Crosspoint Christian’s bid to repeat as 1B/2B soccer champions got off to a solid start Nov. 12 after the Wildcats shook off a rocky first 15 minutes to dominate Pateros 5-0 at a rain-soaked Kitsap Bank Stadium in Port Orchard, with standout Brooke Berens getting a hat trick.
The No. 2 seeded defending champs no longer hold the accolade of perfection that highlighted their undefeated run to the state crown in 2023, hitting the same early season slump so many championship clubs endure. Yet with top offensive weapons like junior captain Berens back among the 22-player roster, it didn’t take long for the Wildcats to wake up.
Wildcats coach Scean Pickering called it getting brought out of autopilot. “We came in with bad habits coming off the type of season we had last year and 10 new kids on the roster, too. The first two or three weeks was us just figuring each other out and our returning kids kind of had to relax and allow some trust to be built.”
Once that happened, the offense and defense both took off. The Wildcats entered the match having not allowed a goal since Oct 5. while scoring 40 of their own. That mark would remain intact against the Pateros visitors, though it took a few minutes for the home team to get going.
“We really came into this having watched the film, done the practice, knowing it’s going to be an easier game,” Pickering said. “We were moving the ball but not with purpose, and we had three or four moments in that first half where we had a chance to leak the ball out, and we just held onto it.”
Berens and sophomore Kaylee Ajanovic would at least ensure Crosspoint took a lead into halftime, scoring a goal each in the 27th minute and 29th minutes to go up 2-0 at the break. The pair would account for all the scoring from there as the offense centered in on a barrage of short-range shots. Berens netted goals in the 8th and 26th minutes of the second half, and Ajanovic scored again in the 12th minute.
“That second half is how we’d been playing for an extended period of time. Sometimes you just gotta get through the first half playing in those matchups. It was a good match, and I think we have repeat potential in us.”
The Wildcats will play either No. 7 Toledo or No. 10 Tonasket Nov. 16 at Kingston High School.
Meanwhile in 3A, No. 13 Central Kitsap won their opening game in state 4-0 against No. 20 Mountlake Terrace Nov. 12. The Cougars move on to play at No. 4 Oak Harbor Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.
