonard says: “After finishing 3^rd in league last season and making it to a play-in game, the girls are hungry to earn one of the play-off spots this year. They showed up on the first day of practice this season with a drive and determination that was palpable. We have the opportunity for a great year ahead of us, and I have no doubt the girls are ready to put in the work to make it to the play-offs.”

CRESWELL

HEAD COACH

■ Dan Smathers in his seventh year at Creswell … 29-46-7 Creswell and career record.

2024 SEASON

■ Recap: 8-4-3, 7-2-3 in league play … 3rd in Special District 3 … Lost to Four Rivers 1-0 in first round of playoffs … No. 11 in Class 3A. 

TOP THREE GAMES

■vs. Central Linn, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m.
■vs. Pleasant Hill, Sept. 23, at 6:30 p.m.
■vs. Sisters, Otc. 23, 6 p.m. 

Senior night

■vs. Sisters, Otc. 23, 6 p.m. 

TEAM BREAKDOWN

■ Varsity returners: 12

■ Returning starters: Forwards (3), Mids (2), Defenders (4), GK (1)

TOP RETURNERS

■ Kylie Leonard, GK. Sr

■ Elliette Kinney, Mid, No. 11, Sr.

■ Raelee Green, Def, Sr.

■ Mila Nguyen, Forward No. 9, Jr. 

■ Jordyn Marklin, Mid, No. 10, Sr.

NOTABLE NEWCOMER

■ Kinslee Roberts, No. 15, Jr.

TEAM STRENGTHS

■ Maturity

■ Focus

■ Drive

PLEASANT HILL

HEAD COACH

■ Chris Hammond in his fifth year at Pleasant Hill … 41-15-8 Pleasant Hill and career record.

2024 SEASON

■ Recap: 10-4-3, 7-3-2 in league play … 4th in Special District 3 … Lost to St.Mary’s Medford 1-0 in the second round of playoffs … No. 13 in Class 3A. 

TOP THREE GAMES

■ at Central Linn, Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m. 

■ at Creswell, Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m.

■ at Sisters, Oct. 21, 5 p.m.

Senior night

■ vs. La Pine, Oct. 23, 4:30 p.m.

TEAM BREAKDOWN

■ Varisty returners: 10

■ Returning starters: Forwards (1), Midfielders (3), Defenders (4), GK (1)

TOP RETURNERS 

■ Kenna Caldwell-Copeland, GK, No. 24, Sr.

Notes: Caldwell-Copeland led the Mountain Valley Conference in saves and blank sheets last year. She’s a first-team all-league and first-team all-state in 3A.

■ Zoe Dilts, Mid, No. 12, Jr.

Notes: Dilts possesses amazing technical skills with the ball. She’s a great distributor who will look at more shots on goal this year

■ Trinity Smead, F/M, No. 20, Sr.

Notes: Smead possesses formidable speed and strength. She’ll be playing as a wing more than a forward/ striker this season. 

■ Ashlynn Johnson, Def, No. 14, Sr.

Notes: Johnson is the head of the back line on defense. She is calm, communicative, and strong.

■ Isabel Hammond-Mendez, Mid, No. 11, Sr.

Notes: Hammond-Mendez excels as a wing for the Billies, but may play more center back this year.

NOTABLE NEWCOMER

■ Gabriela “Gabby” Contreras Jeronimo, F/M, No. 13, Fr.

Notes: Contreras Jeronimo enters her first season with the Billies with a very high soccer IQ. 

TEAM STRENGTHS

■ Seven dynamic, athletic freshmen

■ Passing

■ A bonded team 

SPRINGFIELD

HEAD COACH

■ Taylor Graham in her second year at Springfield … 4-7-2 Springfield and career record.

2024 SEASON

■ Recap: 4-7-2, 2-3-1 in Midwestern League … 5th in Midwestern League … Missed playoffs …No. 20 in Class 5A. 

TOP THREE GAMES

■ vs. Churchill, Sept. 16, 7 p.m.

■ vs. North Eugene / Triangle Lake, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

■ vs. Thurston, Oct. 21, 7 p.m.

Senior night

■ vs. Thurston, Oct. 21, 7 p.m.

TEAM BREAKDOWN

■ Varsity returners: 12

■ Returning starters: Forwards (2), Midfielders (3), Defense (2)

TOP RETURNERS

■ Keeley Battey, Midfield/Defense, No. 8, Jr.

Notes: Battey can excel at any position on the field. She was one of the Millers’ top goal scorers and chance creators from last season, spending most of her time playing in the central midfield. 

■ Lucy Rogers, Center Back, No. 7, Sr.

Notes: Rogers has been a rock in the central defence since her sophomore year. Her center back partner graduated last year, and she will now be leading the back line. 

■ Emily Cervantes Carlos, Forward/Winger, No. 20, So.

Notes: Cervantes Carlos was the second leading scorer on the team her freshman year and will look to continue leading the attack as her high school career continues.

NOTABLE NEWCOMER

■ Kenya Bautista, Forward/Winger, No. 9, Sr.

Notes: Bautista was the Millers’ co-leading scorer her sophomore year, but missed almost her entire junior year due to a hamstring injury. She looks to regain her goal-scoring form for her senior year. 

TEAM STRENGTHS 

■Clinical and experienced goal scorers up top

■Great depth in the squad with many players who can contribute

■Strong veteran leadership

■ Coach Graham says: “We have been able to grow each of the past few years as a program, and we are excited to take that next step this year.” 

THURSTON

HEAD COACH

■ Browning Stupp in his first year with Thurston…Stupp has a 15-91-34 boys career record and 52-20-11 girls career from Texas.

2024 SEASON

■ Recap: 10-5, 4-2 in league play … 2nd in Midwestern League … Lost to Putnam 3-2 in the first round of playoffs … No. 8 in Class 5A.

TOP THREE GAMES

■vs. Canby, Sept. 10, 6 p.m

■at Ashland, Oct. 4, 1 p.m.

■at North Eugene, Oct. 7, 6 p.m.

Senior night

■vs. Crater, Oct. 18, 1 p.m.

TEAM BREAKDOWN

■ Varsity returners: 11

■ Returning starters: Forwards (5), Midfielders (5), Defense (5), GKs (2)

TOP RETURNERS

■ Emmie Gerdrum, Forward, No. 4, So.

Notes: She scored 14 goals and 5 assists in the ‘24 season. She’s smart, hard-working, and a forward who can score from anywhere.

■ Rosie Montes, Defense, No. 1, Jr.

Notes: Montes is a team captain and the heart of a hard-working working tough defense.

■ Kielyn Ruhl, Midfield, No. 2, Jr.

Notes: Ruhl is smart, skilled, and hard hard-working.

TEAM STRENGTHS

■A tough and smart defense

■A fast and creative offense

■Forwards can finish from close and outside the box

Coach Browning says: “We step on the field with one goal: compete with intensity, play with pride, and represent Thurston with relentless effort.”