High school girls soccer: Top teams, players in the South Sound in 2025
The high school girls soccer season is underway in the South Sound. Here’s a breakdown of the favorites and contenders in each local league, as well as a watchlist of some of the area’s top players this fall.
4A NPSL
Tacoma’s Stadium High, which is deep, experienced and talented, looks to be the favorite early on. The Tigers collected a 4-1 win over Bellarmine Prep on Sept. 9. Junior forward Jordyn Williams and senior defender Haley Millan were first-team all-league selections a season ago. Coach Jeremy Leffel’s Tigers also return all-league F Emma Cardozo, M Finley Kern and senior GK Tyler Roberts. Kennedy Catholic, Tahoma, Kentridge and Auburn Riverside should all factor in, as well. Kennedy Catholic (2-0-1) returns seven starters, including D Kloe Fredrickson, D/F Leah Montero, D/M Kaya Singh, M Ka’ena Scott and M Leila McClaskey. Tahoma returns eight starters, including first-team selections Simone Bennett (GK) and D Kate Spangler. Junior D Alexa La Forge, sophomore D Ryenn Lyman and F/M Sachi Savis are other players to watch for Alyssa Hurt’s squad. Kentridge graduated a strong senior class but returns five starters, highlighted by midfielders Kaitlyn Moody and Lauren Covello and forwards Jenae Stephenson and Natalia Krall-Cruz.
4A SPSL
Puyallup, Sumner and Curtis should duke it out for the league title this season. Puyallup has firepower in the attack, led by last year’s TNT All-Area player of the year Ella Bach, a Clemson commit. The long-striding, lightning-fast forward tallied 17 goals and six assists last fall, despite missing a chunk of games with injury. She’s complemented by senior M Emory Villacorta, a New Mexico commit. Transfer Alinah Navarrete and freshman Isa Ostrander are other players to watch for Matt White’s Vikings. First-team defender Kayla Ringenbach also returns. Curtis will be younger this season with six new starters but returns a handful of impact players from last season, including TNT All-Area defender Liv Lorella. The Vikings also return senior midfielders Hoku Mose and Kat West. Junior F Isla Dravis leads the attack. Olympia, Emerald Ridge and Rogers could factor in, as well. Emerald Ridge returns six starters and has one of the league’s top keepers in senior Isabella Ramos-Kuehl. Midfielders Logan Wilson, Madison Gibson and D Kylie Martin are other players to watch for the Jaguars. Rogers returns seven starters, including first-team all-league selection Anya DeBoer, a midfielder. Junior M Rowan Deforrest and junior GK Mollie Medford are other players to watch for the Rams.
3A NPSL
We like Decatur’s chances to win the league this year. The Gators return all-league first-team selections: D Ava Bowers and F Juliana Delucio and are already off to a 3-0 start this season with wins over Thomas Jefferson, Kent-Meridian and Enumclaw. White River should challenge Decatur for the league crown under first-year coach Madison Grande. The Hornets return eight starters, highlighted by Linfield commit and senior M Adalyn Sykes. Defenders Charlotte Weber and Keira Fraker, F Jordyn Daigle and senior keeper Charlee Sproed are other players to watch. Enumclaw, Kentlake and Auburn Mountainview could also factor into the playoff race. First-year coach Jen Barnes’ Auburn Mountainview squad returns all 11 starters, led by first-team all-league junior striker Laura Hamell. Midfielders Ashley Olguin and Camryn Singer are steady for the Lions. Enumclaw returns six starters, led by senior F Sutton Kelsey and senior M Clare Largent.
