High school girls soccer district roundup: 4A Sumner, 3A Stadium secure district titles
DISTRICT 3/4 4A CHAMPIONSHIP
SUMNER 1, TAHOMA 0
Sydney Garonzik’s 50th-minute goal delivered Sumner’s eighth-straight victory and the District 3/4 4A title on Thursday night.
Garonzik, a senior midfielder, charged an inside pass and beat Tahoma’s incoming keeper for the only score in a meeting between the bracket’s top seeds at Curtis High School.
The Spartans (11-1-1, 20-1-1) stormed to a 4A SPSL title, and now add another trophy to the showcase.
Defensive dominance has sustained their imminent trip to the state tournament. Since a loss to Curtis on Oct. 9 — their only loss all season — the Spartans haven’t allowed a goal. That’s right: all eight wins came via shutout.
With three wins over top-10 teams in that span, Sumner just keeps rolling.
“That’s what makes them a special group, is that we have multiple weapons,” coach Robi Turley said. “Our team speed is… fast and high-pressure. We’ve got a deep bench. Going into the playoffs, that can make a big difference.
“I think we’re peaking at the right time.”
Goalkeepers Kennedy Jackson (sophomore) and Devon Bankers (freshman) split time at the position throughout Sumner’s eight-game win streak. The latter played the entirety of Thursday’s district championship, forcing a shutout in the biggest game of her high-school career while Jackson nurses a back injury. Turley says Jackson will return for their first state matchup.
“It’s pretty cool. (Kennedy and Devon) both have been friends before they came into high school,” Turley said. “They train together outside of school.
“They’re each other’s biggest fans. It’s difficult for us, because they’re both really good keepers.”
Both should expect playing time when the regional round kicks off next weekend. Start times are to be determined.
DISTRICT 3/4 3A CHAMPIONSHIP
STADIUM 3, PENINSULA 2 (PK)
The Tigers erased a two-score deficit in the closing minutes and stunned Peninsula in penalty kicks — a victory that clinched Stadium the District 3/4 3A title in thrilling fashion at Mount Tahoma High School on Thursday night.
Reigning PCL co-MVP Brooklyn Lee and freshman forward Jordyn Williams netted late goals that evened the district championship at two apiece before Stadium drilled all five penalty kicks to Peninsula’s four.
“This was a very good Peninsula team,” Stadium coach Jeremy Leffel said. “Physical, fast, dangerous. I was just really proud of my group for hanging in there and finding the goals when they needed to.”
Stadium (10-0-2) clinched the 3A PCL title with an undefeated regular season. They have not lost a match since Sept. 9. The Tigers blanked Kentlake, 4-0, and outlasted Auburn Riverside, 2-1, in the opening rounds of the district bracket to appear in tonight’s championship.
“This is a group that’s been together like few have seen,” Leffel said. “They’ve been in it for each other the whole way. They’ve believed in each other.
“The three captains we have (Lee, Marley Ells, Madi Jarzynka) have been exceptional, and they have led by example and paved the way for this group to believe in themselves.”
The committee will seed programs for the state tournaments by Sunday, Leffel said.
