Pierce College is launching a new women's soccer program with the help of Bonney Lake High School soccer coach Luke Helling-Christy.
But Bonney Lake soccer supporters needn't worry. Helling-Christy, whose Bonney Lake boys team clinched the state 3A soccer title this spring, will remain head coach of the varsity boys and girls teams.
Pierce College is fielding a team of about 20 women to compete in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC). Team tryouts will be Aug. 9 and 10. Practice begins Aug. 12 at the team’s home field, Heritage Recreation Center in Puyallup.
State championship coaches
The Raider women will have a strong coaching team to kick off their inaugural season. Helling-Christy, who lives in the Bonney Lake area, was recently named head coach. Randy Jones, assistant coach for the Bonney Lake boys and girls soccer teams, will join Helling-Christy as assistant coach at Pierce College.
In addition to the Bonney Lake boys claiming the state championship this spring, Helling-Christy was named the state 3A Boys Soccer Coach of the Year.
Earlier under his leadership, the Bonney Lake girls won two South Puget Sound League titles and boys teams brought home three league crowns. His 2010 girls squad played in the state championship.
Helling-Christy is elated that Pierce is starting a women’s soccer team – and that he gets a chance to coach at the collegiate level.
Retaining soccer talent in Pierce County
“There are so many talented (high school) players coming out of the Pierce County area,” Helling-Christy said. “I look forward to the opportunity to retain the talent in the area and advance it in the league. The ultimate goal is to win conference championships.”
Helling-Christy plans to continue coaching the two Bonney Lake teams this year, along with the Raider women’s soccer team. Though the Bonney Lake girls and Pierce women’s teams both play in the late summer-fall season, the practices are at different times and the matches are on different days.
The father of four also teaches art full time at Bonney Lake High. Yet at age 34, the former college soccer team captain says he has a lot of energy.
“It’s going to be a little crazy for me; I think I’ll be the only one affected by that," Helling-Christy said. "It should be positive for Bonney Lake and Pierce College.”
Coaching boys and girls soccer isn't the same
Asked the difference between coaching boys and girls soccer, Helling-Christy said girls play more of an elegant, thoughtful and team-oriented game than boys, who tend to be chaotic and play more as individuals.
“Coaching girls is like watching a game of chess. The pieces are moving together to make a unified attack.”
With boys, he said, it can be more of “the Rambo approach. One guy taking on the other. It’s just completely different.”Longtime goal: women's soccer at Pierce College
Pierce College Athletic Director Duncan Stevenson has been trying to bring women's soccer to Pierce for years. Now that the college has a program, he's confident Helling-Christy is the right person to start it.
“Luke has built two outstanding programs at Bonney Lake, and has established himself as one of the up-and-coming coaches in the region," Stevenson said. "We feel very fortunate to have a coach of his caliber to lead our new program in its inaugural season.”
Pierce College Women’s Soccer
Open tryouts
Aug. 9, Friday, and Aug. 10, Saturday – 8 a.m. to noon
Heritage Recreation Center
9010 - 128th St., Puyallup
Next to Rogers High School
Partial scholarships available to 10 players. Team members must attend Pierce College full time, taking 12 or more credits.
More info: email luke_helling-christy@sumnersd.org
or www.facebook.com/luke.hellingchristy or
www.pierce.ctc.edu/athletics/wsoccer/