Sixteen years ago in 1997, the girls soccer team made it to the state semi-finals. Until last year, they hadn’t even made it to the play-offs. For the past two years, the Seahawk girls have made it to the first round of the state tournament.

“We had some strong performances, and some not so strong, but overall, we had a good season,” head coach Jenny Nichols said. “3A soccer is tough.”

Overall, the team finished 5-5 in league play. In their district playoff game, which would qualify them to make it to the state playoff tournament, the team played Enumclaw, one of the Seahawks most difficult rivals. Bitter from the losses they suffered last time they played Enumclaw, the team was fired up when they met them for the third time. In the end, they won the tough qualifying game with a score of 1-1, and 5-4 in penalty kicks.

“We switched our formations based upon which team we played,” Nichols said. “It was very effective.”

Making it to the state playoffs is not an easy task. The team was determined to prove they had what it takes to make it two years in a row.

“We had to win three playoff games to get to first round of state,” senior captain and Alayna Piwonski said. “It took lots of teamwork.”

In order to achieve great teamwork, the lady hawks had lots of team bonding time; one of the many places the team bonded was on the bus rides. This team bonding allowed them to work as one unit to make it as far as they did.

“The bus rides are where we all bonded and became a team,” junior Ceili Duffy said.

“After the game, on the bus ride home, we would sing “All I do is win” and “I won’t give up,” Piwonski said.

In the first round of state playoff games, the team played Kamiakin and lost by a score of 3-0.

Even though the team did not get the result they wanted, they had a successful season making it as far as they did. With an overall record of ten wins, seven losses, and one tie, the team ended the season ranked 54th in the state of Washington. They hope to make qualifying for state a pattern, without any more sixteen year gaps, and continue to grow stronger so they can get even further than they have for the past two seasons.

“This year was amazing,” Duffy said. “And I really enjoyed being a part of it.”

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Ed Johnson Photos