Community Sports

Peninsula, Gig Harbor face off in early girls soccer showdown

The annual Fish Bowl football game recently attracted thousands of spectators and plenty of fanfare. But that’s not the only intense local football game that deserves attention.

The Gig Harbor and Peninsula girls soccer teams — which have won multiple league, conference and district titles over the last decade — face off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at Roy Anderson Field.

The two programs have combined to win more than 75 percent of their games during the last five seasons. Gig Harbor won a Class 3A state championship in 2018 after going 23-0 and previous Tides teams finished second in the state four times. Both teams are annual fixtures at the state tournament, with the Seahawks being crowned district champions and runners-up during the last three seasons.

This year looks to be more of the same. Both varsity rosters are stacked with talented players and feature multiple players who will play at the NCAA Division I level next season.

Nora Sutherland of Peninsula, the MVP of the Puget Sound League Nisqually Division in 2024. Photo by Dennis Browne

2024 in review

A combination of factors contribute to this area’s soccer success. But it starts with devoted soccer parents who have invested countless time and money since their daughters were in grade school.

Highly organized associations, club teams and local trainers also do their part while passionate high school coaches teach the finer points and unique strategies. But in the end it’s these gifted athletes and their thousands of hours of hard work and dedication who have influenced their success the most.

Gig Harbor was ranked No. 1 in the state’s Class 3A at the end of the 2024 regular season after ripping off 16 wins in a row. But University High of Spokane upset the Tides, 2-1, in the state tournament.

The Tides went 11-0-1 to win the Narrows Division of the Puget Sound League, while the Seahawks went 10-1-1 to win the Nisqually Division crown. Both dropped close second-round games.

The Tides return seven starters while the Seahawks return 10. Both teams return their division’s most valuable player: Nisqually MVP Nora Sutherland, a Peninsula senior, and Narrows MVP Karin Heikkila, a Gig Harbor senior.

Karin Heikkila of Gig Harbor, the MVP of the Narrows Division of the Puget Sound League in 2024. Photo by Larry Kalahiki

Early results

The Tides (3-0, 2-0 PSL) started fast again this season, beating North Thurston (by a score of 10-0), Puyallup (2-1) and Lakes (6-1).

The Seahawks (1-2, 0-1 PSL) had a difficult early schedule, playing two Class 4A teams. They defeated South Kitsap 2-0 to begin the year before dropping 1-0 decisions to Curtis (a state semifinalist last year) and Central Kitsap (a state quarterfinalist last year).

Forwards and wings

Both teams have breakaway speed on their front lines. The Tides feature Heikkila, who led the team in goals last season and signed to play next year with Division I Samford University in Alabama. Heikkila, a member of Gig Harbor’s state-champion 4×100 relay team last spring, breaks on the ball quickly and doesn’t often miss when she has a scoring opportunity. The other forward is sophomore sensation Nadia Schwab, who has elite ball skills and is capable of a highlight play any time she touches the ball.

The wingers for the Tides are Elizabeth Hayes, a D-I signee with Cal-Irvine. Hayes, Gig Harbor’s leading scorer in 2023, is relentless around the opposing goal. Junior Claire Clevenger is a glue player who makes difficult plays look easy.

Elizabeth Hayes of Gig Harbor. Photo by Larry Kalahiki

The Seahawks counter with one of their best front lines in recent memory. Sutherland is their striker, who also has track speed but glides across the soccer field before pouncing. She had multiple braces and hat tricks during her junior season and will definitely be on a college roster next season. Ella Coates and Maya Rogers, the team’s senior wingers, are flat-out competitors who will run through a wall to win.

Ella Coates of Peninsula. Photo by Larry Kalahiki

Coates recently signed to play college soccer at D-I Wisconsin-Green Bay. She has explosive speed and tricky feet, while the feisty Rogers is a complete and passionate talent who can score, pass and dribble. All three Peninsula players have so much experience playing together that they can sense one another’s movement and can communicate with just a head nod or a certain look.

Maya Rogers of Peninsula. Photo by Larry Kalahiki

Midfield

The midfield standouts for the Seahawks are physical senior Ada Labowitz and junior Kayla Adams, who are dangerous scoring threats. Defenders include junior Alex Cichanski, sophomore Kaylee Dastrup and sophomore Brooklyn Mays, a physical and aggressive presence who gives the Seahawks added toughness.

The Tides are solid in the middle with junior Janelle Jones and sophomore Taylor Sullivan. They may not have years of experience after replacing graduating players, but each looked good early and can attack and distribute.

Defense

Four senior defenders comprise one of the Tides’ strengths. Last year, they helped to only allow six goals during a 19-game season. Six goals in 1,710 minutes of playing time averages out to one goal for every 285 minutes played.

Those players include Molly Leverett, who has closing speed and a bull-in-a-china shop style of play; the athletic and smooth Lucy Levi, who has the length and aggression to stop opposing forwards; centerback Sage Sturrock, who is arguably the Tides best all-around player; and the hard-working Ryan Rodacker.

Sage Sturrock of Gig Harbor. Photo by Larry Kalahiki

This game will also feature freshmen who have emerged quickly. The Tides have a young rising star in Violet Lester, who scored the winning goal against Puyallup. The Seahawks feature two freshman who have looked good early, in midfielder Delia Labowitz and defender/forward Emma Tucker.

Goalkeepers

Both teams also have exceptional goalies with plenty of experience in pressure situations.

The Tides feature the rugged Ella Conrad, a senior and four-year starter. She is a good communicator who aggressively contests 50-50 balls in the scoring box.

Senior Brooklyn Finch is a three-year starter for Peninsula. She uses her height and length to crash into opponents and snag high balls before they can be headed for goals.

Conrad only surrendered six goals all season in 2024, with no team scoring more than once in any of the 19 games, for a remarkable 0.31 goals against average.

Finch allowed 20 goals in 19 games for a still impressive 1.05 goals-against average but had a younger defense in front of her.

Coaches

Robyn Saathoff is in her second year as head coach at Gig Harbor and bleeds blue. She was a standout forward for Gig Harbor in the early 1990s, when she played in three state championship games in a row.

Peninsula coach José Brambila is also in his second year. He coaches the Seahawks boys team as well. Brambila grew up playing soccer from a young age and assisted former head coach Kim Demianiw at Peninsula after working as an assistant for soccer powerhouse Curtis High School for 13 years.

Both coaches feel good about their teams so far.

Saathoff said the Tides “haven’t backed down, while playing with grit.” Brambila said the Seahawks are “playing well and improving as we progress through these tough preseason matchups. We are excited for what is to come.”

Thursday’s game is the only regular season match between the local teams, since they play in different divisions of the Puget Sound League.

Fans have turned out in impressive numbers to see these talented teams go at it in recent years and this year’s game at Roy Anderson Field shouldn’t be an exception. Spectators will sit on both sides of the southern grandstands and are encouraged to arrive well in advance of the 7:30 p.m. start time.