Cruisers Leave It All on the Field to Close Out Season
- Skip Smith
- 24 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Eatonville Cruiser girls’ soccer team wrapped up its season with two hard-fought performances, showing discipline, resilience, and pride against top-tier opponents Steilacoom and Kingston.
On Wednesday night, the Cruisers hosted one of the league’s toughest teams in Steilacoom and battled through a 5-0 defeat that showed far more about their character than the scoreboard did.
Steilacoom struck first in the ninth minute, but Eatonville quickly settled in and tightened its defense. The Cruisers held the Sentinels scoreless the rest of the half while producing three shots on goal of their own. Goalkeeper Savannah McCandless anchored the defense with eight first-half saves, keeping her team within reach.
Steilacoom added goals in the 46th, 60th, 71st, and 75th minutes, but Eatonville’s determination never faded. McCandless finished the night with 14 saves in another standout performance.
On Saturday, the Cruisers traveled north for a single-elimination district playoff game against Kingston, where their season came to a close in a hard-fought 6-0 contest.
Kingston came out strong with six early shots and built a 3-0 halftime lead with goals in the 14th, 23rd, and 40th minutes. McCandless turned away six other attempts to keep Eatonville in striking distance.
In the second half, the Cruisers pressed forward and generated five shots on goal, testing the Kingston defense throughout. Kingston responded with five more shots of its own, converting in the 44th, 66th, and 79th minutes to seal the match. McCandless finished with 11 saves on the night.
“This group never stopped believing in each other,” Head Coach Susie Danielson said. “They’ve shown growth, toughness, and unity all season.”
The loss marked the end of the season and the final match for Eatonville’s four seniors, whose leadership and dedication helped shape the team’s identity.
“Our seniors set the tone for what it means to be a Cruiser,” Danielson said. “Their work ethic and heart have built something special that will carry on.”
Despite the results, Eatonville’s final two outings reflected the team’s progress and spirit—a group that never stopped battling, no matter the opponent.
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