Brittany Randle joined the Ceres High varsity girls soccer team during her freshman year. On May 10, she concluded her career with the Bulldogs.

"I'm going to miss the girls," Randle said.

Ceres lost 3-0 to Grace Davis at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park and finished in fifth place in the Modesto Metro Conference standings at 4-9-2.

"It was a good season," Randle said. "I know we could have done better."

The Bulldogs had a trying year. In December, prospective player Jannet Valencia died in a car accident. In February, Randle was diagnosed with leukemia. Her cancer went into remission and she was cleared to play in March.

"I was just glad to be back," said Randle, who missed the first three weeks of the season. "I just wanted to do my best to help the team."

Randle started all four years.

The defensive stopper earned all-league honors three times, including second team this year and in 2003, and third team as a junior.

"She's been the most dominant player on this team for the last four years," said Ceres coach Randy Cerny. "She's the best player I have ever coached."

This fall, Randle will enroll at Fresno State, where she'll major in math. She wants to pursue a career in teaching.

Randle also wants to play soccer in college.

"I still hope too," she said.

"I'm not going to play next year because of my stamina."

Randle began treatment the day she was diagnosed. The medication resulted in a significant amount of weight loss (15 pounds).

If Randle's health improves, she will in all likelihood tryout for the Fresno State women's soccer team during her sophomore year.

"If she gains her strength and weight back and her leukemia stays in remission, I would guess anything is possible," Cerny said.

Randle would be a key addition. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff reporter of the Ceres (Calif.) Courier