Sumner beats Sehome 1-0 for Class 2A girls soccer title

SHORELINE — After a season of routs, the Sumner girls soccer team proved it can also win close games.

The Spartans (21-0) capped their perfect season Saturday by defeating Sehome (21-2-1) 1-0 for the Class 2A championship.

Sumner had reached the title game after edging Squalicum in a shootout Friday night.

Tight wins were far from the norm for Sumner. Entering Saturday's game, the Spartans were averaging 6.7 goals. Their smallest margin of victory before the playoffs was two goals.

But after two tight games in the playoffs (a 1-0 win last weekend against Archbishop Murphy and the shootout Friday), Sumner coach Robi Turley said having those contested matches put the Spartans in a good position for Saturday.

"I felt like we had some momentum," she said. "I felt like we got prepared by those teams really well."

Junior midfielder Katie Huff took a pass from Kaylie Rozell in the 34th minute and chipped it in from the 5 yards out for Sumner's goal Saturday.

"Kaylie did all the work down there, and I was literally just in the right spot at the right time to put it away," Huff said.

Once Sumner had the advantage, it was able to use its defense to secure the title.

Sehome, the 2010 2A champion, had its opportunities — the Mariners outshot the Spartans 14 to 11 — but Sumner stymied every attempt.

"We're a high-scoring team, but at the same time, we've only given up two goals all year long," Turley said. "So our defense is extremely strong, and we know that we can defend against really good teams."

The championship was the first by a Sumner team in 15 years.

"We finished business this year," Turley said.

Third-place game

West Valley (Yakima) 1,

Squalicum 0

In a game defined by defense, West Valley of Yakima (17-2-1) topped Squalicum (20-2) to take third place.

Twenty minutes into the game, Alyssa Wickenhagen scored for the Rams, West Valley goalkeeper Rozlyn Pratt recorded the shutout.

By Pete Treperinas Special to The Seattle Times

By Pete Treperinas
Special to The Seattle Times