3A girls soccer state tournament bracket breakdown: Will top-seeded Gig Harbor win it all?
The Washington high school girls soccer state tournaments are getting underway this week. Here’s a look at the Class 3A state tournament and what to watch for.
THE TEAM TO BEAT
Gig Harbor, which won the 2018 Class 3A state championship, beating Holy Names 2-1, comes into this fall’s state tournament as the No. 1 seed. Gig Harbor won the 3A South Sound Conference comfortably and compiled a 17-0-1 overall record on the season. The lone blemish — if you can even call it that — was a Sept. 23 draw against Central Kitsap, the league’s runner-up. Otherwise, Gig Harbor has been flawless this year.
“They’re a team,” said Gig Harbor coach Katie Bennett. “They’re very selfless with each other.”
Sometimes, the easier soccer teams to shut down are the ones with only one high-level player. But with the Tides, it’s a pick-your-poison scenario. Arizona commit Ella Hatteberg, the youngest of three Hatteberg sisters that have come through the program and daughter of former MLB player Scott Hatteberg, is a force in the midfield. Lily Paulson, another midfielder, is committed to Division II Point Loma. Senior Alexa Thoms leads the team with 24 goals and 13 assists. Freshman Elise Miller has 14 goals. Senior Ashley Wright has 14 goals.
“When we look at other teams and who are their standout players, they might have one or two,” Bennett said. “You have to be solid to be able to mark five or six of ours to be able to slow us down. They all just understand their roles.”
Believe it or not, some of Gig Harbor’s current players have some state championship experience to draw on from the 2018 game. Paulson, Wright and Hatteberg were freshmen on that title-winning team. Wright, in her first high school season, scored the game-winning goal in the championship game in the 76th minute.
Could the trio bookend their high school careers with another title?
“It’d be amazing,” Bennett said. “It’s an opportunity that we’ve talked about, it’s been one of their goals at the beginning of the year. That’s what they wanted to set out to achieve.”
WHICH SOUTH SOUND TEAMS COULD MAKE A RUN?
Aside from Gig Harbor, 3A North Puget Sound League champion Auburn Riverside is another legitimate contender. The Ravens enter the tournament as the No. 4 seed after losing to Gig Harbor in the District 3/4 championship game. Forwards Samiah Shell and Kiana Gutierrez are constantly putting pressure on opposing back lines. This team has plenty of postseason experience, too. In 2019, the Ravens advanced to the Class 4A state championship game, where they lost to Puyallup.
“I’m ready to get back, ready to win.” Gutierrez said after Auburn Riverside clinched a state tournament berth with a district win over Central Kitsap. “My senior year, I think just putting it all out there, leaving it at Riverside, I’m just really excited to see how far we can go. I’m excited to see us in the state final.”
Shell leads Auburn Riverside with 28 goals and 15 assists; Gutierrez has 17 goals and 12 assists for the Ravens.
Other locals in the state tournament: No. 10 Lakes, No. 12 Capital, No. 15 Peninsula and No. 16 Bonney Lake.
Keep an eye on Lakes, which won the 3A Pierce County League. Aly Bryan is a high-level goal scorer for the Lancers. Capital has one of the state’s best pure goal scorers in Seattle U commit Caroline Penner and beat Lakes in the District 3/4 tournament. Questions linger after a 7-1 loss to Auburn Riverside in the tournament semifinals.
DIFFERENCE MAKERS FROM SOUTH SOUND TEAMS
Lily Paulson, Gig Harbor, sr. — Point Loma commit has been scoring goals since she stepped on campus as a freshman. “She’s just consistent. When we need those goals, she’ll come out with them. She sees the field so well,” said Tides coach Katie Bennett. Has 14 goals and 12 assists for the Tides.
Ashley Wright, Gig Harbor, sr. — Coach Katie Bennett calls her ‘vicious’ on the wing, where Wright slices past defenders. Has 11 goals and 14 assists for the Tides.
Ella Hatteberg, Gig Harbor, sr. — Arizona commit is a dynamic player anywhere she is on the field and has a high workrate for the Tides. “She’s just a workhorse, does what needs to be done,” said Tides coach Katie Bennett. “Her transition with the ball, positive first touch, picking out a player.” Has 11 goals and 13 assists for the Tides.
Alexa Thoms, Gig Harbor, sr. — Stepped into the starting striker role after teammate Sami Huber went down with an injury during the spring season. All she’s done since then? Led the top-seeded Tides with 24 goals. “Her ability to find space to take her shot is phenomenal,” said Tides coach Katie Bennett.
Samiah Shell, Auburn Riverside, jr. — Shell just continues to dominate up top for the Ravens, giving opponents problems with her pace and her clinical shot-making ability. Has a team-high 28 goals for Auburn Riverside this season and 15 assists.
Kiana Gutierrez, Auburn Riverside, sr. — Part of Auburn Riverside’s 1-2 punch at forward alongside teammate Samiah Shell, Gutierrez is constantly making threatening runs for Paul Lewis’ squad. Has 17 goals and 12 assists on the season.
McKenzie Emmons, Auburn Riverside, sr. — An important piece of Auburn Riverside’s defense, Emmons was a TNT All-Area first-team selection last spring.
Aly Bryan, Lakes, sr. — The top goal-scoring threat for the 3A Pierce County League champions can always make something happen with the ball at her feet.
Bella Hanna, Lakes, sr. — Hanna has been the veteran presencing commanding the 3A PCL champion Lancers’ back line.
Caroline Penner, Capital, sr. — Seattle U commit is one of the state’s top pure goal scorers and has scored close to 40 goals for the Cougars this season.
This story was originally published November 9, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
