Theresa Echtermeyer understands that the culture surrounding girls high school soccer is a bit different than other sports. Essentially, the better a player is, the less chance she has of playing on the high school team.
Thankfully for the
Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch) coach, playing for the Golden Eagles remains a big deal.
Mountain Vista is one of many teams proving that elite-level soccer and high school soccer can coexist, as evidenced by the Golden Eagles' Class 5A state-title squad from last season. Each of the 11 regulars was a Division I-bound talent.
But with increasing pressure for players to remain solely with club teams, Echtermeyer's group seems like they wouldn't skip the high school season for the world.
"Theresa makes team bonding a big point, and we all just got to know each other very well," said center back
Halie Conroy, who will play at West Virginia next season. "We look forward to having that break from club to go play high school soccer."
Echtermeyer has led Mountain Vista to the playoffs every season since the Golden Eagles began varsity play in 2002, including state titles in 2005 and last season, when they finished 17-0-2 and were ranked in the top 20 nationally by MaxPreps. She also coaches the immensely successful boys squad in the fall season.
After Wednesday's gigantic Continental League win against Chaparral the Golden Eagles are 4-0-1 and haven't yet surrendered a goal this season. They beat previously unbeaten Chaparral 3-0.
Such prominence perhaps can be expected from a squad that features Conroy, one of ESPN's Top 150 players this season, and UCLA-bound midfielder
Gabbi Miranda, a member of the USA U-17 squad and one of the country's top-rated juniors. Then there is
Susie White (Washington State) and
Tailor Smith (Illinois) among a contingent of additional top-tier talent.
And don't forget about junior
Maddy Smith, who had four goals through the Golden Eagles' initial four games.
Echtermeyer, who previously spent 10 years at Green Mountain, knows that talent is only part of the equation.
"I'm a big believer in chemistry, and sometimes things come together and sometimes they don't," Echtermeyer said. "Talent alone does not win championships, I don't care what anybody says. And I've won enough of them, I think, to have some credentials to say that. I've lost some championship games – or not made it – with some teams that you think should. And on the other side, I've upset teams that talent-wise were better on paper than us."
That being said, Echtermeyer is a fan of her team's talent this season and believes that if the squad meshes properly, another deep run is possible. The Golden Eagles have started slow in her estimation, but she indicated that her teams typically do and usually do not reach peak form until close to the postseason.
"This team has that potential, but I want to see them literally go out and dominate a game or two, which we haven't done yet," she said. "We had a couple girls last year who were like ‘we're going to go out and find a way win no matter what,' and I'm kind of waiting to see who those people are this year."
Part of the Golden Eagles' slow start partially can be attributed to a few health issues unrelated to soccer, as well as the notion that Miranda has been away on a few soccer trips.
Midfielder
Kelsey Adams, another Division I prospect, recently was diagnosed with compartmental syndrome, a circulatory condition, and is now just getting back to full strength. Conroy, meanwhile, had a deviated septum and had her tonsils and adenoids removed on Feb. 29.
"I can actually breathe now," Conroy said. "I can smell food and taste."
Having the 5-foot-7 two-time all-stater patrolling the back line at 100 percent is paramount for Mountain Vista – "the word to describe Halie would be ‘composed' and she's just consistent," Echtermeyer said – and the ESPN rankings seem to agree.
Conroy was ranked No. 100 in ESPN's Class of 2012 Top 150.
"I had no idea at all that I was going to be ranked," Conroy said. "There are two other girls also going to West Virginia with me who are on it, and I was just thinking ‘wow, I actually am that good of a player.' I guess I don't really give myself enough credit. But it was a complete shock. It was an honor."
In an increasingly tough time to keep top-notch soccer players in the high school game, consider Mountain Vista an exception. The girls understand that the club game, while more talented across the board, doesn't connect with peers the same way playing for a varsity squad does.
"It's sad that they are making (club) such a big thing for girls soccer and the boys academy, where you have to sign a contract not to play for your high school team," Conroy said. "That's such a bummer because it's such a great experience to play for your school."
