MILL CREEK - Only a hooligan would claim that Dani Oster can't carry a soccer team on her petite-yet-explosive frame.

Some players are natural goal scorers, and Oster certainly fits the mold.

But to lift the Jackson High Timberwolves from good to great this past fall, the dynamic Oster set out to not just score goals but to also set them up. Her successful mission helped Jackson earn a third-place state-tournament trophy and triggered a barrage of individual awards that continues even today: Oster, a center midfielder who scored 20 goals and tallied 17 assists in 22 games during her senior season, is a finalist for the Herald's 2005 Woman of the Year in Sports award.

In her final two seasons, and especially as a senior, Oster "really stepped up ... and became a leader and a good teammate, and someone (the Timberwolves) could all work with," Jackson head coach Mike Bartley said. "She just made the level of the team rise with her."

Bartley's not the only one who noticed. Oster, a University of Oregon recruit, earned a staggering list of honors this school year, including:

• All-Wesco South first team.
• The Herald's 2005 All-Area Player of the Year.
• 2005-2006 Gatorade State Player of the Year.
• Class 4A Most Valuable Player (Associated Press).

Oster's effort to spread the scoring wealth helped Jackson make its second-consecutive trip to the 4A final four, the first two such appearances in program history.

"I think it definitely made us a lot more dangerous, just in the sense that other people on the field could score," Oster said of getting more teammates involved on offense.

Oster, who also excels in high-level select soccer, said beating Skyline in the 2005 state quarterfinals was the highlight of her prep season. Jackson, which tied Skyline 2-2 early in the season, overcame nerves and a stellar opponent to prevail 3-1 in an intense road battle.

"It was our toughest game by far in the whole state tournament," said Oster, who scored two goals in the contest, including the game-winner.

Determined to do everything she could to help Jackson reach its potential, the 5-foot-6 Oster didn't shy away from barking orders to teammates and reaching out to create important bonds.

"She knew she needed a good team around her for us to get (to the final four),'' Bartley said. ''Her and (sophomore forward Kristi Kingma, who had 19 goals and 14 assists in 2005) became close, and I think that translated on the field."

Next fall, fans of the Oregon women's soccer team will scan the Ducks' roster for new faces. Among the squad's first-year players will be a highly decorated freshman that became the poster girl for Jackson High soccer.

When Oregon fans cheer for Oster, in a way they'll be cheering for the Mill Creek school's program that Oster helped lift from obscurity to prominence.

Thanks to the high-scoring, team-building Oster, Bartley said, "All of the sudden, Jackson is on the map."