GIRLS SOCCER | Wolves’ state quarterfinal bugaboo continues

South Kitsap ousted in that round for fifth time in program history with 2-0 loss against Jackson

EVERETT — South Kitsap’s state quarterfinal hex continues.

For the fifth time in program history, the Wolves could not advance beyond the second round of the state playoffs after they suffered a 2-0 loss Saturday night against Jackson at Everett Memorial Stadium.

South coach Julie Cain attributed the latest setback to a variety of factors. She said only 2 of 14 officiating calls went in the Wolves’ favor.

“We couldn’t get a call for our life,” she said.

That was not all.

“You come out here, this field is 20 yards wider than we’ve played on this year and 20 yards longer,” Cain said. “It’s a little bit different surface.”

Cain said South, which finished with a 13-3-0 record, also played without injured seniors Hayley Romo and Natalie Stephens and junior Kayleanna Quichocho. Others, such as junior Ari de la Cruz and sophomore Kelly Crebs, did not play at full health.

“That’s tough,” Cain said. “I think we did a good job of playing through that as best as we could and a lot of young players stepped up and had good games. But we had like 13 healthy people tonight.”

That was not enough against the Timberwolves (15-4-1), who advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals for the fourth time in their history and first since 2008. Jackson scored goals in the 28th minute on a breakaway by junior midfielder Kristina Serres and on a freshman forward-midfielder Jadyn Edwards rebound in the 46th in front of the net.

The Wolves, who were held scoreless for the first time since they lost 1-0 on Nov. 9 against Olympia, missed multiple opportunities. Senior forward Rachael Prince had a shot saved on a diving stop by senior Callie Vanaelst in the 10th. And senior forward Adri Jackson might have had the best scoring opportunity of the match when she had a one-on-one matchup with Vanaelst in the 42nd, but her shot sailed over the crossbar.

“She’s been putting them in all year from there,” Cain said. “It’s been a look she’s had a lot from there.

“We certainly had opportunities. Anyone of those falls our way and it changes the momentum of our game.”

Cain said Vanaelst deserves credit for that in a match she considered evenly played after her team adjusted to Jackson’s style, which she said took about 10 minutes.

“They’re much more of a possession team than we’ve played for a long time,” she said. “At the beginning of the season, people would try and possess it against us and we were winning. The whole second half of the season teams were just playing very direct — launching balls and having girls go through. We haven’t played a team that possessed for a while and I think it took us a little while to adjust to that.”

South also might be in for an adjustment process moving forward. In addition to eight seniors on the roster, Cain does not expect to return. She compiled a 65-20-16 record in six seasons and was 46-13-15 in league play after winning a 4A Narrows League title this season.

“I’m done,” Cain said. “I think this was my last game.”

This was the third time Cain led the Wolves to the state quarterfinals. They also advanced there in 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2011. Cain suspected her players were disappointed they were not able to compete for the state championship, which is 4 p.m. Saturday at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup. But she believed they had a successful season.

“It was still a fantastic season,” Cain said. “I think these girls still have so much to be proud of. It’s not that we just won games — we cleaned up this year.”