Sabino's Annie Teece (left) goes up against Flowing Wells' Skye Schultz in the Brandon Bean tournament at Catalina on Monday.
The 2008-09 girls soccer season is starting off a lot like last year ended.
Pool E of the the Brandon Bean Kickoff Classic has a state tournament feel, featuring defending Class 4A Division I champion Sabino and 4A-I runner-up Cienega.
And Flowing Wells showed why it is a favorite to win the Class 4A-I title this year, beating Sabino 3-0 Monday afternoon at Catalina High.
“We wondered how random the drawings were when we saw three of the four (state) semifinal teams in the same (pool),” said Flowing Wells coach Sean Ochoa. “I think I would rather play a quality team early than four or five games into the season to see what we are made of.”
Flowing Wells star Skye Schultz, younger sister Jasmine Schultz and Celeste Carrera each scored Monday.
Sabino, meanwhile, is doing some rebuilding after losing several key players from last year’s championship squad.
Junior Annie Teece, the younger sister of former University High star Luke Teece, along with senior Rachel Krenzer will be keys for Sabino this year.
Playing her first game in a Sabino uniform Monday after sitting out the 2007-08 season as a transfer from Rincon, Teece gave her team a chance early on a corner kick, but the header was knocked over the goal.
“I think we have a really promising team and didn’t have it going today, but we’re working out some kinks,” Teece said. “It feels really good to get back out there. I waited a whole season for it. It’s a hard way to start and hopefully we will rematch them at the end of the season.”
For more on high school sports, check out the Grammer School sports blog.
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Girls soccer players to watch
Alex Balcer, Catalina Foothills
Rebekah DeJonghe, Salpointe
Dana Hill, Sahuaro
Rachel Krenzer, Sabino
Catherine Lena, Salpointe
Taylor McCarter, Sahuarita
Tamara Pridgett, Rincon/Univ.
Skye Schultz, Flowing Wells
Jessica Shropshire, Rincon/Univ.
LeeAndra Smith, Palo Verde
Liz Wong, Canyon del Oro