‘Major grit’: Cocke’s goal, stellar defense lifts Sumner to 4A district soccer title
When the ball found Mae Cocke in a goalie-box logjam, Sumner’s junior midfielder refused to let another golden opportunity slip away.
Just inches from the line with two Curtis defenders swarming, Cocke slid – effectively punching the ball with her foot to convert. And finally, a reason for Sumner to celebrate.
“I was just like, “if we can get the ball in the box, we can finish it,’” Cocke told The News Tribune.
It was a physical, scrappy night between Sumner and Curtis for Thursday’s District 3/4 4A championship at Federal Way Memorial Field, and Cocke’s goal in the 51st minute made the ultimate difference. Spartans keeper Kennedy Jackson’s game-saving denial on a 65th-minute penalty kick preserved the lead, and Sumner’s defense posted a fourth consecutive shutout to claim the first-place district trophy, 1-0.
“We’ve been a little underrated by a lot of people,” Sumner head coach Robi Turley said as Spartans chanted and repeated “district champs!” in a nearby huddle. “(We received) the four seed, not picked to win the 4A SPSL… it’s driven them to prove they can be here, too.”
Sumner hasn’t lost since Sept. 16 with two draws since, once with these Curtis Vikings (0-0) on Oct. 10. They haven’t allowed a goal since Oct. 24, either, racing through the District ¾ bracket with three wins — all shutouts.
In short: Turley and Co. knew another low-scoring, hard-fought match was in the cards.
Both teams mustered competitive shots on goal in the first half – Sumner pushed the sidelines with speedy forward Olivia Lopez – but it was Cocke that broke Thursday’s scoreless tie in the 51st.
“Major grit,” Turley said of Cocke’s determination mere inches from paydirt. “Not letting that ball pop out, and wanting to get into the back of the net.
“I felt like there were girls just being shoved in the net making sure that ball crossed the line. Just a little determination… they want it. They want it.”
Less than 15 minutes later, a Sumner foul in the opposing box handed Curtis their best chance to equalize with a penalty kick.
Not on Jackson’s watch, who jumped to her right for an emphatic two-hand rejection.
“I get a little bit nervous, but my teammates (are) on that line cheering me on,” Jackson said. “I just gave it my all and powered through.”
And talk about battle-tested: Sumner enters the 4A state tournament holding shutout wins over Camas, Skyview, and now Curtis. All sit within the top-13 of the WIAA’s RPI rankings.
“This is a big win for us,” Jackson said. “It was a little bit personal.”
Both Sumner and Curtis clinched state berths earlier in the district bracket regardless of Thursday night’s result. Joining them from District 3/4 are Skyview, Kentridge, Camas, and Puyallup.
Could we be in for a rematch? And would any of them score on the Spartans this time around?
“This is like my family, and the (shutout) means a lot,” Jackson said. “That back line, our culture and connection… We step on the field as a family, and we work hard.
“It just shows on the field how much (of a) connection we have back there. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
This story was originally published November 7, 2024 at 10:56 PM.
