Community Sports

Gig Harbor draws with Central Kitsap in clash of state’s top-ranked Class 3A soccer teams

Two Class 3A girls soccer heavyweights clashed Tuesday, Oct. 7, in Silverdale.

Gig Harbor, ranked No. 1 in the WIAA’s RPI rankings, and No. 2 Central Kitsap played to a 1-1 tie.

The Tides (8-0-2, 4-0-1 Puget Sound League) remain unbeaten on the season. Their other tie was a scoreless affair against Class 4A Sumner on Sept. 20. Central Kitsap (9-1-1, 3-1-1) remained in the hunt for the Puget Sound League title.

The Cougars nearly won this contest in the game’s final 15 seconds.

Trading chances

The Tides’ talent and depth was apparent from the beginning as they controlled the ball, forced the action and dictated tempo.

A few early scoring chances stood out for Gig Harbor. A corner kick sailed past an open teammate on one, and scoring machine Karin Heikkila came up empty on a couple chances in front of the goal under heavy pressure from a physical Cougar defense.

The Cougars also had a couple scoring chances in the first 10 minutes, but Tide goalie Ella Conrad caught line-drives shots that threatened the net. Conrad’s compact frame may be a challenge for some high balls, but she leaps well and her strong hands latched on to shots that were traveling at high rates of speed.

Gig Harbor goalkeeper Ella Conrad (1) makes a save during their 1-1 draw with Central Kitsap on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. Photo by Meegan M. Reid/Kitsap Sun

The Tides played most of the game without Elizabeth Hayes, a multidimensional talent who is recovering from illness and left the game after 15 minutes. Senior Ann Louden and freshman Violet Lester joined Heikkila on the front line and continued to pressure the goal.

Senior midfielder Sage Sturrock quarterbacked the Tides’ attack. She is rugged, almost always wins 50/50 balls and distributes long passes to streaking forwards who are faster than most defenders.

Tides strike first

That pressure led to a corner kick that resulted in the Tides’ goal.

Heikkila took the corner and fired a flat rocket over a crowd of players to the far side of the field. The kick found Lester, who calmed the ball with a precise touch before taking a hop step and firing it into the goal with a few minutes left in the first half.

Gig Harbor’s excellent defense had surrendered only six goals on the season coming into the game. The Tides  played it safer in the second half and did not get over-extended on offense. Their offensive aggression may have ratcheted down a notch while the Cougars took more chances.

“We did change up the formation a bit to adjust to the goal,” Tide coach Robyn Saathoff said. “But overall, we just needed to capitalize on our attempts in the final third. Many opportunities were created, though, and that was a positive. CK always plays us well and we will work on some adjustments to improve our execution in the final third of the game in the future.”

Desperation was on the Cougars’ side and it resulted in a tying goal at the midpoint of the second half.

Gig Harbor’s Karin Heikkila (10) hauls back for a kick against Central Kitsap on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. Photo by Meegan M. Reid/Kitsap Sun

Cougars pull even

A Central Kitsap midfielder sent a clean pass up the sideline to a sprinting forward, who drew defensive attention before centering the ball to Callie Thomas, alone in front of goal. Conrad had little chance to defend a quick shot on goal to tie the score at 1-1.

On the next possession, the Tides nearly found Louden in front of a wide-open goal. But the pass cruelly rolled mere inches in front of her foot and the Cougars dodged the bullet.

Gig Harbor also dodged a bullet in the last 15 seconds of play. A clearance attempt by Gig Harbor’s Molly Leverett pinballed off a couple shin guards before rolling out perfectly to a Cougar forward, who was running right down the middle.

But the Cougar player booted the ball 25 feet over the goal, ending CK’s chance to knock off the state’s No. 1-ranked team.

Saathoff was generally pleased with the the game and singled out Sturrock.

“Sage was strong as our defensive mid, as always. The team played well as a whole and overall I was pleased with my team’s effort,” Saathoff said.

Violet Lester (21) scored Gig Harbor’s goal during a 1-1 draw against Central Kitsap on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. Photo by Meegan M. Reid/Kitsap Sun

Up next

Teams earn three points for league wins and one point for ties. Gig Harbor leads the division with 13 points; Central Kitsap has 10. Bellarmine Prep is in second with 11 points, but Gig Harbor already beat the Lions, 3-1, on Sept. 23.

The two meet for a rematch in Tacoma on Thursday, Oct. 9. Gig Harbor plays Central Kitsap again on Oct. 23 at Roy Anderson Field.

Gig Harbor’s Janelle Jones (15) heads the ball during their 1-1 draw against Central Kitsap on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. Photo by Meegan M. Reid/Kitsap Sun

Peninsula leads Nisqually Division

Peninsula (6-3-1, 5-0-1) may not be ranked in the top 10 in the state, but the Seahawks are back to full strength and reeling off wins in the Nisqually Division. They lead their division with five games left to play.

Over the last few seasons, the Seahawks have often lost early regular season games to top-shelf opponents but have struck back when the postseason begins.

In the last three years, the Seahawks have won one district title and nearly won a second. Ella Coates, Nora Sutherland and Maya Rogers were all big parts of those teams and have the skill and determination to do it again.

The Seahawks took one on the chin in a 6-1 loss to the Tides earlier this season. But they were without Coates, who puts pressure on defenses with electric speed and all-out hustle.

Peninsula is on a six-game unbeaten stretch since losing to the Tides while battling injuries throughout the season.

Mya Rogers of Peninsula during a game earlier this year. Photo by Bryce Carithers

“We lost to some teams early that were excellent teams. Some people see those losses and don’t understand how good the competition was,” coach Jose Brambila said. “But we have a balanced, deep team that are hungry and want to go as far as they can. If that’s a state championship or the semifinals or a league title, they want it … They are seniors and this is it for them. As a team we are excited for what is to come and we will be ready.”

The Seahawks have a crucial rematch with Timberline, which is in second in the Nisqually Division, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at Roy Anderson Field. The game is a “pink out” game to raise awareness and funds for the Carol Milgard Breast Cancer Foundation.

Peninsula defeated Timberline 3-1 on Sept. 23. The Seahawks have 16 points in the division, while Timberline has 10. Peninsula can clinch the division crown and the division’s No. 1 one seed in the PSL tournament with a win.