Cruiser Soccer Shuts Out Washington After Tough Loss

The Eatonville High School girls’ soccer team showed its resilience last week, bouncing back from a difficult defeat to earn a decisive win in its second outing of the week.

Eatonville's Ryleigh Chopic takes a shot on goal against the Washington Patriots. Chopic would go on to score both of the Cruisers goals in their 2-0 victory. Photo: Heather Quirie

The Cruisers opened the week against perennial power Fife, falling 8-0. Despite the final score, Eatonville held its ground early and trailed just 2-0 at halftime before the Trojans’ depth and experience broke the game open in the second half.

Head coach Michael Dieckman said the match was a valuable learning experience for his team.

“Fife has some very good club players on their team and I was happy with how we played team defense in the first half,” Dieckman said.

Goalkeeper Savannah McCandless faced a steady barrage of shots but delivered several key saves to keep the Cruisers within striking distance before the break. Midfielder Katelyn Lindquist also earned praise for her work in helping organize the defense and keeping the back line steady under pressure.

Eatonville carried that grit into its second match of the week and found its offensive spark in a 2-0 victory over Washington. Freshman forward Ryleigh Chopic made her presence felt, scoring both goals to secure the win.

Chopic’s first strike came in the 46th minute off what Dieckman called a “fantastic assist” from teammate Kalli Olson. She added her second in the 65th minute, finishing a play set up by Linnea Lofgren to give the Cruisers breathing room.

The Cruisers recorded six shots on goal while controlling possession for much of the match. McCandless added four saves to earn the clean sheet, and midfielder Ruth Lightfoot stood out with her ability to adapt to multiple roles across the midfield.

Eatonville will look to build on its progress this week with a pair of matches. The Cruisers host the Clover Park Timberwolves at home on Tuesday, Sept. 23, before finishing the week on the road at Franklin Pierce on Thursday, Sept. 25.