When asked if she thought her team could win the Western League this season, Palisades High varsity soccer player Alex Michael had a loftier goal in mind. The Dolphins’ senior captain smiled and replied: ‘We want to go all the way!’ And there is plenty of reason to be optimistic. Equipped with skill and depth at every position, Palisades seems primed for a serious run at the City Section championship under second-year coach Kim Smith. Along with fellow captains Tia Lebherz and Kirsten Schluter, Michael leads a talented squad that includes returning forwards Lucy Miller, Sara Newman and Teal Foster and a solid defense headed by senior Diana Grubb, sophomore Sarah McNees and freshman Jazmyn Anderson. Freshmen Kelly Mickel and Evanne Gordon will contribute at forward and in the midfield. Schluter is charged with the task of replacing four-year starting goalie Laura Bailey. ‘I’m looking forward to it,’ Schluter said. ‘That’s where the team needs me right now so I’ll do the best I can.’ Joining Michael in the midfield will be senior Jennifer Wong and junior Danielle Rochlin. ‘We have really good chemistry this season,’ said Michael, who teamed with Miller on the Westside Breakers’ under-17 gold squad in the summer. ‘We all get along great, we have more size and speed and our offense is stronger.’ Palisades opens the season at Marymount High today at 3:15 and plays a first-round game in the El Segundo Tournament Friday night. Next Tuesday, the Dolphins travel to Chatsworth for a nonleague rematch against the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last season. ‘I think we’ll be a pretty balanced team,’ said Grubb, who was the starting setter for the varsity volleyball team, which lost in the second round of the City playoffs in the fall. ‘We have good players all the way around. I hope we can do better than volleyball did.’ The Dolphins open Western League play January 12 at Westchester.
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