High school girls soccer preview: Top teams, players in South Sound in 2024
The high school girls soccer season is underway in the South Sound and across Washington. Here are the top teams and players to watch during the 2024 fall season.
4A NPSL
We expect this to be one of the more competitive league races, with no clear-cut favorite this year. Tahoma, Auburn Riverside (previously 3A), Kentridge, Kentwood, Kennedy Catholic and Stadium (previously 3A) are all contenders. Of those teams, all but Kennedy Catholic and Kentwood appeared in the state tournament last season. Tahoma is strong in the back, led by senior center back Olivia Sides and junior outside back Kate Spangler. Kentridge may be the favorite, returning a handful of first-team all-league players, highlighted by center back Addison Stendera, a Montana commit. Auburn Riverside has consistently been one of the area’s best teams under 20th-year coach Paul Lewis and makes the jump to 4A this year, returning Idaho commit and forward Caitlyn Riggs, who has six goals already this season. Stadium is young but experienced in goal with junior Tyler Roberts, who should keep the Tigers in games.
4A SPSL
We like Curtis’ chances to win the league this year and possibly run the table. The Vikings return seven starters, including midfielders Sophia Mayne (Colorado College commit) and Kat West, defenders Olivia Lorella and Ivy Korbal, midfielder Hoku Mose and forward Shelby Duah. Curtis is off to a 4-0 start with a bunch of quality wins already, beating Camas, Gig Harbor, Auburn Riverside and Silas. The Vikings have surrendered just one goal in those four games. Sumner, Olympia and Puyallup figure to be playoff teams, as well. Rogers, South Kitsap and Bonney Lake could find themselves in contention for playoff berths, too. Puyallup forward Ella Bach, a Clemson commit, leads a Vikings team that has been scoring goals early on. Rogers returns senior forward Alyce Chapelle, an Idaho commit who scored 14 goals last season, leading the Rams to the state tournament. Keep an eye on South Kitsap, which has raced out to 5-0-1 undefeated start. The Wolves are young but have some talented pieces, led by senior forward Marisa Brown and senior midfielder Sierra DeFevers.
3A NPSL
Decatur and Enumclaw should duke it out for the league title this season. Early advantage to Decatur, which beat Enumclaw 2-1 on Sept. 16. Enumclaw picked up a 4-0 win against rival White River Sept. 24. Decatur returns nine starters and is led by sophomore midfielder/forward Kaihea Tuifua, who scored 24 goals and tallied 14 assists last season as a freshman. She’s complemented in the attack by junior Amani Hussen, while sophomore defender Lavinia Suazo is the leader on defense. Enumclaw returns 10 starters from last year’s team, which competed in the 2A SPSL. The Hornets are strong in the midfield, led by seniors Emma Henshaw and Ruthie Landwehr. White River, Kentlake and Auburn Mountainview could factor into the race, as well. Kentlake returns seven starters and is experienced in the attack.
3A PSL
Gig Harbor looks like the favorite in the Narrows Division and we like Lakes in the Nisqually Division. Gig Harbor has been on a tear early in the season, collecting a 1-0 win over new league peer Bellarmine Prep, a 2-0 win over 4A Puyallup and blowout wins over Silas and Lincoln. Forward Elizabeth Hayes, a TNT All-Area first-team selection in 2023, is a player to watch for the Tides. Midfielder Karin Heikkila and defender Aejanae Humphrey are also impact players. Lakes is 4-0-2 and is paced by junior forward Braelyn Carey, who has been on fire early this season, scoring 15 goals through just five games, already besting her total of 12 goals from last season. Senior defensive midfielder Grace Hanna and center backs Kendall Griffin and Maya Stephens lead the defense. Bellarmine Prep, Peninsula and Central Kitsap should be contenders, too. Bellarmine has one of the league’s top young keepers in sophomore Charlotte Lamb. Junior Maelani Salema is a player to watch in the midfield. Peninsula has a trio of talented junior forwards in Ella Coates, Nora Sutherland and Maya Rogers.
2A SPSL
Fife is the perennial favorite, but the Trojans may have some competition this year from Steilacoom, which advanced to the 2A state tournament last year alongside Fife. The state tournament appearance was the first for Steilacoom in 12 years. Steilacoom returns five starters and welcomes a pair of talented newcomers in freshman striker Ashley Gallagher — who recorded a hat trick in first high school game — and midfielder Macy Gecasion. Junior goalie Jolie Ferrer and junior center back Kayley Gallagher lead the Sentinels’ defense. Fife graduated a lot of talent from last year’s state tournament team but returns forwards Brynne Cope and Arlana Vaeao, as well as winger Dasha Vysotskiy. Eatonville and Orting will factor in, as well.
2A EVCO
Every year, the league runs through Tumwater. This year is no different. The T-Birds return eight starters, highlighted by reigning league MVP Kayla Pope, a junior midfielder and 2023 TNT All-Area selection. Pope scored 15 goals and had six assists for the T-Birds last year, playing in various positions. Tumwater also returns 2023 EvCo offensive player of the year Emalyn Shaffer, first-team forward Ava Jones, first-team midfielder Sophie Boatright and first-team defender Trinity Edwards. Tumwater has draws this season against 4A schools Union and Skyview.
SMALL SCHOOLS
Annie Wright and Cascade Christian should be contenders in the 1A Nisqually this season. Annie Wright opened the season with a 6-0 win over Vashon Island, which was a state tournament participant last season. Cascade Christian returns five starters and welcomes a pair of impact newcomers in freshman midfielder/forward Reese Looker and midfielder Danica Morton.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
F Ella Bach, Puyallup, jr.
D Layla Bejar, Auburn Riverside, sr.
F Marisa Brown, South Kitsap, sr.
F Braelyn Carey, Lakes, jr.
F Alyce Chappelle, Rogers, sr.
F Ella Coates, Peninsula, jr.
F Brynne Cope, Fife, sr.
M Anya Deboer, Rogers, jr.
M Holly Dorhauer, Yelm. sr.
D Avery Draper, Olympia
F Shelby Duah, Curtis, jr.
GK Joalie Ferrer, Steilacoom, jr.
F Ashley Gallagher, Steilacoom, fr.
M Grace Hanna, Lakes, sr.
F Elizabeth Hayes, Gig Harbor, jr.
M Karin Heikkila, Gig Harbor, jr.
M Emma Henshaw, Enumclaw, sr.
M Lila Hoyt, Sumner, sr.
D Aejanae Humphrey, Gig Harbor, sr.
F Amani Hussen, Decatur, jr.
GK Kennedy Jackson Sumner, jr.
F Ava Jones, Tumwater, sr.
D Ivy Korbal, Curtis, sr.
GK Charlotte Lamb, Bellarmine Prep, soph.
M Ruthie Landwehr, Enumclaw, sr.
M/F Reese Looker, Cascade Christian, fr.
M Sophia Mayne, Curtis, sr.
M Hoku Mose, Curtis, jr.
M Kayla Pope, Tumwater, jr.
F Jaylee Reynolds, Bonney Lake, sr.
F Caitlyn Riggs, Auburn Riverside, sr.
GK Tyler Roberts, Stadium, jr.
M Maelani Salema, Bellarmine Prep, jr.
F Emalyn Shaffer, Tumwater, sr.
D Olivia Sides, Tahoma, sr.
D Addison Stendera, Kentridge, sr.
M/F Kaihea Tuifua, Decatur, soph.
M Emory Villacorta, Puyallup, jr.
W Dasha Vysotskiy, Fife, soph.
This story was originally published September 26, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
