by Chama Anderson
Special to the Islands’ Sounder
The Lady Vikings soccer team has had a spectacular season, and their work continues to be recognized. Five team members received all state honors. Hannah North (defender) and Alison O’Toole (forward) were chosen for the all state first team. Stephanie Shaw (midfield) and Grace Thompson (forward) were all state honorable mentions. The entire team earned the all league sportsmanship award.
These honors speak for themselves, but I would like to highlight these ladies’ accomplishments as well as their teammates.
O’Toole scored 20 goals and had nine assists. She played half of 11 of our 14 games as goalkeeper. She only had eight goals against her, three of which were penalty kicks in the state semi-final game. She also made the all league first team and received the sportsmanship award for the state championship game.
North’s honors as all state and all league first team defender are well deserved. She had two league goals and nailed her two penalty kicks in state.
Thompson made all league first team forward. She scored 11 goals and distributed 12 assists.
Shaw earned all league first team midfield and finished the season with 11 goals and five assists. She was honored with the sportsmanship award for the state semi-final game.
Emily Diepenbrock made the all league second team midfield. She scored four goals, two of which were pressure filled penalty kicks in the state tournament.
Tika Thorson scored a solid penalty kick in the state shoot and had a league goal and an assist.
Ashley Klein made the all league second team defender. Her one goal was a crucial penalty kick in the state final game shoot out.
Huxley Smart was honored on the all state second team. She scored two goals and assisted two others.
Lana Bronn scored seven goals. The final one was the winning penalty kick in the state semi-final game. She also played very well as goalkeeper.
Makala Forster, defender; Sofie Thixton, midfield; Susanne Meitzner, defender; Tamara Klein, midfield; and Kirsten Fowler, defender rounded out the team with their incredible play, support, unity, focused determination and skill.
I received all state and all league coach of the year. In my heart, these coaching honors also go to Bridget O’Toole, my assistant coach. We led this team together to a state championship victory. There are many who supported us on this incredible journey. Matt Stolemeier, Gregg Bronn, Terry Turner, and Coach Dahl, with a deep bow, I thank you. All the parents, families, and friends of these ladies, thank you. Our community and health care team, thank you.
Though there is no “I” in “team,” the strength of the individual and the willingness to bring forth your gifts and hold the hand of the one next to you creates something larger than ourselves. This is what our team did. This is what our families and friends do. And this is what our community does. It is simply an honor to be a part of it.
