SPSL NORTH GIRLS SOCCER: AT A GLANCE
• Favorites: Kentwood, Auburn Riverside.
• Contenders: Tahoma, Kentlake, Kentridge.
• Sleepers: Federal Way, Jefferson.
• Playoff picture: The top three teams from the North earn automatic berths to the district playoffs. The fourth team from the North has to play the No. 4 team from the SPSL South for the final district spot.
• Notable: As deep and talented as the SPSL North was last season, it might be even more so this fall. Every team except for Auburn and Kent-Meridian returns at least one all-leaguer. Kentwood returns four while Kentridge, Kentlake and Auburn Riverside have three apiece. … Auburn Riverside forward Stephanie Horibe, a senior, tore her anterior cruciate ligament in the spring and will miss the entire season. Horibe was a first-team all-leaguer last year. … Numbers are up at Kent-Meridian — so much, in fact, that unlike last year, the Royals will be able to field an entire junior varsity team. … Jason Johnson is replacing Corinne Welch as coach at Tahoma. The Bears were the only North Division team to advance past the first round at state last fall. … Kentlake (9) and Kentridge (8) return more starters than any team in the North.
• Outlook: Talk about a battle. Kentwood has won three of the last four SPSL North titles, but can’t be considered a runaway favorite to win it again this fall. Why? Auburn Riverside, another favorite, returns a loaded team, as does Tahoma. Meanwhile, Kentlake and Kentridge, thanks to talent and numbers, appear to be ready to make jumps into the elite class. Throw in tradition-rich Jefferson, a program that hasn’t finished any lower than fourth since 2003, when it was part of the SPSL South, and there simply won’t be any gimmes on anybody’s schedule.
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