3A PSL
Gig Harbor is the team to beat, loaded with experience and future college talent. Speedy senior forward and first-team all-league F Karin Keikkila, a Samford (Alabama) commit, leads the attack. M Elizabeth Hayes, a TNT All-Area selection in 2024 and a UC Irvine commit, figures to be one of the area’s top players again this fall after scoring 18 goals and adding six assists last season. She’s complemented by first-team M Sage Sturrock, a Southeastern Louisiana commit. First-team D Molly Leverett and GK Ella Conrad also return for the Tides. Central Kitsap and Bellarmine Prep could also factor into the league title race. Central Kitsap returns seven starters, highlighted by defender Pestle Agana, forwards Maleia and Mailey Dayao and midfielders Bailey Milovich and Olivia Juarez. Bellarmine Prep returns nine starters, including TNT All-Area GK Charlotte Lamb and first-team all-league center mid Claire Lucas. Midfielders Mealani Salema, Grace Lepowski and freshman defender Chelsea Larson are other players to watch for the Lions. Lakes features one of the area’s most dangerous goal scorers in senior Braelyn Carey, who already has five goals this season.
2A SPSL
Fife is the favorite and is 1-1 this season with a 7-0 win over 4A Graham-Kapowsin and a narrow 2-1 loss to 4A state tournament contender Puyallup. Senior F Ariana Vaeao, who was recently selected to the player pool for the American Samoa Women’s National Team, is the player to watch. Steilacoom should factor into the league title race, also. James Van Dusen’s squad returns eight starters, including 2024 league offensive player of the year Ashley Gallagher, a sophomore striker. Wingers Mallory Hales and Lauren Parry and defenders Haley Van Dusen and Kate Prisco are other players to watch for the Sentinels.
2A EVCO
Tumwater is the favorite and is off to a 2-1-1 start with wins over Capital and Onalaska, a scoreless draw with district rival Black Hills and a 3-0 loss to 4A Camas. The T-Birds return last year’s 2A EvCo offensive player of the year Kayla Pope, a midfielder. Black Hills, as evidenced by its tie with Tumwater, will also factor into the league title race under first-year coach Jordan Owen. The Wolves return eight starters, highlighted by senior all-league first-team selection Ella Jarmin, a forward.
SMALL SCHOOLS
Annie Wright could factor into the 1A Nisqually race under seventh-year coach Alex Megson. The Gators return five starters and should have one of the league’s top defenses, led by defenders Katya Defebaugh, Reagan Kress, Annabel Bamford and Kaelynn Zautner. Midfielder Sarah Elliot is another player to watch.
TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH
F Ella Bach, Puyallup, sr.
GK Devon Bankers, Sumner, jr.
GK Simone Bennett, Tahoma, sr.
D Ava Bowers, Decatur, jr.
F Braelyn Carey, Lakes, sr.
F Emma Cardozo, Stadium, sr.
F Ella Coates, Peninsula, sr.
GK Ella Conrad, Gig Harbor, sr.
M Harper Curnutt, Auburn Riverside, sr.
F Mailey Dayao, Central Kitsap, sr.
M Anya DeBoer, Rogers, sr.
D Kloe Fredrickson, Kennedy Catholic, soph.
F Ashley Gallagher, Steilacoom, soph.
M Mattie Gillaspy, Sumner, sr.
F Laura Hamell, Auburn Mountainview, jr.
M Elizabeth Hayes, Gig Harbor, sr.
F Karin Heikkila, Gig Harbor, sr.
F Sutton Kelsey, Enumclaw, sr.
F Ella Jarmin, Black Hills, sr.
GK Charlotte Lamb, Bellarmine Prep, jr.
M Olivia Lewis, Bethel, sr.
D Liv Lorella, Curtis, jr.
M Claire Lucas, Bellarmine Prep, sr.
M Mary Rodarte, Orting, jr.
M Kaihea Tuifua, Decatur, jr.
M Lauren Meade, Silas, sr.
M Hoku Mose, Curtis, sr.
M Kayla Pope, Tumwater, sr.
M Nora Sutherland, Peninsula, sr.
D Haley Millan, Stadium, sr.
GK Isabella Ramos-Kuehl, Emerald Ridge, sr.
D Kayla Ringenbach, Puyallup, jr.
GK Tyler Roberts, Stadium, sr.
D Kate Spangler, Tahoma, sr.
M Sage Sturrock, Gig Harbor, sr.
M Adalyn Sykes, White River, sr.
D Hannah Williams, Silas, jr.
F Ariana Vaeao, Fife, sr.
M Emory Villacorta, Puyallup, sr.
This story was originally published September 12, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
