The 2022 3A/2A/1A Girls Soccer season was full of new talent, shocking upsets, and a multitude of talent dispersed across the state that kept you on your toes week to week.
From the opening kick to the final day, Catlin Gabel looked like the sure fire favorites to win their third title in the last four seasons.
However, it was a school just 4.5 miles southwest of the Eagles that stopped them in their tracks.
The Valley Catholic Lady Valiants erased two prior defeats to Catlin Gabel, stunning the Lady Eagles with three goals in extra time to hoist the coveted blue state championship trophy.
Along with the surprise that Valley Catholic gave us to end the season, teams like Amity, Corbett, and Four Rivers burst onto the scene.
Four Rivers won their first playoff game in school history, Corbett reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2015, and Amity made the semifinals for the first time in school history.
Sutherlin, North Valley, Riverdale, and Sisters rounded out the other four teams who made quarterfinal runs, with each school continuing their recent success across the last five years.
Teams to Look Out For in 2023
Valley Catholic – As expected, The Valiants are a contender, and in our opinion, come into 2023 as the favorite. VC returns their entire starting 11, including three first-team all state selections in Elizabeth Louie (senior), Calista Everson (sophomore), and Malia Groshong (senior). Ironically, all three scored in the 2022 State Championship Game as well. The Valiants have a strong schedule that should prepare them for the postseason, with non-league matchups against Scappoose and North Marion who are coming off of trips to the 4A Quarterfinals and Semifinals, respectively. VC will also face off against Catlin Gabel in league play which could be a state title preview as early as September 14th.
Catlin Gabel – It isn’t a year of 3A/2A/1A soccer, if Catlin Gabel isn’t the picture. As a perennial power, the Lady Eagles bring back two first-team all state selections in Addi Dauler (sophomore) and Campbell Swain (senior). However, Catlin loses five starters, and will need their underclassmen to fill a big role early. The Eagles will have a chip on their shoulder throughout the 2023 campaign, after beating Valley Catholic twice in the regular season, but coming up short in the title match. They’ll start the season with an immediate test against a Yamhill-Carlton squad who lost in the 2nd round last year, but returns its entire team.
Amity – Coming off of their first playoff appearance in school history, which ended in the state semifinals, there’s no reason why the Lady Warriors can’t make a title run in 2023. Amity returns first team all-state midfielder Adie Nisley (sophomore), second team all-state forward Eliza Nisley (sophomore), honorable mention midfielder Mya Haarsma (junior), and honorable mention defender Emma Northrop (sophomore). The young core of Amity Warriors have made an instant impact on female athletics at the high school, and the belief within the town is that they can compete for a state title. The Lady Warriors will be tested against Yamhill-Carlton twice, but other than that there’s a strong possibility this squad heads into the postseason undefeated. With their talented underclassmen gaining another year of experience, the sky’s the limit for the Amity Warriors.
North Valley – The 2022 Far West League Champions fell just short of the title game last season, dropping a 2-0 decision to Valley Catholic in the state semifinals. The Lady Knights have established a soccer culture in Merlin, and for as long as they compete in the 3A/2A/1A division, there is a possibility that they’re a contender every year. North Valley graduates two very talented midfielders in first team all state selection Addi Smith and honorable mention selection RaeAnn Shrock. However, their task of replacing who controls the center of the park will be much easier with the return of Jordan Fagert. Fagert was a Second-Team All State selection last season, who tallied 18 goals and will continue to build her chemistry with Maddison Mockridge. Mockridge was also a goal machine in ‘22 which earned her Second-Team All-State accolades as well. Three wins in three matches against Sutherlin last year will be tough to achieve in ‘23, but if the Knights get their underclassmen involved right away, there’s no excuse to not be back in the Final Four.
Sutherlin – The offensive juggernaut that is the Sutherlin Bulldogs will aim to finally get over the hump in 2023. The Bulldogs averaged a whopping 5.26 goals per match last season, and by returning the 3A Player of the Year, Paige Edmonson, one has to assume they’ll pick right back up where they left off. Edmonson hassled defenses every match last year, averaging over a goal per match with multiple hat tricks. Sutherlin has reached the quarterfinal round or better in each of the last three seasons, and with the talent they return, this is their time to push for a state championship. Ava Gill and Micah Wicks graduate from Sutherlin’s attacking third, but Madison Wagner, a second team all state selection at the forward position returns for the Bulldogs. The biggest question that will be asked of Sutherlin in 2023 is of their defense. Nearly the entire back line returns, which can be a crucial piece of the equation for a team who allowed three goals or more in all three matchups against North Valley. A meeting with Hidden Valley on August 29th should answer a lot of early questions about this team, and we’re excited to see how far they can go this year.
Other teams that are poised to have a strong 2023 include Corbett, Riverdale, Oregon Episcopal, Yamhill-Carlton, Sisters, and McLoughlin.
Other players worth keeping an eye on this season includes:
Caitlin Moran (Riverdale)
Marley Holden (Sisters)
Crystal Sanchez (Riverside)
Kaia Fetch (Yamhill-Carlton)
Madi Perkins (McLoughlin)
Caitlin Barnhard (McLoughlin)
Izzy Schiller (Sisters)
Tierra Braithwaite (Yamhill-Carlton)
Teagan Henderson (Banks)
Natalie Oliveira (Dayton)
Preseason Top-10
- Valley Catholic
- Catlin Gabel
- Amity
- North Valley
- Sutherlin
- Yamhill-Carlton
- Riverdale
- Corbett
- Sisters
- McLoughlin
Considered: Trout Lake / Glenwood, Oregon Episcopal, Dayton, Blanchet Catholic, Pleasant Hill, Four Rivers, Lakeview
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