Midfielder Kenley Whittaker led Wilsonville with 23 goals and eight assists as a junior last season. (Photo by Greg Artman)

One month into last season, a repeat 5A title didn't seem to be in the cards for Wilsonville's girls soccer team.

The rebuilt Wildcats, adjusting to life without the state's all-time leading scorer in Lindsey Antonson, dropped five of their first seven matches.

Somehow, though, Wilsonville righted the ship, captured another Northwest Oregon Conference title and repeated as state champion, all with seven new starters. The Wildcats won their last nine matches to finish 13-5-1, beating Crescent Valley 2-1 in the state final.

“We were able to keep our head on straight, and things just fell into place,” coach Alex Boehm said. “There's something to be said about peaking at the right time. I've never experienced it to that level.”

Wilsonville was ripe to be dethroned last year but figures to be more formidable this year. The Wildcats enter the season with starters back at all but three positions, including their top two scorers in senior midfielder Kenley Whittaker (23 goals, 8 assists) and sophomore forward Camryn Schaan (13 goals, 5 assists).

They don't intend to give up their spot atop 5A.

“We're definitely eyeing a third,” Boehm said. “We have lofty goals. I feel like we have the personnel to do it. One thing that I think our whole squad understands is that every year it gets more difficult to be the best of the best. We definitely know we have some work to do.”

Wilsonville's attack starts with Whittaker, who has committed to Cal. She stepped into the spotlight last season after Antonson left to start her college career at Oregon State.

“Kenley has absolutely blossomed in her role on the team, as a leader and a player,” Boehm said of Whittaker, who plays forward in club soccer but thrives as an attacking midfielder for Wilsonville. “We're just thrilled to see what she can tackle this year. Her play-making abilities are second to none.”

Schaan joined the team early last season after moving from Albany and became a driving force, joining Whittaker and defender Campbell Lawler on the NWOC first team. Schaan produced under pressure, scoring four of the team's seven playoff goals.

“She put on a show last year,” Boehm said. “We're expecting big things from her, and a lot of it is because she has high expectations for herself. She pushes herself and pushes those around her.”

Whittaker and Schaan lead what promises to be a potent offense. The team also returns senior forward Ashlyn Ring and junior forward Reese Holsey and welcomes back senior forward Bri Crane, who missed last year with an injury after playing two varsity seasons.

The Wildcats, who had 12 different goal-scorers last season, will come from all angles.

“How do we best leverage all those attacking threats?” Boehm said. “We feel like we're a little bit spoiled with our attackers now. We want to make sure that they all have an opportunity to shine. What's exciting is they all have their own superpowers.”

Junior Tegan Waters joins Whittaker in the midfield. Seniors Lawler and Caroline de la Motte anchor a stout defense in front of senior Jasmine Brown, the returning starter at goalkeeper.

Wilsonville played a rugged nonleague schedule last year, losing to 5A contender Caldera and 6A schools Lake Oswego, West Linn, Lincoln and Tualatin and defeating Woodburn (4A champion in 2021) and Crater. The Wildcats have the same nonleague slate this season, starting with a home showdown against Caldera on Aug. 29.

“We're excited to play Caldera because we feel like they're going to be a huge contender,” Boehm said. “That kind of preseason is exactly what we want. Last y ear it was a test of where we were at. And we learned that we needed to make some changes.”

The Wildcats know they can't afford to be complacent in pursuit of a three-peat.

“I also know that every other team across the state has their eye on us and is getting better,” Boehm said. “We're ready to put in the work. We're looking to become even more dynamic and build off that foundation we built last year.”