Coach Tim Russell's North Farmington girls soccer teams have done well and developed a tradition of excellence in recent seasons.
All indications are that will continue in 2011 as the Raiders prepare to do battle with some of the top programs in Oakland County.
North lost just four seniors to graduation, but they were four good ones — all-area defender Kelsey Shapiro (Ball State), midfielder Vicki Yu, all-purpose player Stephanie Wald and goalie Jenna Bachrouche.
But the rest of the team returns, including some outstanding players.
Senior Hallee Kansman, a four-year starter who signed with Eastern Michigan, leads the defense, and the Raiders have two experienced forwards in senior Morgan Moffatt and junior Jessie Trimmer.
“Despite the quality players we graduated, our returners all appear to be significantly tougher, more mature and skilled than a year ago,”
Russell said. “They have obviously been working on their games.”
North has had a great defensive record in recent years and plans to continue that with Kansman (All-Observer first team) directing the group.
Senior Amanda Morrison, junior Mandy Lumley, sophomore Amanda Quasunella and senior Allysa Hart will start or rotate into the defensive lineup.
Lauren VandenBossche, a senior captain with Kansman and Morrison, was the starting goalie until she was injured last year.
She is fully recovered and did much off-season training to prepare for her senior campaign, according to Russell.
The midfield should be an area of strength, too, as senior Bridget Elezovic, juniors Sami Roumayah (all-area second team), Akanksha Vaishnav, Holly Snabes and Jasmine Henderson and sophomore Megan Moore are returning players, also.
They should complement the scoring ability of Moffatt and Trimmer. The Raiders were balanced offensively with half the starting lineup having five or more goals.
Seniors Anna Salmonsson and Darby Lychuk (both of whom can play midfield or forward) junior forward Mari Marciniak and junior midfielder Claire Reno are returning players, too.
In addition to Hart, who played as a sophomore but not last year, the other new players are seniors Emily Andrews and Elena Savage and sophomores Ebone Ashford and Katie Foss.
North was 3-4-3 in the OAA Red Division and will compete at that level again. The Raiders, who played in a Division 1 regional final two years ago, were 12-5-4 overall and district finalists.
North begins the season Monday with a non-league game at Redford Union. The Raiders are at Lake Orion on Tuesday and at home against Clarkston on Thursday.
“The only expectation I carry into any season is that I expect us to learn and get better with each practice and game,”
Russell said.
“Since this team is starting higher than most regarding talent and maturity, we should be rolling along quite well by playoffs.”
“If we stay as positive and focused as we seem to be right now, this is going to be a fun, productive and very successful season.”
