Girls’ soccer: Hart senior makes the Dean’s list

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

There were many questions surrounding the Hart girls’ soccer program heading into this season, perhaps the most important being: Who was going to step up and help out Sarina Coutin in the leadership department after the Indians lost 12 seniors from last year’s group that advanced to the Southern Section Division II playoff semifinals? (Long question, huh?)

Meghan Dean is providing answers. The senior forward has scored six goals in nine games for the Indians heading into Thursday’s nonleague match against Buena. Teams can no longer concentrate solely on the talented Coutin, the program’s all-time leading scorer who has 10 goals thus far. Dean is keeping opposing defenses honest.

‘Meghan is quick, she’s got great speed, great skills,’’ Hart coach Louis Romero said. ‘People that don’t know much about her coming into games against us find out what type of player she is right away, usually in the first few minutes of our matches. She’s dangerous. Having a player like Meghan out on the field makes my job easier as a coach.’

Of the dozen graduated players from a season ago, 11 earned scholarships and several moved on to play at the NCAA Division I level, most notably Dominique Penaranda, Katie Kuykendall and Michelle Mason. Dean could be next considering Cal St. Northridge has expressed interest. In the meantime, expect more of the same. Expect plenty of goals. Expect Dean to lead by example. And no more questions please.

-- Sean Ceglinsky