Gig Harbor soccer’s hot start boosts their confidence in new league

Facing down a new league, playing with a new coach, and starting the season almost six months late would be a lot for a team to take in stride.

That’s what the Gig Harbor High School girls soccer team has experienced. They are temporarily in the 4A South Puget Sound League, Katie Bennett has taken over the program and, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the late start.

But that hasn’t stopped the Tides from making the best of their situation. They’re off to a 2-0 start to the season.

“The start of the season is what we want. We are starting to connect, we’re still gelling,” said Bennett. “Our back line is coming together and on Thursday, we focused on our defense and came away with a clean sheet. We are still developing.”

In both wins so far this season, the Tides scored five goals; they’ve also only given up one goal so far and that was in their first game against state-playoff team Curtis last Tuesday.

Part of coach Bennett’s offensive philosophy is that the Tides will be very versatile and that they can score from just about anywhere on the pitch. One example of such a scorer is senior Maddie Olmstead.

Olmstead has played from more of a wing position in her career at Gig Harbor, but this year she has moved to the left-back spot where she is playing a more defense spot than she is used to.

“I’ve been playing left-back and I’ve usually played wing so I’m kind of new to the position,” the senior said. “I think I’m more defensive minded. I’m also able to go up and attack, and play the ball which I am pretty comfortable doing. And using my speed.”

Olmstead’s speed has been a factor for her because she has been able to find a lane through the opposing defense, take the ball and score a goal in both wins the Tides’ have had so far this season.

Like Olmstead, there are a lot of new faces that are on the defensive side of the ball. Still working on their ‘shape’, the defense is learning each other’s styles and building chemistry.

“I think we are getting better at staying more compact and shifting together when we need to be. That’s definitely played a role [in our strong start],” she said. “Coach Katie has been giving me advice because I’m kind of new to this. But when the ball is on the other side of the field, she’s told me how I need to tuck in and support the other center-back.”

Essentially, Olmstead will stay closer to her center-back teammate and not go so wide to create more lanes for any attacking opposing player. She will cut off any extra space to keep opponents’ movement space as minimal as possible.

The opposite side is anchored fellow senior captain Megan Paul.

Paul has held her spot as the right-back or right-center-back ever since the fifth grade, but this is her first time playing soccer since March 2020. And like Olmstead, if there is a lane where she can push the ball up the field, she can.

“I believe I [have the confidence to push the ball]. I haven’t played in a long time, my club decided not to play last year because of COVID,” she said. “Last week was my first week of play which was really exhausting. I think probably in the next couple of games I will have enough confidence to step higher.”

As a defensive player, Paul does her part to help the communication of the back line. On the pitch, the defense will talk to each other and call out where the ball is and where they should be positioned to stop opposing players.

Even though it has been a while since Paul has been on the pitch, her muscle memory has helped her get back into playing form where she can lead and encouraging her fellow back-line players.

“Before each game we have to be mentally ready and we have to be one unit,” Paul said. “It’s not each player since we play from the back, it’s not each player individually, we are one solid unit. And if we are all on the same page, I think that’s what makes us so successful.”

Playing against 4A opponents is something that the entire Tides’ squad sees as a challenge that they are up for. Their hot start has put the rest of the league on notice and they are taking things seriously and working hard to match the level of competition.

Basically, they believe they can take on anyone and beat them head to head.

“I think we belong in the 4A competition and we want to play the best,” Bennett said. “And in order to be the best you have to play the best. These girls come from all sorts of club teams but [they’re] able to play together. It’s awesome to watch.”

The Tides will continue their conquest of the SPSL with a game at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, February 23 against cross-town rival Peninsula; and again at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 25 against Sumner. Both games will be at Roy Anderson Field.

This story was originally published February 23, 2021 at 6:00 AM.