GIRLS SOCCER FALL PREVIEW
Rickman returns to Bucks’ sideline after 2-year absence
By ANNIE FOWLER, CUJ Special Contributor
PENDLETON — When coach Kiana Rickman left the Pendleton girls soccer program after the 2021 season, Kelsey Graham was a freshman and the Bucks were playing in the 5A Intermountain Conference.
Rickman returns to the program this fall after spending the past two years in Wisconsin while her husband Nate finished his physical therapy degree.
The Bucks are in a different league and there are new faces, but there was a comfort in seeing Graham out on the pitch.
“Kelsey is a really good soccer player,” said Rickman, who will teach careers and world history at Pendleton High School. “She is a quiet leader, but the kids follow her. She’s always doing the right thing.”
Graham, who goes to school at Weston-McEwen, scored 17 of the team’s 28 goals, with eight assists last season, and earned first-team Greater Oregon League honors.
The Bucks graduated eight players from last year’s team, but Graham, fellow seniors Halle Pederson and Sara Airoldi, and junior Hazel Case return as team leaders.
“The people we do have will contribute in big ways,” Rickman said. “It’s kind of like when I took it over the first time and I had a really good freshman class. We still have Kelsey and Halle, Sara should contribute big minutes at midfield, and Hazel is a great defender. We are scrappy and have a good work ethic.”
Rickman also is looking for midfielder Noemi Alverez-Barroso and volleyball convert Chais Surber to contribute, along with a handful of freshmen.
In goal, Citlali Garcia returns after backing up all-league goalie Miranda Medrano last season.
“She is super enthusiastic about it,” Rickman said. “She’s super coachable. It’s been fun to see. She is one of the most positive kids I have ever seen.”
Last year, the Bucks went 3-2-1 in league play, and lost in the first round of the 4A state playoffs to Scappoose to finish the season 6-7-2.
“The GOL is a good league,” Rickman said. “It’s nice not to have to travel so much, and it’s my first year at 4A. I’m excited. We are also playing some more local schools.”
The Bucks open the season Aug. 29 at The Dalles.
Rickman will be assisted by Dillon George and Jessica Macias.
A 2015 Pendleton graduate, Rickman played soccer, basketball and tennis for the Bucks, leaving the program with 31 career goals and a record for hat tricks in a season with three. She played college soccer at Nebraska-Wesleyan University. While in Wisconsin, Rickman coached skiing for one year, and junior varsity soccer for one year.
