During its three-year reign over 5A girls soccer, Wilsonville has thrived with prolific strikers.
Lindsey Antonson (2018-21) scored a state-record 139 goals in her career, leading the Wildcats to their first state title in 2021 before leaving for Oregon State. Kenley Whittaker (2020-23) racked up 81 goals before starting her college career at Cal this year.
If the top-ranked Wildcats are to extend their reign to four titles this season, it appears they will need a big year from Camryn Schaan. The junior scored 32 goals in her first two seasons, finding the net in each of the last two state finals.
“She definitely has a little bit more responsibility on her this year,” coach Alex Boehm said. “She has lofty goals for herself, too.”
But early indications are that Schaan will have plenty of help. After scoring the team's lone goal in a 1-0 opening win over No. 2 Caldera on Sept. 3, she was one of six Wildcats to convert as they blasted 6A Tualatin 6-1 in their second game Sept. 5.
“That showed that she's not out there doing it by herself,” Boehm said. “We have a lot of support, a lot of dynamic talent around her. We're more diverse than just one goal-scorer.”
Last season, Wilsonville finished 16-2, losing only to 6A teams Lake Oswego and Lincoln. Whittaker had 30 goals and 15 assists and was named the 5A player of the year. Schaan recorded 19 goals and 14 assists and also made the 5A first team.
With six starters back – Schaan, senior forward Reese Holsey, senior midfielder Tegan Waters, senior defender Kiah Fee, junior midfielder Avery Underhill and sophomore defender Justine Sheets – the Wildcats believe they have the pieces and experience to make another title run.
“The DNA of our program is staying the same,” Boehm said. “We continue to be possession-based, high-tempo, super gritty. We're going to be physical. So that hasn't changed.”
Boehm isn't minimizing the loss of Whittaker, however.
“We know that without a presence like Kenley, we need to be a little bit more dynamic off the ball,” Boehm said. “We need to use different players in different ways. So that's been the fun part of our first two weeks, kind of relearning everyone's strengths and how to leverage everyone's superpowers.
“What was fun about our opening week was we almost surprised ourselves with how naturally some of the new players fit into our style and our game plan.”
Against Tualatin, the Wildcats got goals from Schaan, Holsey, Underhill, senior Brooklyn Bybee, sophomore Kate Kleinke and freshman Peighton Olson. Schaan also had three assists.
Holsey and Bybee – a forward and attacking midfielder, respectively – are ready to capitalize if teams pay Schaan too much attention. Kleinke, a first-year varsity player, is showing promise.
“Super, super athletic forward,” Boehm said of Kleinke. “We're so stoked to see her already be really productive up top.”
Center backs Sheets and Fee anchor the back line. Juniors Kaia Hix and Scout Dennis are sharing time at goalkeeper.
The Wildcats' nonleague schedule includes games against 6A No. 3 Grant on Tuesday and 6A No. 4 West Linn on Sept. 17. They should get tested in the 5A Northwest Oregon Conference by No. 4 La Salle Prep, No. 5 Putnam and No. 8 Canby.
Putnam already holds a 2-1 win over 6A No. 8 Cleveland. La Salle Prep and Canby dropped 1-0 decisions to West Linn and Grant, respectively, last week.
“By early looks, this is the best our conference has ever competed,” Boehm said. “We're looking around saying, 'Our conference has arrived.'”
Notes: Jesuit, ranked No. 1 in the OSAAtoday 6A coaches poll, is off to 2-0 start. The Crusaders opened with a 4-2 win at No. 2 Lincoln on Sept. 3 and rolled over No. 10 Central Catholic 4-0 at home Sept. 5. Sophomore Natalie Webber, junior Marian Dunne and freshmen Eva Stiles and Aaliyah Johnson scored against Lincoln. Webber had a hat trick, junior Josephine Frischknecht scored and senior Lauren Butorac recorded the shutout against Central Catholic. …
Senior London Tsuma is off to a fast start for Westview, scoring six goals in the first two matches. The Wildcats defeated South Salem 3-0 and Franklin 6-2. … Sophomore Lauren Efraimson scored in the 21st and 35th minutes as 5A No. 3 North Eugene knocked off 4A No. 1 Marist Catholic 2-1 on Sept. 5. The visiting Spartans got a goal from senior Ella Braunger in the 37th minute but could not draw even. Marist Catholic plays host to North Marion on Tuesday in a rematch of last year's 4A final, won by North Marion 2-1.
