Aug. 24, 2006

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

JOE SUNNEN THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

As far as sales pitches go, Gus Zadra's was pretty simple to his younger sister.

He just told Rosie that she should come to Western Washington University - over and over again.

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As far as sales pitches go, Gus Zadra's was pretty simple to his younger sister.

He just told Rosie that she should come to Western Washington University - over and over again.

"I had her come up here, hang out, and she liked it," Gus Zadra said. "It seemed like a good fit. I know I'm glad she's here."

The two are a big reason the Western men's and women's soccer teams are optimistic about the 2006 season.

For starters, Gus is finally feeling healthy after being slowed by chronic knee injuries for the better part of the past five years. Rosie is coming off a sophomore season in which she finished second on the team in scoring with four goals and four assists.

"When it's a new team you're always excited," Rosie Zadra said. "But we have a lot of talent coming in. This is a really good group."

So much so that Travis Connell, the head coach of both teams, has had trouble nailing down a starting unit for either team.

"The total quality is really much higher than we've had," Connell said of the women's team. "I imagine a lot of players are going to be splitting time in games. People will get their goals when they're on, and we'll ride those players when they're hot. It will be one of those kind of deals."

The women's team finished 9-8-2 last season with a 6-5-1 record in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Vikings return 13 letter winners from last season and a majority of the team's goal scorers.

Eight freshmen also join the team, led by forward Samantha Sommer from Sandy, Ore., and Bellingham's Claire Morgan.

"We have five forwards that will probably rotate through," Connell said. "But we can also get goals from our attacking midfielders and our wing play. And we might need them."

The women's team lost standout goalie Teresa Fish for the season to a broken leg. Fish was a second-team all-GNAC selection three years in a row and has a school record 20 shutouts in her career. She was injured while working with a youth soccer team.

Sophomore Whitney Knox is the favorite to replace her in goal.

"We'll miss Teresa," Rosie Zadra said. "She's been our most valuable player for the last two years, but I have no doubts that Whitney will do what she has to do for the team."

The men's team is facing a similar situation at goalie with the graduation of standout keeper Ben Dragavon. Senior Zach King and freshman Christian Warman from Sedro-Woolley will be competing to see who starts in net for Western.

"There are a lot of players competing for spots," Connell said of the men's team. "From top to bottom we have people that can play. The goalkeeper position is one of those spots."

The Western men's team has also been working on revamping its attitude after last season's 3-16-1 finish. A new group of players has added freshness to the team, and an aggressive style of play has brought some of the excitement back.

"I've never been on a team where everyone is so positive," Gus Zadra said. "Everybody is in great shape, all the young guys are really mature. We can't wait for this season to start."

The men's team also returns six players that saw extensive playing time last season. Zach Bauling is the leading returning scorer with four goals and an assist, and there is experience in the middle and on defense.

Still, it's a healthy Zadra that the team is excited about.

"Like all good scorers, Gus just has a knack for being in the right place at the right time," Connell said.

The teams also share of sense of family that's unique to most programs. Along with the Zadras, the Vikings also boast another brother-sister duo on the roster in Nick and Rachelle Saletto.

Nick, a Squalicum High School standout, joins the men's team this year as a freshman, while sister Rachelle is a sophomore on the women's team.

"Having those relationships, two brothers and sisters, really helps the teams get along so well," Connell said. "Because they are around each other so much, having the same head coach, that's important."

While there's no doubt the Zadras get along well - they often sit next to each other on bus rides to games - they also bring competitiveness to the team. They have an ongoing contest to see who can score the most goals and often critique the other's performance after games.

"In every practice, every little game they play, they are just so competitive," Connell said. "And that bleeds through to the team."

Despite their competitiveness, the loudest cheers for Gus usually come from Rosie, and the loudest for Rosie come from Gus.

"If I had to choose anyone to hangout with it would be my sister," Gus Zadra said.