The Mount Si Wildcats girls’ soccer team came into this season with some unfinished business. Coming off a strong 2005 campaign, which resulted in a magical playoff run, the Wildcats are looking for even bigger things to happen.

Mount Si started 2006 out on the right foot Tuesday, Sept. 6, with a season-opening victory over Mercer Island. While senior veterans led the way on offense, it was a freshman goalkeeper who was the big story.

Marika Loudenback, playing her first highschool game as an emergency replacement for starting senior goalie Jessica Blessard, was excellent. She made several spectacular saves and came within minutes of posting a shutout, as the Wildcats took home a 3-1 victory. Loudenback’s play was “absolutely incredible,” Mount Si coach Darren Brown said. “I’m so, so proud of her. She stepped up big time.”

Blessard was one of three Wildcats held out of the game; she was sidelined with a groin injury. Defender Katie Woolsey (illness), and forward Mariana Zanella (ineligible due to lack of practices) also were scratched from the contest.

Seniors were key to the win, as well. Amy Torget scored twice, in the 18th and 50th minutes, and Jessica Oliver added a goal and assist. Fellow senior Kirsten Mills played her first game since the 2004 season and narrowly missed the net on a couple of great scoring chances.

“It was good to be back. I’m excited,” Mills said. “We play so well as a team, we support each other, we got our team strings on our shoes so that we remember to support each other.”

Sophomore Caylene Castagno also assisted on one of the Torget tallies.

Mount Si controlled the flow throughout much of the contest and was on the verge of blanking Mercer Island until senior Liza Stillman scored in stoppage time for the Islanders in the second half.

“We came out strong,” Brown said. “I didn’t know what to expect and Mercer Island is a well-coached team, very good squad. We beat a good team today, we really did.”

On Thursday, Sept. 8, Loudenback continued to impress, but it was not enough as the Wildcats and Skyline Spartans battled to a 2-2 tie.

Mount Si got on the board first, as sophomore sensation Nikki Stanton fired a free kick from just outside the penalty area into the back of the Spartans’ net in the ninth minute. Then the Wildcat fans got to see a little history: for the first time since 2004, Kirsten Mills scored a goal for Mount Si off a pass from McKinna Little in the 26th minute. Skyline battled back in the second half and got goals from Michelle Abbott and Barbara Holladay to force overtime.

Loudenback made more spectacular saves in the game, and Skyline coach Don Braman was amazed.

“We were really impressed. In terms of her ability to really grab balls that were going in the frame, she managed to get around on a couple that I would’ve loved to have back,” Braman said.

Among the saves was one off the fingertips, and one where she had to run back and grab the ball before it went into the net. The freshman’s play was key to preserving the tie.

It was a special week for Loudenback, and her teammates have been there to help her through it all.

“Well, the first game (against Mercer Island) I was really, really nervous, but the girls were all really great and they helped me out, helped me concentrate, and this second game, I was much more confident and I really enjoy playing with the girls,” Loudenback said.

Blessard is expected to be back at the net for the Wildcats this week. After a road game early this week at Liberty, Mount Si plays Bellevue for the first time since eliminating the Wolverines in that winner-to-state, loser-out Kingco Tournament game at Bellevue last November. Game time at Mount Si is 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14.