Things are finally coming together for the Kentridge High girls soccer team.
After a slow start to the season, the Chargers got on track last week thanks to a huge offensive performance by Katie Clayton.
Clayton scored one goal, and assisted on four others on Sept. 23, lifting the Chargers past Mount Rainier 6-2 in a South Puget Sound League North Division game.
“I’m hoping that Mount Rainier match was a good coming-out party for us,” said Kentridge coach John Gavino.
The key was Clayton’s performance and, of course, a fantastic start to the game.
It took Kentridge, which opened the week 1-2-2 in league play, just 14 seconds to find the back of the net against the Rams.
“It was definitely a good sight for sore eyes,” Gavino noted. “(All the scoring) is something we’ve been waiting for. It has been a while since we had a lady like Katie on our team. She makes everyone around her perform better.”
That certainly was the case against Mount Rainier.
The Chargers pushed their lead to 2-0 in the 23rd minute, when Hannah Jorgenson assisted Amy Hanson on a goal. However, Mount Rainier quickly responded, scoring once in the 33rd minute and again in the 38th minute to tie the game, 2-2.
Clayton then took over. She put Kentridge on top for good in the 41st minute, scoring on an assist from Shyann Glasser. Clayton then assisted on a goal by McKenna Hayes (47th minute), another by Hanson in the 64th minute, and rounded out the onslaught by assisting Maddie Durret on a goal in the 76th minute.
“Things are finally clicking,” Gavino said.
Which is a good thing, especially considering the difficulty of the SPSL North this fall. Kentridge opened the season Sept. 7 with a 4-0 loss to fourth-ranked Tahoma, and later lost 3-1 to fifth-ranked Kentwood. Other than those two matches, the Chargers have been right there, a run that included ties against Jefferson and Kentlake, which is ranked eighth.
“It’s just like every year, the SPSL is one of the toughest leagues in the state,” Gavino said. “For the most part, I truly believe that we can play with anyone.”
Does that mean a playoff berth, something the Chargers haven’t grabbed since 2006, is on the horizon?
“I think our postseason drought will end,” Gavino said.
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