For the second straight season, the Kentridge Chargers girls soccer team is back in the state tournament.
The Chargers defeated Puyallup in an opening round district tournament game 1-0, thanks to a Shiney Mayanja goal from a Sierra Wallace pass to beat the Vikings.
Kentridge was given the 10th seed and will travel to Wenatchee and took on the seventh seeded Panthers in the Apple Bowl on Nov. 13 (after press time).
The Chargers snapped a four-year drought last season with the Jayda Sparks-led Chargers making the state tournament and falling to Mount Si 4-1 in the opening round.
It has been a little while since the Chargers have won a state tournament game — 2016 was the last year Kentridge has won a game in the state tournament.
Kentridge has never won two games in the state tournament in school history, and this team has scored more goals since that Kentridge team in 2016.
This year’s Chargers scored a total of 49 goals, compared to that 2016 team that scored 61. The 2016 team had allowed 18 goals, compared to this year’s 11. Sierra Wallace leads the Chargers with 13 and freshman Natalia Krall-Cruz is just behind her with 12, according to MaxPreps.
Wallace and Mayanja both have five assists that lead the team.
Wenatchee is going to pose a big challenge for the Chargers. The Panthers are 16-1 this year compared to the Chargers at 11-1-6. But the one Kentridge loss came in the district semifinals against Curtis, 2-1, which is the sixth seed.
The Panthers one loss came against Glacier Peak back on Sept. 14. Glacier Peak is not in the state tournament. But Wenatchee is in the midst of a 13-game win streak.
For Kentridge to win, they need to spring their wingers forward enough to take the pressure off Addie Stendera and the Charger backline.
That comes down to Tiana Stephenson, Makenna Bennett and Lauren Covello controlling the midfield. When the Chargers are at their best, those three are sending balls forward and controlling the field.
Krall-Cruz will be one of five seniors, the only on the Kentridge roster. She hasn’t shown any yield all season, so expect nothing less from the explosive freshman.
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Natalia Krall-Cruz looks for a teammate to pass to against Tahoma.
