Volume 44, Issue 9. Today is
New coach takes helm of women’s soccer team
If the Mesa women’s soccer team is to improve on last year’s stellar season, which included a run to the National Championship tournament, they will have to do so under the reigns of a new coach.
Karine Inoue will be taking over for former head coach Tim Barmettler who will be stepping down to focus on teaching and coaching at Gilbert Highland High School. Barmettler will also continue his work as Director of Coaching for the Gilbert Soccer Club.
Inoue spent the last two years as rival Scottsdale Community College’s head coach, but was an assistant at MCC the year prior to that. She is also the coach of Mesa Mountain View High School and will continue to coach there since the two seasons do not coincide.
Inoue is anxious to start a new coaching chapter for a team that has a proven winning tradition.
“MCC has a great soccer program that is a national threat every year. I am coming here to help us get over the top and win a National Championship,” Inoue said.
The new coach, who was a four-year starter at Arizona State University, believes the experience her and her coaching staff have as players will help a lot.
“We all have experience playing at that Division I level so we know what it takes.
“Our goal is to run this team like a Division I team. We know the talent will be there we just have to put the work in.”
Inoue will benefit greatly from returning sophomores from last year’s team, including All-American Krista Mirabelli, last year’s team leader in scoring.Also returning will be last year’s assist leader Celene Molera.
Inoue will also be bringing over three players from the Scottsdale squad she coached last year.
“I know we have a lot of talent coming back and a lot of good young players to look forward to for next season.”
Inoue knows she has many expectations to live up to with the reputation that MCC has built as a soccer powerhouse.
“There is a lot of pressure, being that this program is so successful, but we want to win a National Championship not just make it there.”As well as playing collegiately, Inoue also played a year with the Arizona Heatwave and had a tryout with the Philadelphia Charge.
She is in her fifth year of coaching.