Lady Cruiser Soccer Conclude District Playoff Run with Strong Effort

The Eatonville Lady Cruiser soccer team wrapped up their season after a hard-fought journey through the West Central District 3 playoffs, ending with a 2-0 loss to Kingston on Saturday. The defeat capped off a playoff run that saw Eatonville finish with an overall record of 11-5-4.

The Eatonville Lady Cruiser soccer team celebrates after defeating their rivals, the Orting Cardinals, 1-0. Photo: Heather Quirie

The Lady Cruisers kicked off their playoff campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Sequim, led by a stout defense and a decisive goal. The momentum, however, was short-lived, as Eatonville fell 4-0 to Fife in the second round on Tuesday. Despite the loss, Head Coach Max Van Eaton saw the defeat as an opportunity to refocus.

"After going down 3-0 early in the second half, we used the opportunity to rest some players and shift our focus to the next game," Van Eaton said. "This was a good wake-up call."

The team showed resilience by bouncing back with a 1-0 victory over Orting on Thursday in a must-win consolation match. Kalli Olson scored the lone goal in the first half, while goalkeeper Tierney Amaral made numerous critical saves to keep Orting at bay. Defender Caedy Dunn also stood out, intercepting passes and clearing pressure effectively.

"We used very similar tactics as when we tied them on senior night," Van Eaton noted. "It was gratifying to see the progress. We went from losing 0-4 to tying 1-1 and finally to winning 1-0 on their home turf."

In their final match at Kingston, the Cruisers managed to hold the Buccaneers scoreless in the first half despite early pressure. However, Kingston broke through eight minutes into the second half and added another goal shortly after. Eatonville fought hard but struggled to convert in the attacking third.

"Tierney Amaral had a great game in goal, making key saves to keep us competitive," Van Eaton said. "These girls worked immensely hard and showed incredible growth throughout the season."

Eatonville will be losing five seniors this year: Haley Courson, Mary Van Eaton, Hannah Hanson, Caedy Dunn, and Tierney Amaral. Coach Van Eaton remains optimistic about the team's future, with juniors Lilly Lightfoot, Ruth Lightfoot, and Linnea Lofgren set to lead next year's squad.

"We've got a great core returning," Van Eaton said. "I’m excited to see what they can achieve next season."