Inheriting a team that made it to the state finals last season and returns the bulk of its lineup, one would think new Niwot coach Heather Solar would be content to stay the course and not shake things up too much.

One would be wrong.

“We’re going to run an entirely new system,” said Solar, who previously had coached at Brighton High School and has been the director of women’s soccer for the Boulder County Force club program. “We’re going to have a very different style of play.”

The Cougars weren’t the easiest team to watch last season, playing a very conservative style that kept scores low. But it was a very successful strategy for Niwot, especially during the latter part of the season and the Class 4A playoffs. The Cougars posted nine consecutive shutouts before losing to Silver Creek 1-0 in the title game.

But during that same stretch, Niwot scored only 13 goals, winning five contests by 1-0 margins.

“It was ugly, ugly soccer,” Solar said. “They just packed it in and never went on the attack.”

Solar promises that will change, as she’s installing a 4-3-3 system that calls for the Cougars to constantly put pressure on their opponents.

Solar has plenty of talent to work with, as Niwot brings back 10 seniors and several all-state players. And the Cougars will still be strong defensively, led by first-team all-state senior Kaitlin Buck and junior keeper Alexis Zumwalt, who earned honorable-mention honors as a sophomore.

Lauren Shaner and Lauren Braman also return, although Braman blew out her Achilles’ tendon late last year and might not be available until May.

And, after making a run to the finals last year, Solar knows expectations are high.

“The bar has been set. The question is, now can I bring that next dimension they need to go all the way? We shall see,” Solar said.

The Northern League promises to be as tough as ever, with several teams capable of making a run at the title. The league produced three of 4A’s four semifinalists last season, and a similar situation isn’t out of the question.

Defending champion Silver Creek lost several good players to graduation but should be capable of making a strong defense of its title. Broomfield, which lost to the Raptors in the semifinals last season, brings back eight starters, including standouts Danielle Birdsall, Natalie Foulk and Maddie Reeves.

Fossil Ridge should also be strong, and Greeley West, which lost to Silver Creek in the quarterfinals, returns all 11 starters.

“It’s a great league,” Solar said. “It definitely prepares you for the state tournament.”

Corner kick

CLASS 4A TOP 10

1. Niwot: Runners-up last year, the Cougars have the skill to win it all.

2. Golden: After reaching the semifinals last season, the Demons look to take the next step.

3. Broomfield: The Eagles are always a factor, and this season will be no different.

4. Lewis-Palmer: The Rangers return to 4A and will make an immediate impact.

5. Pueblo South: The Colts are young and improving and could make a deep postseason run.

6. Wheat Ridge: With their entire offense returning, the Farmers will push Golden in Jeffco.

7. Silver Creek: Several key players were lost to graduation, but the defending champs will still be formidable.

8. Cheyenne Mountain: Led by standout Lauren Patterson, the Indians should remain dangerous.

9. Fossil Ridge: The SaberCats will be a factor in the extremely tough Northern League.

10. Pueblo Centennial: The Bulldogs’ only loss last season came in overtime in the second round of the playoffs.

Consensus league picks: Lewis-Palmer (Colorado Springs Metro), Denver South (Denver Prep), Golden (Jeffco), Niwot (Northern), Prairie View (Skyline), Pueblo South (South Central), Battle Mountain (Western Slope).

TOP PLAYERS BY LEAGUE

Player, School, Year

COLORADO SPRINGS METRO

Lauren Patterson, Cheyenne Mountain, Sr.

Elise Kensinger, Cheyenne Mountain, Sr.

Abby Elliott, Valor Christian, Jr.

DENVER PREP

Robin Emerson, Thomas Jefferson, Sr.

Mallany Knoll, Thomas Jefferson, Sr.

Daniela Diaz, Kennedy, Sr.

JEFFCO

Nicholette DiGiacomo, Golden, Jr.

Bella Hartley, Wheat Ridge, So.

Marissa Davis, Golden, Sr.

NORTHERN

Kaitlin Buck, Niwot, Sr.

Natalie Foulk, Broomfield, Sr.

Ali Morgan-Mauro, Fossil Ridge, Jr.

Danielle Birdsall, Broomfield, Sr.

Lauren Shaner, Niwot, Sr.

SKYLINE

Molly Miller, Prairie View, Sr.

Brittany Popelka, Prairie View, So.

Erika Roach, Prairie View, Sr.

SOUTH CENTRAL

Amanda Garcia, Pueblo South, Jr.

Emily Pulsifer, Pueblo West, Sr.

Brittany Klieson, Pueblo South, So.

WESTERN SLOPE

Rachel Hanson, Montrose, Sr.

Kat Bony, Montrose, Sr.

Amelia Davis, Palisade, Jr.

NOTEBOOK

The Northern League remains, without question, the toughest in the classification, with a half-dozen teams capable of making a deep postseason run.

Chief among them is Niwot, which finished fourth in league last season, but made a run to the championship game as the tournament’s No. 11 seed.

One factor that might affect how the Cougars do this season is the recovery of all-state senior Lauren Braman. The team’s top goal scorer last year with eight, Braman ruptured her Achilles tendon last year and is still recovering, although there is a chance she might be back in time for a postseason run. “They told me at first that I wouldn’t be ready until July, but now they said I might be ready by May,” Braman said. “We just have to see how things go.”

One team that could surprise some people in the Northern League this season is Greeley West. The Spartans finished seventh last season and were seeded 24th in the tournament, but pulled off upsets in the first two rounds of the playoffs before falling to eventual champion Silver Creek in the quarterfinals. Greeley West brings back all 11 starters this season and could challenge for a top spot in the league. There’s more good news for the Spartans as the bulk of their top players are juniors and will only get better as the season goes along.

The battle for the South Central League title should be fierce. Pueblo South, Centennial and West will all be vying for the crown.

South brings back seven starters from a team that went 12-3-2 last year

but was knocked out in the second round of the state tournament by Cheyenne Mountain. It was the second year in a row that the Colts fell to the Indians in the round of 16. Junior forward Amanda Garcia scored 21 goals to lead the offense.

Pueblo West lost seven starters, but coach Rex Harriman isn’t using the words “rebuilding year” around the team. The Cyclones are led by senior forward Emily Pulsifer and senior sweeper Samantha Bruce.

Centennial was the league champ last year, as the Bulldogs didn’t lose until they dropped a 1-0 decision to Niwot in the second round of the state tournament.

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