Capital soccer beats Lakes 2-0 in districts, securing first state tournament berth since 2010
Finally here, the Capital Cougars want to make the most of their postseason opportunity. Capital earned its first state girls soccer playoff berth in more than a decade with a 2-0 District 3/4 victory over host Lakes at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood on Saturday afternoon.
“I’m just really trying to hold it in right now to be able to have a conversation,” Capital coach Adriana Montes said. “I’m extremely, extremely excited. They have worked so hard to get here. They have struggled. They’ve lost together, they’ve won together. They knew how important this season was going to be for our program and they’ve done just about everything, as coaches we could ask for.”
Capital (10-5) advances in the bi-district winner’s bracket, its state berth already assured. The Cougars will play Auburn Riverside in the district semifinals at 5 p.m. on Tuesday night at South Sound Stadium.
Lakes (9-1), who entered the district tournament unbeaten after winning its first league championship in 15 years, now faces two loser-out matches beginning with a 7 p.m. contest Tuesday against Prairie at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.
“We’re just grateful we have another chance,” first-year Lakes coach Dave Chavez said.
The Cougars accomplished feats that no other team this fall had managed against Lakes.
Capital became the first team all season to score more than one goal against the Lancers. And in so doing, the Cougars handed Lakes its first loss of the year.
“It’s crazy,” Capital senior Caroline Penner said. “When we heard we were playing a league champ, everyone was a little nervous. Everyone was excited, though. It made us all realize, we can do it, we can go far.”
Penner got things rolling early for the visitors from the South Sound Conference.
Penner slipped behind the Lancers defense in the third minute and slid a shot past Lakes goal keeper Mia Banner for the quick 1-0 lead.
“I forget who played it thru or what happened,” Penner said. “But winning it at the six (yard box), and just taking it at speed, I think it surprised them. And then just the finish.
“I think it was huge. It really just started us off. It just lifted the team up and everyone was excited. We were like, we can do this. We can win this game.”
After Penner’s goal, the Lancers dictated play for much of the rest of the first half in the midfield, but they failed to generate any real scoring threats.
Meanwhile, Ella Thompson added to the Capital lead in the 21st minute. The junior forward beat a Lakes defender to a thru ball inside the 18-yard box right of the goal, got her right foot to it and skidded a low shot past the on-rushing Banner and into the net for the 2-0 advantage that would hold up the rest of the way.
“Our defensive line, they have this mentality,” Montes said. “Because we have been shut down by teams, and we have had goals put in the back of the net. They have broken defensively. They have this like, ‘No.’ They’ve put their foot down. ‘No more.’”
Led by Olivia Walk, the Capital defense rarely let anything into the 18-yard box, much less allowed a shot on frame.
“She has just stepped up as a center back and told her teammates right to left, no more goals,” Montes said. “And that’s what they’ve tried to work on so hard, to not allow any opponent anything in the back of the net.”
The result has been a run that now includes a state tournament appearance, in the first post-season appearance of any kind for this senior group.
“My freshman year, we had a big class,” Penner said. “Our group just kind of grew up together. Now that we’re all seniors, we have some great leaders. Everyone loves each other. The chemistry is just amazing. We kind of just all came together, so it’s been really fun with this group.”