SHELTON — Nothing has been easier the second time around for South Kitsap.
But after a tough first half, the Wolves scored five goals in the final 40 minutes en route to a 6-0 win Tuesday night at Shelton in Class 4A Narrows League girls soccer play.
“It took us a little bit to get our rhythm,” said South coach Julie Cain, whose team had lost two of three matches in the second half of league competition. “We’ve been in a bit of a scoring drought.”
The Wolves’ only goal in the first half came when senior midfielder Claire Posadas beat goalkeeper Kelsey Holloway in the 33rd minute. But South (10-3-1 overall, 9-3-1 league) began a stretch when it scored four times in a 10-minute span on a goal by junior forward Becca Schoales in the 61st. Schoales scored added two more goals, while freshman forward Rachel Prince also had one in the 67th. Junior forward Brita Oleson had the final goal in the 73rd.
“Our touch was a little off,” Cain said. “We got our rhythm back in the second half.”
She said the Highclimbers (2-13-0, 1-12-0) also deserve some credit for that.
“This is a completely different team than we played the first time,” Cain said. “We beat them 12-0 and played everyone everywhere with our goalkeeper scoring last time. It’s tough to motivate a group when you get beat like that in the first half of the season. They played hard all game. I give them props for staying in there and having a great attitude.”
South already has clinched a playoff spot, but its match Thursday against Gig Harbor will determine whether it finishes second or fourth in 4A Narrows. A win would give the Wolves the distinction of beating every team in league at least once this season.
“It would be a great achievement,” Cain said. “It’s a great goal to go for.”
A victory against the Tides also would mean avoiding a trip to Vancouver to face the 4A Greater Saint Helens League’s first-place team at 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at Kiggins Bowl. The alternative is playing the 4A South Puget Sound League’s seventh seed at noon that day at the Stadium Bowl.
Cain said while having one of the top two seeds out of 4A Narrows is preferable, a three-hour drive to Vancouver does not concern her.
“We get up for playoffs,” she said. “We’re a good playoff team.
“Our league is great preparation for the playoffs. I can’t imagine there’s a lot of competition that’s at a higher level in high school than Bellarmine, Olympia and Gig Harbor this year for us.”
Tuesday
South Kitsap 6, at Shelton 0
First half—1, South Kitsap, Claire Posadas, 33rd minute.
Second half—2, South Kitsap, Becca Schoales (Brita Oleson), 61st; 3, South Kitsap, Rachel Prince (Oleson), 67th; 4, South Kitsap, Schoales (Hailey Parker), 68th; 5, South Kitsap, Schoales (Prince), 70th; 6, South Kitsap, Oleson (Schoales), 73rd.
Thursday
Bellarmine Prep 1, at South Kitsap 0
First half—None.
Second half—1, Bellarmine Prep, Stephanie Hamilton, 70th minute.
