Defensive soccer has become a way of life for Valparaiso High School junior Kara Webb.

The Vikings sweeper has been playing the sports since she was 5 years old, and she's usually kept herself to one half of the pitch.

"All my life, I've been playing defense," Webb said. "I wouldn't mind moving up, but this is where my strengths seem to be."

Webb enters her third season as a defensive starter for the Vikings. She's already made one semistate and two regional appearances with Valpo. In the offseason, she's been a part of state Olympic Development Program squads.

"She just reads plays very well, especially on an offensive attack," Valparaiso coach Robert Cespedes said of Webb, a first-team Times All-Area selection last year. "She understands where the ball will most likely be passed. She helps set up the defense to adjust for a shot."

She's gained some of these skills by growing up around the game. Her father, Jeff, used to play the sport, while older brother, Bryan, plays at Saint Joseph's College.

"It was a family thing," Webb said. "My older sister (Dana) tried it and didn't like it. I loved it from the beginning."

She began her prep career along with 13 seniors on the Vikings squad, but Webb quickly found her way to the starting lineup.

"I was kind of nervous at the start," said Webb, who had two goals and an assist last season. "The (seniors) really helped me out. They talked to me about what to do on the field, and I listened."

Now Webb is imparting some of those lessons to fellow defenders: freshman Sara Tumbus and sophomore Macaira O'Connell.

"It can be intimidating at this level, but Kara keeps a calm head out there," said Cespedes, whose No. 4 Vikings are 4-1 this season. "She has an understanding of what it's like to start early in a high school career. She knows what they can expect, and that is extremely helpful."

Another asset to Webb's game is her understanding of opposing players. During her days with Northwest United and other travelling squads, Webb has teamed with Portage's Tara Ellis and Carly Bermes, Chesterton's Catherine Pannekoek and Annie Thieling, former Chesterton player Kate McCusker, Munster's Jessica Goodrich and several other of the area's top players.

"She kind of knows what side they prefer to kick from or what fakes a player might attempt," Cespedes said. "Last year at regional, she know how to play McCusker and did a great job of shutting her down.

"That just makes things a little easier from a coaching standpoint. She can direct players on certain things. It seems to carry more credence if Kara, not just the coaching staff, makes an observation."

After being a part of last year's up-and-down season, Webb is excited about the prospects for a quality junior campaign.

"We're playing with a lot more confidence," Webb said. "We gained a lot of lessons from last year, and it's been a lot more fun so far."

GIRLS SOCCER

Times Top 10

(Last week's rankings in parentheses)

1. Lake Central (1)

2. Chesterton (2)

3. Crown Point (3)

4. Kankakee Valley (4)

4. Valparaiso (5)

6. Munster (6)

7. Highland (7)

8. Portage (8)

9. Michigan City (9)

10. Hanover Central (NR)

On the bubble: Boone Grove, Griffith, Hobart.