Great Expectations: Shorecrest Boys Soccer Again in the Spotlight

The Shorecrest boys soccer program is used to having the spotlight on it.

In 2010, the Scots started the year 20-0 and were in the running for a national title before a suprising loss to Camas in the 3A state quarterfinals ended their season.

The 2011 season is shaping up to be more of the same.

Shorecrest is again nationally ranked, starting the year 8th in the ESPN Fab 50 poll and appears to be one of the favorites to capture the 3A state title. The Scots won it all in 2009, before last years falter.

Head coach Drew Thompson said last years loss to Camas taught his team a valuable lesson in terms of records not meaning anything once the game begins.

"The lesson in that is that there's always somebody out there that's as good as you, and maybe even better than you," Thompson said. "If you don't go out and play well, they're going to beat you." 

Thompson's squad will try to rebound following relatively high turnover rate in the starting lineup - five of eleven starters will be new this year - including the loss of Michael Harris, a 2010 second-team All-American who now plays at the University of Washington

"About half of our starting lineup is going to be new," Thompson said. "New, team, probably going to have a bit of a new style."

But the team still has Oregon State-signee Glenn Paden. The senior forward has led the team in goals the last two years and is expected to do so again in 2011.

"It's awful hard to top what he's accomplished already," Thompson said of Paden. "I suspect Glen for sure will be a major component in our success."

Paden will be joined by some varsity newcomers on the 2011 team.. Thompson said freshman Henry Wingo, whose brother played on the 2005 state title team could make an impact, as well as junior midfielder Callum Wijelath to contribute.

"I look for him to probably be a very good player for us this year," Thompson said of Wijelath.

At the helm is Thomspson, who is in his sixth year as the head coach. Thompson described the experience of coaching such a high-profile squad as a "fun" experience.

"We've been lucky to have many talented kids come through here," Thompson said. "It's been a fun ride. We've got a state championship, we've had a lot of kids earn state honors which has been neat to see that...It's all about the kids."

It is not often that public school is able to put together a run of success in one sport like Shorecrest has over the past decade. The Scots have won two of the past six 3A state titles and seem to be one of the favorites to win each season. Thompson said a run of success like that can make it harder to motivate players year-to-year.

"One of the things we have to work on all the time is becoming complacent, not thinking just because we're putting the jersey on that says 'Shorecrest' on it, that we're automatically going to win," Thompson said. "You have to instill in each team every year that everybody has worked for everything they have achieved in previous years, so we have to work for it again too. That's going to be a big challenge for us this year."

Shorecrest will be challenged in-conference this year by defending 3A state champion Glacier Peak and a re-tooled Shorewood squad.

"There's always a sleeper out there," Thompson said of the league. "I look for it be a competitive league, I don't expect to run away with it."

2010 ended short of what Shorecrest had hoped for. 2011 should provide it another chance to finish at the top.