The Cleveland varsity soccer team is starting off the 2015 season with an abundance of fresh faces. Ten girls are returning from last year’s varsity team. Since only four are moving up from junior varsity, the roster had some space to fill. Seven freshmen made the team, helping them open up with a 5-1 record in their pre-season games.

With head coach Julia Blattner out for the season on maternity leave, the team also welcomed the promotion of last year’s assistant coach Russell Lloyd and new assistant coach Emily Ngan, who has been impressed with the freshmen so far. “It’s been great seeing a lot of the freshmen step up.” This is Emily’s first time coaching, but she is not a newbie to the Cleveland field. She graduated from Cleveland in 2011, and played soccer under the coaching of Blattner and Lloyd. She is very excited to be back, saying,“It’s safe to say Cleveland has a very special place in my heart.”

The three seniors and captains on the team, Abby Diller, CeAnn Romanaggi, and Emily Diamond, “have done a tremendous job in helping shape and mold these younger players into what we as coaches are looking for,” said Ngan. Freshman Audrey Olenski, and sophomores Ella Burke, Lauren Ruegg, and Julia Downing are helping the Warriors come out strong offensively, aiding them to score 13 total goals this season.

The girls have started off their season strong, defeating Lebanon, Newberg, McMinnville, Barlow and Woodburn, and only falling to number one ranked (as of Sept. 23)  Aloha, 0-3. Sophomore Tess Franke says the season’s going great. “We play really well together and the team has a really good energy and everyone is very positive and supportive,” she said. As of Sept. 23, the team is ranked 15th in state. The girls have high hopes for the season to come, with their first league game at Franklin on Sept. 29.