After a win over Wenatchee where it seemed as if Kentridge High School didn’t even break a sweat, the Chargers knew their road in the Class 4A state tournament was going to be a lot tougher with Woodinville on the docket.
Woodinville indeed made the Chargers’ life tough with a 4-0 defeat at the talons of the Falcons in the quarterfinals.
“They put together an amazing season. Through winning a league championship, making it through districts and getting to state playoffs back-to-back. We lost to two teams that are in the top eight in state,” Manager Jeff Fleming said.
The two sides were paired up at Pop Keeney Stadium in Bothell on Nov. 16. Kentridge had already won its second ever game in the state tournament in school history in the first-round game against Wenatchee.
Kentridge had won just one state soccer game on the girls side back in November 2016, which was also against Wenatchee.
“It was a good season, it was a good way to go out,” said senior Addie Stendera.
Besides a six year stretch from 2011-16, this was the first time Kentridge had made the state tournament in back-to-back years. Breaking a drought last year and following it up with another appearance is a testament to how good Kentridge has been.
“They’re amazing. It’s a huge honor and privilege to coach them…All of them are amazing. They should all be proud,” Fleming said.
The Chargers had their hands full with Woodinville to start. That team had allowed just 11 goals in 20 games and put up an iron clad defense. Freshman Natalia Krall-Cruz and Sierra Wallace had a very tough time finding time and space on the Woodinville side of the field.
“They’re team speed matches their speed of play. There are just no breaks, and they are well connected… They possess the ball so well,” Fleming said.
A big worry and a foreshadow of what was to come happened midway through the first half on Woodinville’s first corner.
On the initial ball into the box, there wasn’t an immediate threat. But after a failed clearance found the foot of a Falcon player, her shot required an immaculate save from Alexis Natividad, who parried the ball out of bounds.
The very next corner, Woodinville’s Zoey Lavezzi got her head on the ball and directed it into the back of the net for the first goal of the game.
Woodinville then struck again before halftime. In the same fashion, a corner came in, and Lavezzi leaped over the Kentridge defenders and headed home her second goal of the night.
In the second half, it was more of the same — just suffocating defense and a lack of possessions for Kentridge.
In the 54th minute and 71st minute, the Falcons added to their score.
“They are just very technical. They were faster than us and they were just good. That is the best team I’ve seen,” Stendera said.
It was just a night where Woodinville didn’t make any mistakes and Kentridge was searching for answers.
A game like this can serve a lot of purposes for young players and coaches too.
“Hopefully we can get motivated for next season for the players coming back. Part of it is a will to win and the other part is, can we technically improve and up our speed of play. We have to up our speed of play to keep up with a team like that,” Fleming said.
The senior class of 10 will be sorely missed by Fleming, and for Stendera, she’s made life-long friends.
“It’s been so much fun. Last year and this year has been all my best friends on the team. All the seniors I am super close with. It feels like family. It’s sad it is time to go,” Stendera said.
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Kentridge senior Auzarae Eaton makes a pass at Pop Keeney Stadium against Woodinville. Ben Ray / The Reporter
