Bainbridge, Crosspoint boast MVPs in league soccer voting

Bainbridge senior Laine Romney was voted the 2A Olympic League’s Most Valuable Player after leading the Spartans back to the state soccer tournament for the first time since 2013.

The Spartans saw many successes as they dropped to 2A this season, capturing a regular season league title with an undefeated 14-0 record. Their home turf was where they performed best, averaging just under four goals per game while allowing just one goal all regular and postseason. Their season came to a close in a 3-2 quarterfinals loss to Bellingham.

First-team all-league honorees for the Spartans were Grace Rich and Sophia Weindl, while second-team honors went to Arden De Lanoy, Elsa Dow and Izzy Pujolar.

North Kitsap’s season was arguably just as dominant aside from a pair of one-goal losses to the aforementioned Spartans, but the Vikings took their revenge in a 2-1 district championship victory. The Vikings also lost in the state quarterfinals to end their season.

First-team all-leaguers for NK included Gonzaga commit Syleena Hogan, Norah McFeat and Ellie Stanford. Second-team honors went to Addy Jueco, Juliette Sannes and Azul Zuniga.

Kingston’s season was one to remember for the young team, earning just its third state berth in program history and their first since the Bucs made it in 2012 and 2013. The Bucs were also recognized as the WIAA’s 2A Team of the Month in October as they went from their usual spot in the bottom third of league standings to third place by regular-season’s end.

First-team Bucs were Ava Bourne, Kate Collins and Tayen Munger, while second-team honors were awarded to Paiton Leibold, Christina Prescott and Katie Zehrung.

Athletes from Bremerton and Olympic also received all-league team spots. Melanie Uhrich was named for first-team, and Malyiah Lilly and Rylee Wheaton earned second-team honors for the Knights. The Trojans’ Kaylee Cushman took first-team honors, and Emiko Carrier-Berndt and Annabelle Waldman took second-team spots.

Crosspoint Christian’s third-place finish in 1B/2B state was the closest a Kitsap team got to a title this year—the Wildcats coming ever so close in their quest to repeat as state champs but falling in penalty kicks in the semifinals. Junior Allie Berens earned MVP honors in the 1B Sea-Tac League. First-team honors went to Brooke Berens, Grace Scripps and Mary Scripps, while second-team spots were claimed by Julianne Bouma and Anna Kuske.

Klahowya’s season also came short of another trip to the state championship, the Eagles falling in the quarterfinals. Senior Kelsey Clark was named the 1A Nisqually League’s Defender of the Year, and Ella Bottalico was named Goalkeeper of the Year in league voting. First-team spots went to Seraphina Bell and Raven Stoner, and Abby Frohman and Macayla Wrataric earned second-team spots.

South Kitsap’s season came to a close in the first round of the district playoffs. Second-team honors for the 4A South Puget Sound League went to Sierra DeFevers, while Sylvi Allen, Marisa Brown, Chloe Legan and Payton Siler all received honorable mentions.