The Hazen girls soccer team has the ingredients. All that remains is to see what exactly will be the final product.

“It’s kind of all there,” said Hazen coach Ken Matthews. “We’ve got good players everywhere and don’t really lack much.”

Matthews’ job is to get all of the talented Highlanders to coalesce, and play well enough, to realize their potential – something that’s getting easier the longer he’s at Hazen.

Now in the third year in Matthews’ system, the seniors on the team are experienced and the younger players are picking it up faster.

“We dramatically changed what Hazen soccer was about,” Matthews said. “More kids in the system now understand what we’re doing.”

Senior goalkeeper Priscilla Yu returns as the team’s most awarded player. Yu made the all-state team and was named the co-MVP of the Seamount League last year.

“We expect her to be the wall back there,” Matthews said.

On defense, Matthews said the team has five players who are starter-worthy, but he can only play three at a time.

The starting three right now are Gabby Brower, Tyra Markey and Courtney Kitely. Having the excellent depth allows Matthews to be flexible and move Brower and Markey around on the field when needed. That proved to be useful when Markey was playing forward and hit and excellent cross that allowed Brianne Sherin to score in the final minute of Hazen’s 1-1 tie against Garfield Sept. 7.

Senior captain Sarah Schoville is a key in the middle of the field, controlling the action as a midfielder. Schoville made the all-league first team last season. Senior captain Marina Vaughn made the all-league second team at forward.

Matthews expects Sherin, a sophomore, to take on much of the scoring responsibility. She has three goals through Hazen’s first two games this season.

“She just looks so strong,” Matthews said. “She’s very very talented and she’s more than a scorer. She starts plays, draws defenders out. She does a lot.”

Cindy Hanson, Chelsea Delgado and Melissa Carney, all sophomores, will also be vital for Hazen. Matthews said the Highlanders have so many talented players, it’s hard to pick out which ones will play key roles.

“I could easily name 14 players that are key to us,” he said. “They’re just so solid, top to bottom.”

Matthews also expects Kennedy Catholic transfer Dee Dee Green to add even more to the team once she’s eligible.

Hazen plays Lindbergh and Highline next as part of a tough three-game opener (Hazen played Kennedy Catholic Tuesday night). The Seamount’s 3A teams (Hazen, Highline and Kennedy Catholic) must play nearly perfect to make the postseason.

“If you lose one generally you’re in trouble,” Matthews said. “It makes for a pressure packed season for us.”

Hazen went 9-5-3 last year and advanced to the sub-district playoffs before losing to Enumclaw 2-1 in overtime.

The Highlanders started this season by going 1-0-2 in non-league play, beating Aberdeen, while tying Garfield and Kennedy Catholic

Highlanders talented, ready to take next step

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